Killeen City Council Okays 3-Year Rabies Law

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:12:44 GMT

KILLEEN, TEXAS -- Thanks to the persistence of Dr. Laura Szeremi and the open-mindedness of its members, Killeen City Council unanimously passed a 3 year rabies ordinance today.

Good job!

Killeen Rabies Law Reform Not a Done Deal

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:01:20 GMT

Killeen, Texas pets owners in favor of relaxing the interval between rabies shots from one to three years are urged to keep the pressure on City Council members. Both advocates for reforming rabies law and opponents still have time to speak.

The Killeen City Council workshop to consider changing the revaccination protocol on rabies shots is set for July 12 from 4pm to 6pm. Citizens who wish to speak must register in advance. The final vote takes place at 6pm.

According to Dr. Laura Szeremi, a Killeen veterinarian who has bolstered reform efforts in Killeen and Bell County, TX for over five years, the July 5 meeting of the Killeen City Council to review the proposed change in local rabies laws "went well."

The final vote is scheduled to occur next week on July 12 affording both advocates and opponents one last chance to speak out on the matter.

"A lot is riding on this vote," says Dr. Szeremi, "because the surrounding cities will follow our lead. If Killeen doesn’t get it changed, it will be dead in the water for Temple, Cove and Heights who all plan to discuss changing it."

In the run up to rabies law reform at the county level in 2009, Dr. Szeremi said she is interested in having the county adopt the state standard, which she said is essentially the national standard. She said Killeen, with its fluid military population, regularly runs into pet vaccination issues because of the county's strict policy.

Dr. Szeremi argued that giving pets more frequent vaccinations doesn't protect the public. She pointed out that there has been no explosion in rabies cases over the past 25 years even though 32 states migrated to three-year vaccination intervals.

It's not over until it's over. And it's not over. Reform is not a done deal.

Voice your support in favor of conforming the city rabies laws with national, state and county standards. Contact the City Council members to vote in favor:

Scott Cosper scosper@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 526-2167
Larry Cole lcole@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 289-7012
Billy Workman bworkman@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 338-8337
Kenny Wells kwells@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 681-4977
Juan Rivera jrivera@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 338-4304
Terry Clark tclark@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 466-9082

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST

TX Action Alert: Killeen City Council Considers 3-Year Rabies Law

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:11:34 GMT

Killeen and Bell County, Texas dog and cat lovers are urged to weigh in with members of the Killeen City Council, which will hold a workshop July 5 to discuss adopting a 3 year rabies ordinance for the city. The vote on the matter is scheduled for July 12.

Dr. Laura Szeremi, a respected Killeen veterinarian who supported the initiative to extend the interval between rabies inoculations to conform to national, state guidelines in Bell County says that several local veterinarians have already voiced strong opposition to the change.

Herd immunity is the primary concern of public health officials - the more dogs and cats that are vaccinated against rabies, the less likely that contact with rabid wildlife will result in a spread of the virus to humans. Raccoons, skunks and bats are the primary repositories for rabies virus in the wild. Canine rabies has been eradicated in the USA for several years. There is no cat variant.

Dr. Bob Rogers, who was instrumental in getting the rabies protocol extended statewide in 2003, astutely points out, tighter rabies control does not result in a greater percentage of dogs and cats being vaccinated. According to Texas Health & Human Services, Department of Zoonosis, only 50 percent of dogs and cats in Texas get rabes shots; but it's the same dogs and cats. And this, says Dr. Laura Szeremi, has dire and often deadly consequences.

How to Help:

Contact the City Council members to vote in favor:

Scott Cosper scosper@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 526-2167
Larry Cole lcole@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 289-7012
Billy Workman bworkman@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 338-8337
Kenny Wells kwells@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 681-4977
Juan Rivera jrivera@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 338-4304
Terry Clark tclark@ci.killeen.tx.us (254) 466-9082

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST

UPDATE: Killeen, Bell County Rabies Law Reform in Limbo

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:24 GMT

What's new from Bell County Commissioners on reforming rabies laws to align with the three year standard set by the State of Texas in 2003 and supported by 27 veterinary medical schools as well as the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV)?

*crickets*

Apparently Bell County Commissioners have decided not to decide on rabies law reform.

In making no decision, they choose the status quo. This is neither safer for the public nor sound medicine for companion animals.

Compulsory annual rabies vaccinations do not increase herd immunity; 50 percent of pet owners ignore the law. Mandatory annual rabies vaccinations do not enhance our companion animals' immunity, but increase the chances of adverse reactions and chronic disease.

And making no decision leaves the City of Killeen, which wants to extend the interval between rabies shots to three years for the good of the community and the sake of its family pets, in limbo.

Bell County Blocks Public Comment on Rabies Law Reform

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:10:30 GMT

While talking about the horrors of rabies, Dunn added intensity to the meeting when he wagged his finger at Dr. Szeremi and said, 'You may not have practiced long enough to know this, young lady.'

In his presidency, Harry Truman earned the moniker, "Give 'em hell, Harry" for his dealings with Congress.

President Truman denied this.

"I give them the truth and it feels like hell."

Since May, when we first reported that Bell County Commissioners were debating the idea to conform the rabies inoculation protocol with state and national guidelines, they have been given "the truth" by local pet owners, Texas veterinary professionals, national experts on current veterinary vaccinology and rabies reform advocates from Texas and nationwide.

It must feel like hell.

One more time, they have resorted to stealth policy-making in order to avoid public comment.

According to a report in the Temple Daily Telegram print edition, the Bell County commissioner's workshop held in November saw Warren Dunn, DVM, the good old boy defending now outdated rabies laws he helped to develop, wagging his finger in the face of Dr. Laura Szeremi, a Killeen, TX veterinarian, who has spent five years arguing for Killeen and Bell County to adjust its regressive rabies ordinances.

Yet, for fear of public comment, the Temple Daily Telegram refused to publish the report on this important public meeting between Bell County Commissioners' and Dr. Dunn with Killeen city officials and Dr. Szeremi to its website.

I find that both appalling and unsurprising. So I am reprinting the TDT report in its entirety.

***
Rabies decision closer
By PAUL A. ROMER
TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

BELTON - Pet owners frustrated by Bell County's strict rabies vaccine ordinance should know by the end of the year whether changes are afoot.

Bell County Commissioners Court met this week with local veterinarians, a Killeen city attorney and council member and a pet owner to discuss the county's annual vaccination policy. The county requires pets to be vaccinated annually while state law recommends rabies boosters a minimum of every three years.

'We've heard enough information to make a decision,' County Judge Jon Burrows said Tuesday without elaborating on what that decision might be. He said county officials are in the process of discussing options with an attorney.

What commissioners heard on Monday was a mixture of rhetoric and facts about rabies vaccines. At one point, Dr. Warren Dunn, the veterinarian commissioners credit with helping develop the county's policy, raised his voice when addressing Dr. Laura Szeremi, the lone veterinarian speaking against his recommendation.

While talking about the horrors of rabies, Dunn added intensity to the meeting when he wagged his finger at Dr. Szeremi and said, 'You may not have practiced long enough to know this, young lady.'

Dunn said his recommendation is based 'first and foremost' out of a commitment to public health. He said rabies is too serious a disease to take chances with and that, although the policy is 'a little overkill,' it is warranted because of the potential danger to innocent human life.

Dunn said he uses the three-year vaccine with annual boosters because 'it's the best out there.' He said requiring annual shots provided a 'good buffer zone' against the disease and had nothing to do with making a profit.

'We're losing money giving rabies shots,' Dunn said. 'I don't want to hear we're doing it for the money.'

Dr. Szeremi said she is interested in having the county adopt the state standard, which she said is essentially the national standard. She said Killeen, with its fluid military population, regularly runs into pet vaccination issues because of the county's strict policy.

Dr. Szeremi argued that giving pets more frequent vaccinations doesn't protect the public. She pointed out that there has been no explosion in rabies cases over the past 25 years even though 32 states migrated to three-year vaccination intervals.

George Fox, who serves on a Killeen animal advisory board, said Killeen would just like the authority to have its own discussion about its city ordinance.

Under the law Killeen can only adopt Bell County's ordinance or one more strict, similar to what Bell County has done with state law.

Fox said he wants to have the ability to make the decision that is best for him and his pet in consultation with a veterinarian.

Killeen City Councilwoman JoAnn Purser said people with house dogs that have little chance of being infected with rabies shouldn't be required to get annual boosters.

Dunn suggested that veterinarians have discretion now about whether to skip vaccinations in a dog that does not need it or is at risk for a shot. He said he has done it and simply makes a notation in the veterinary file.

'He's breaking the law,' Dr. Szeremi said. 'And he's asking his clients to break the law.'

Burrows said he likes the idea of getting the decision into the hands of veterinarians.

FEEL FREE TO POST, CROSS POST and PASS IT ON. Also send messages in support of aligning rabies ordinances with state and national standards to Bell County Commissioners:

Commissioners Cortese, Brown, Lange, Fisher, Miller, and Garza

County Attorney Richard Miller

District Attorney Henry Garza

Bell County Commissioners Court
101 East Central Avenue
Belton, TX 76513

Here are previous posts on this initiative.

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/05/action-alert-kileen-debates-rabies.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/05/update-advocates-urge-reform-to-killeen.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/05/update-bell-county-commissioners-debate.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/06/update-2-bell-county-tx-debate.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/06/killeen-tx-looks-closer-at-rabies.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/06/update-bell-county-tx-reviews-its.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/07/killeen-tx-pushes-rabies-protocol.html

http://aimees-law.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-dance-killeen-takes-stand-to.html

Let's give 'em hell one more time!

Happy Dance: Killeen Takes a Stand to Reform Rabies Protocol

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:44:11 GMT

Killeen, TX City Council has taken a stand to push for an extended rabies revaccination protocol with Bell County officials.

After hearing presentations from two veterinarians, the Killeen City Council reached a unanimous consensus to support the committee's appeal to the county for prolonging rabies vaccinations to once every three years instead of annually.

Herd immunity is the primary concern of public health officials - the more dogs and cats that are vaccinated against rabies, the less likely that contact with rabid wildlife will result in a spread of the virus to humans. Raccoons, skunks and bats are the primary repositories for rabies virus in the wild. Canine rabies has been eradicated in the USA for several years. There is no cat variant.

Dr. Bob Rogers, who was instrumental in getting the rabies protocol extended statewide in 2003, astutely points out, tighter rabies control does not result in a greater percentage of dogs and cats being vaccinated. According to Texas Health & Human Services, Department of Zoonosis, only 50 percent of dogs and cats in Texas get rabes shots; but it's the same dogs and cats. And this, says Dr. Laura, has dire and often deadly consequences.

This battle between status quo and progress is not over; but when big city officials agree unanimously to push for reform, the angels in my heart do a happy dance.

Read it in the Killeen Daily News

Killeen, TX Pushes Rabies Protocol Reform

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:02:15 GMT

Dr. Laura Szeremi, head of the Killeen, TX Animal Advisory Committee, will present information on the need for rabies ordinance change to the Killeen City Council next Tuesday, July 28 to get their approval to approach the Bell County Commission of behalf of the City. This is an important move forward on this issue. If you are available to attend, the workshop starts at 4PM, the council meeting is at 6PM.

Animal advisory committee works to revamp rabies policyPosted On: Thursday, Jul. 23 2009 05:24 AM
By Justin Cox
Killeen Daily Herald

Killeen's animal advisory committee can't change the annual rabies vaccination policy – so it's going to the source.

The committee is sending representatives to the Bell County Commissioners Court and the Killeen City Council in an effort to change the county's policy on rabies vaccinations.

Currently, the city has to fall in line with Bell County's annual vaccination policy. However, some members of the animal advisory board, along with hundreds of veterinarians nationwide, argue that rabies vaccinations should be administered every three years and that annual vaccinations can harm pet health. But they can't do that unless the county changes its policy first.

Read more

STATUS: Bell County Stealth Policy-Making

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:42 GMT

Bell County Commissioners took note of public advocacy for extending the rabies prevention and control protocol to three years. Then they held their next policy discussion meeting on June 23, 2009 outside public view. The only public notice of it was posted at the Bell County Commissioner's Court.

Dr. Szeremi of the Killeen Animal Advisory Board, who initiated this policy review on behalf of the City of Killeen, was not invited. None of the national proponents for aligning the county protocol with national and state guidelines were notified. None of the Texas advocates were aware of the meeting date or agenda.

Only one Bell County pet owner who specifically requested of the County Commissioner's Office to be notified of any meeting discussing rabies was in attendance.

Regarding the Bell County, TX, rabies situation, I attended the county commissioners workshop on the rabies issue Tuesday, June 23.=2 0There was the county judge and three commissioners (one commissioner absent), one vet from Fort Hood area who was representing the area vets (for one-year vaccination, of course), and me who tried to represent dogs and dog owners, though I am in no way persuasive or a good speaker. They let the vet and me sit at the big table with them and give our positions. There was a reporter there, and an article that was fair appeared in the Temple Daily Telegram the next day. The article apparently is not available in the on-line archives of the Telegram.

Scant public notice. Limited local news coverage. Not a single word about rabies prevention and control in the County Commissioner's Court Archives. Those good old boys better be careful. Someone might get the idea they have something to hide.

We are currently besieging the Bell County Commissioner's office to request notification of meeting dates before any further discussion of this issue takes place.

Public policy made in stealth mode can't be good for the public and spells trouble for companion animals in Bell County.

Killeen TX Looks Closer at Rabies Vaccinations

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:42:11 GMT

To borrow a phrase from ... uh...somewhere, "it ain't over until it's over."

It appears that the public scrutiny on the outdated rabies vaccine
protocol in Bell County, Texas brought by advocates for a three year
interval has raised local awareness and push back. Or to borrow another
phrase from ... you know... "nobody puts Killeen in a corner."

Killeen Takes Closer Look at
Rabies Vaccinations

Posted
in Local News on Thursday,
June 4th, 2009

Read it

Update: Bell County Commissioners Debate Changing Rabies Laws

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:53:53 GMT

According to a follow up report in the Killeen Daily Herald, Bell County, TX Commissioners are set to reject any change in the annual rabies vaccine protocol.

"I talked with the commissioners about it, and I don't think it's something they are going to change, not as long as we have a vet who (is opposed to it)." stated county attorney, Rick Miller. "Absent that, they are not inclined to change the ordinance. I'll have to look at the state law, but right now, we're going to keep it as is."

Commissioner John Fisher concurred with Miller, largely due to the opinion of local veterinarian Dr. Warren Dunn of the Belton Veterinary Clinic, who strongly disagrees with the assertion that annual rabies shots are unnecessary.

"Right now, the policy is annual rabies shots," Fisher said. "Dr. Dunn has discussed this. That's our policy right now, and unless someone can give us a better argument, we're going to keep this policy as is."

What's the point of argument? The science has been done.

According to a landmark report on dogs and cat vaccines published in 2002 by the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA),there is no scientific basis for annual revaccination. Re-administering rabies vaccine does not enhance disease resistance and may expose animals to unnecessary risk.

Furthermore, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians advise public health officials that requiring inoculation more frequently than every three years is counterproductive.

"Vaccines used in state and local rabies control programs should have at least a 3-year duration of immunity. This constitutes the most effective method of increasing the proportion of immunized dogs and cats in any population (50).” ~Jenkins, S. R., Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2003 Vet Med Today: Public Vet Med, JAVMA, Vol. 222, No 2, Jan 15, 2003

So who benefits from maintaining the status quo?

A study published in 2004 by Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, reported that 21 million Texans owned pets. In 2003 alone, the financial outpouring of their love and devotion amounted to $2.8 billion for food and veterinary medical services in addition to medicine and supplies.

Surgical removal and post-operative care for cats with injection site cancer is around $6,000. VAS treatment expenses that reach $10,000 are becoming more common. When post-op care includes radiation and chemotherapy, veterinary medical expense easily double those costs to $20,000. Morbidity in VAS cats if high.

Dog owners who try to save their dogs from deadly IMHA spend $5,000 just for emergency treatment-- blood transfusions, drug therapy and close monitoring for a week or longer. Continuing veterinary care adds $7,000 to this. Prognosis for survival is guarded.

Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMT), hypothyroidism, chronic hepatitis, renal failure, cystitis or lower urinary tract disease (particularly in cats), neurological diseases such as confusion and inability to be "present", asthma, and so on are all associated with vaccine reaction. There are few cures. Managed care goes on – and costs accrue - for the life of the animal.

These costs are just the tip of the iceberg.

Ear and skin conditions are the most common problems veterinarians deal with day to day.

Often pet owners report that these begin shortly after re-vaccination and are exacerbated with every subsequent vaccine. Regardless how and when they emerge, chronic, incurable sickness is detrimental to a dog or cat’s quality of life and longevity. Treatment is financially draining to its family.

The effects of over-vaccinating beloved companion animals is a financial bonanza for the veterinarians who resist a medically sound rabies vaccine protocol.

It's high time vets who reject science at the expense of our pets' health understand that giving annual rabies shots to family pets is not only bad medicine but bad business.

Dr. Warren Dunn of the Belton Veterinary Clinic is the chief opponent to three-year rabies shots in Bell County.

I urge dog and cat owners in Bell County to vote with your feet and on the way out the door, tell Dr. Dunn that you're taking your pets to a veterinary practice that cares more about the wellbeing of their health than the bottom line.

Dr. Laura Szeremi, a member of the Killeen animal advisory board and a practicing veterinarian at two hospitals in the Killeen area, has promoted the change in Killeen rabies laws. In her estimation, annual rabies vaccine is unneeded and potentially harmful.

Action Alert: Killeen Debates Rabies Vaccination Interval

Tue, 26 May 2009 13:03:32 GMT

After all the current vaccinology science and professional endorsements that support a minimum 3 year rabies interval, after all 50 states have adopted this standard protocol, officials and advocates in Killeen, TX are still debating the wisdom of changing the local laws to conform with state guidelines.

Regulations for rabies vaccination under debate

Posted On: Thursday, May. 21 2009 05:43 AM

Killeen officials are looking to redefine rules governing rabies vaccinations for animal owners in the city.

Currently, the city has to fall in line with Bell County's yearly vaccination policy; however, some members of the animal advisory board said Wednesday that they would like to see the requirements extended to every three years.

But they can't do that unless the county changes its policy first.

Municipal prosecutor Holli Clements said the state authorizes cities to adopt their own rules governing rabies vaccinations, but those rules can only be more stringent than the county's policies.

And veterinarians disagree as to the necessity of changing the law.

Read it

Heading the Kileen Animal Advisory Committee is Laura Szeremi, DVM. Send supportive messages through the City Manager's office.

City Manager's Office
City of Killeen
101 North College
PO Box 1329
Killeen, TX 76540

254-634-8399-Fax
254-501-7700 Phone

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