H. B. 2560


(By Delegates Sumner, Evans, Leggett and Lane)
[Introduced January 11, 2006 ; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Judiciary.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §19-20A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring that dogs and cats be vaccinated every three years with rabies vaccines that last three years.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §19-20A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, 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 dog or cat properly vaccinated or immunized against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two three years and shall every second third year thereafter have such the dog or cat revaccinated with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two three years. After the first day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven two thousand five, 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 three years and shall have such the vaccination repeated every second year with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for two three 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 may have them vaccinated by any veterinarian or person working with or under such the veterinarian, or if there be is no resident veterinarian in the county, by such other another qualified person as may be appointed by the county commission, who shall work is working under the supervision of the county health department.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that cats and dogs be vaccinated every three years with rabies vaccines that last three years.

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