                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

VETERINARIANS TO PROVIDE TREASURER WITH RABIES CERTIFICATE INFORMATION; CIVIL
PENALTY (§ 3.2-6529)

A. Each veterinarian who vaccinates a dog against rabies or directs a veterinary
technician in his employ to vaccinate a dog against rabies shall provide the
owner a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate. The veterinarian shall
forward within 45 days a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate or the
relevant information contained in such certificate to the treasurer of the
locality where the vaccination occurs.
			The rabies vaccination certificate shall include at a minimum the signature
of the veterinarian, the animal owner&#8217;s name and address, the species of
the animal, the sex, the age, the color, the primary breed, whether or not the
animal is spayed or neutered, the vaccination number, and expiration date. The
rabies vaccination certificate shall indicate the locality where the animal
resides.

B. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of each vaccinated animal that is
not already licensed to apply for a license for the vaccinated dog. Beginning
January 1, 2008, if the treasurer determines, from review of the rabies
vaccination information provided by veterinarians, that the owner of an
unlicensed dog has failed to apply for a license within 90 days of the date of
vaccination, the treasurer shall transmit an application to the owner and
request the owner to submit a completed application and pay the appropriate fee.
Upon receipt of the completed application and payment of the license fee, the
treasurer or other agent charged with the duty of issuing the dog licenses shall
issue a license receipt and a permanent tag. The treasurer shall retain only the
information that is required to be collected and open to public inspection
pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter and shall forthwith destroy any
rabies vaccination certificate or other similar record transmitted by a
veterinarian to a treasurer pursuant to this section.
			The treasurer shall remit any rabies vaccination certificate received for any
animal owned by an individual residing in another locality to the local
treasurer for the appropriate locality.
			Any veterinarian that willfully fails to provide the treasurer of any
locality with a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate or the information
contained in such certificate may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$10 per certificate. Monies raised pursuant to this subsection shall be placed
in the locality&#8217;s general fund for the purpose of animal control
activities including spay or neuter programs.

HISTORY: 2006, c. 836, § 3.1-796.87:1; 2007, c. 270; 2008, cc. 16, 860.