1.Rabies vaccinations in shelters. One issue that we resolved is that humane societies are not required to vaccinate cats in their shelters against rabies. This policy was being unequally enforced across the state. The rabies law defines a cat as a feline that spends “any part of any 24 day in a residence inhabited by a human being.” When cats are in our shelters they are not in a residence. You may still choose to vaccinate, but your records for cats are not subject to Dog Law inspection. We were asked if it would be a hardship for humane societies were not able to give rabies shots to their own animals. We said that it would be. Humane societies that use foster homes for dogs or that take dogs offsite for adoption at locations like PetSmart should be aware that those dogs are required to be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian. Rabies vaccinations given by a certified staff member are only valid at your shelter.

2.Grants for Humane Societies. On the issue of grants for humane societies we encouraged them to send tips for preparing submissions for reimbursement every year to every agency approved for a grant. This will help assure that people fill out submissions properly and receive funds in a timely way. For the 2010 grant year the Department will provide us with an application to post on the Federated Humane Societies of PA website. Humane societies are represented on the Dog Law Advisory Board by Nancy Gardiner, Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter; Joan Brown, Humane League of Lancaster and Cindy Starke, SPCA of Luzerne County. The next Dog Law Advisory Board is scheduled for September 30, 2009 at Department of Agriculture building, 2301 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA, in Conference Room 309, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. It is open to the public.

3. Euthanasia by Injection. Representatives of the Federated Humane Societies of PA met with Department of Agriculture, PA Board of Pharmacy, PA Veterinary Board and PVMA representatives to discuss creating regulations under Act 83 of 1983 (The Animal Destruction Method Act) to allow humane societies direct access to sodium pentobarbital without having a veterinarian sign for it. This would be linked to mandatory training for euthanasia technicians. The meeting was very productive. The plan would be to move forward with regulations so that the PA Board of Pharmacy would be able to recommend to the DEA to provide a direct license for sodium pentobarbital to a humane society. Regulations or guidelines from the Department of Agriculture would mandate training and certification for euthanasia technicians and specific methods of record keeping. The American Humane Association training that many euthanasia technicians have already received would be accepted and we are looking into other available certification programs. This meeting was an important first step toward something that is long overdue.