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From the Executive Director ….
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Your Alabama Legislature is back at work in Montgomery, although they are taking this week off for spring break. Several bills affecting animals or veterinary medicine in some way are highlighted in this communication. Links are provided to text of the bills.
Senate Bill 146 (House Bill 245) strengthens existing laws against cockfighting by providing for felony convictions and stiffer penalties. We have worked closely with agriculture interests in the state to insure that individuals raising chickens legally will not be impacted negatively by this legislation sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
Senate Bill 469 removes the annual revaccination requirement for rabies and adds ferrets to the list of animals which must be vaccinated. The bill provides for the veterinarian to decide vaccine intervals based on vaccine manufacturer guidelines and his/her preference depending on the individual client/patient situation. This bill is the result of efforts over several years by the ALVMA Public Health Committee working in conjunction with the Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. The bill was last introduced in 2007 and failed to pass. There has been renewed interest by lawmakers as Alabama (since Arkansas passed a law earlier this year) has become the only state in the country requiring annual rabies vaccination.
House Bill 206 (Dangerous Dog Legislation) is similar to the bill introduced last year. The bill establishes procedures by which a dog can be declared dangerous, requires registration of dangerous dogs and provides for penalties. The bill is not breed specific; it places responsibility on the dog owner.
Senate Bill 228 requires the State Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with local emergency management agencies, to create a comprehensive plan for the evacuation and sheltering of household pets and service animals. This bill also requires veterinary hospitals (and many other entities) to create evacuation plans for their animals. I know many of you already have plans in place (this is an AAHA requirement) and those who do not may want to consider developing a plan.
If you need more information on any of these bills or have other legislative issues you would like to discuss, please contact me. I would encourage you to track any bills of interest to you. A wonderful system exists for being able to do this. The Alabama Legislative Information System Online (ALISON) can be found at this
I encourage you to get involved with the legislative process. Your representatives want and need to hear from you on issues.
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