An Act To Require Veterinarians To Notify the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources of Rabies Vaccinations of Dogs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3916, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. Notice to department. A veterinarian who issues a certificate of rabies vaccination for a dog pursuant to subsection 2 shall, within 30 days of issuing the certificate, forward by mail, e-mail or fax a copy of that certificate to the department. The department shall send a copy of the certificate by mail, e-mail or fax to the clerk of the municipality in which the owner resides. If the owner resides in the unorganized territory, the department shall send a copy of the certificate to the dog recorder in that unorganized territory or, in the absence of a duly authorized dog recorder, to the dog recorder in the nearest municipality or unorganized territory in the same county in which the owner resides. The department may retain a copy or electronic record of the rabies certificate. The department may accumulate certificates received and distribute them periodically to the appropriate municipalities and dog recorders. Distributions must be made no fewer than 4 times a year.
Sec. 2. Commissioner to provide information. Within 15 days of the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall send a letter to veterinarians and the Maine Veterinary Medical Association explaining the new law and providing an e-mail address, a fax number and a mailing address to use when submitting copies of rabies certificates to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.
Effective September 20, 2007