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SB 1780 would help expedite vaccinating animals for rabies through county or municipal rabies control programs. The bill states that the veterinarian "is not required" to establish the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which consists of a full health examination of the animal. This could allow the veterinarian leeway in determining if the animal is healthy enough for the rabies vaccine or if a full health screening is necessary before administering the vaccine.
Rabies is a disease which can be communicated to humans through the bite of an infected animal. If exposed to rabies a person can still be vaccinated with a high degree of success if the vaccine is administered before symptoms take place. After a person is symptomatic there is nothing that can be done to prevent rapid degeneration and death. Animal vaccination programs substantially diminish the risk of rabies exposure to humans.
This legislation supports our personal responsibility principle by allowing veterinarians to use their discretion in administering the rabies vaccine to an animal regardless of whether they have established a "veterinarian-client patient relationship" with the animal before hand. This would make the administration of the rabies vaccine more efficient which also supports our limited government principle.