                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RABIES INOCULATION OF COMPANION ANIMALS; AVAILABILITY OF CERTIFICATE; RABIES
CLINICS (§ 3.2-6521)

A. The owner or custodian of all dogs and cats four months of age and older
shall have such animal currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed
veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and
direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises unless otherwise
provided by regulations. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall
provide the owner or custodian of the dog or the cat with a rabies vaccination
certificate or herd rabies vaccination certificate and shall keep a copy in his
own files. The owner or custodian of the dog or the cat shall furnish within a
reasonable period of time, upon the request of an animal control officer, humane
investigator, law-enforcement officer, State Veterinarian&#8217;s
representative, or official of the Department of Health, the certificate of
vaccination for such dog or cat. The vaccine used shall be licensed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture for use in that species. At the discretion of the
local health director, a medical record from a licensed veterinary establishment
reflecting a currently vaccinated status may serve as proof of vaccination.

B. All rabies clinics require the approval by the appropriate local health
department and governing body. The licensed veterinarian who administers rabies
vaccinations at the clinic shall (i) provide the owner or custodian a rabies
vaccination certificate for each vaccinated animal and (ii) ensure that a
licensed veterinary facility retains a copy of the rabies vaccination
certificate. The sponsoring organization of a rabies clinic shall, upon the
request of the owner or custodian, an animal control officer, a humane
investigator, a law-enforcement officer, a State Veterinarian&#8217;s
representative, a licensed veterinarian, or an official of the Department of
Health, provide the name and contact information of the licensed veterinary
facility where a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate is retained.
However, the county or city shall ensure that a clinic is conducted to serve its
jurisdiction at least once every two years.

C. Rabies clinics approved by the appropriate local health department and
governing body may offer microchipping and additional animal health vaccines at
the discretion of the licensed veterinarian or veterinarians participating in
the clinic. Any licensed veterinarian who administers animal health vaccinations
at the clinic shall (i) provide the owner or custodian of an animal a
vaccination record for each vaccinated animal and (ii) ensure that a licensed
veterinary establishment retains a copy of each vaccination record. Licensed
veterinary technicians may administer animal health vaccines at a rabies clinic
under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the
premises unless otherwise provided by regulations.

D. Local health departments shall submit a report to the Department of Health no
later than December 31 of each year that includes (i) the number and location of
rabies clinics approved pursuant to subsections B and C and (ii) the number and
type of vaccinations administered, the number of microchips administered, and
the number of veterinarians and veterinary technicians in attendance at each
clinic to determine the type of service utilized.

E. Vaccination subsequent to a summons to appear before a court for failure to
do so shall not operate to relieve such owner from the penalties or court costs
provided under &#xA7; 16.1-69.48:1 or 17.1-275.7.

F. The Board of Health shall, by regulation, provide an exemption to the
requirements of subsection A if an animal suffers from an underlying medical
condition that is likely to result in a life-threatening condition in response
to vaccination and such exemption would not risk public health and safety. For
the purposes of &#xA7; 3.2-6522, such exemption shall mean that the animal is
considered not currently vaccinated for rabies. For the purposes of &#xA7;&#xA7;
3.2-5902, 3.2-6526, and 3.2-6527, such exemption shall be considered in place of
a current certificate of vaccination.

HISTORY: 1984, c. 492, § 29-213.67; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.97; 1988, c. 538,
§ 3.1-796.97:1; 1992, c. 294; 1993, c. 817; 1994, c. 636; 1996, c. 351; 1998,
c. 817; 2006, c. 836; 2008, c. 860; 2009, c. 756; 2010, cc. 182, 834; 2013, c.
286; 2024, c. 241.