H. B. 4637


(By Delegates Prunty(By Request),

Caputo and Manchin)

[Introduced February 23, 2000; referred to the

Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Government Organization.]



A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article twenty-a, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to vaccination of dogs and cats for rabies; and authorizing the owner of such animals as well as any other animal to personally vaccinate them for rabies.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article twenty-a, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20A. VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS FOR RABIES.
§19-20A-2. Vaccination of dogs and cats.

Whoever owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat within the boundaries of any county in the state of West Virginia shall, on or before the first day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, have such the dog or cat properly vaccinated or immunized against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two years and shall every second year thereafter have such the dog or cat revaccinated with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two years. After the first day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, whoever obtains an unvaccinated dog or cat shall at once have such the dog or cat properly vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two years and shall have such the vaccination repeated every second year with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two years: Provided, That dogs and cats need not be vaccinated before the age of three months, but must be vaccinated by the age of six months: Provided, however, That dogs and cats entering the state of West Virginia temporarily cannot be kept and maintained within the state of West Virginia for a period of more than thirty days unless properly vaccinated. Anyone owning a dog or cat can have them vaccinated by any veterinarian or person working with or under such the veterinarian, or if there be no resident veterinarian in the county, by such other qualified person as may be appointed by the county commission, who shall work under the supervision of the county health department. The owner of a dog or cat or any other animal may personally vaccinate the animal against rabies. If the owner assumes that responsibility, the owner shall maintain complete records of the vaccination and other information required by this article.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit the owner of a dog or cat or other animal to personally vaccinate that animal for rabies.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.