H. B. 2560
(By Delegates Sumner, Evans, Leggett and Lane)
[Introduced February 21, 2005; 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.