PORT ANGELES — A decision to uncouple the proof of rabies vaccination requirement from the pet licensing form in Clallam County was postponed Tuesday to give veterinarians more time to weigh in.
The three Clallam County commissioners continued a public hearing indefinitely, saying they will vote on the issue within the next two months.
To improve licensing compliance in Clallam County, Sheriff Bill Benedict proposed an ordinance that would amend county code to separate the proof of rabies vaccination or rabies immunity at the time of getting a pet licensing.
Doing so would boost revenue to the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society and its animal shelter, based in Port Angeles, which is requesting $70,000 more than the Sheriff’s Department has in next year’s budget.
“My view on this is, we’re leaving money on the table by not finding a way to get more people buying licenses,” Benedict said.
Animal control officers still would require a proof of rabies vaccination. Rabies shots are required by law.
“You would still be required to have your pet vaccinated, but that would be more of an issue between the pet owner and the veterinarian,” Benedict said.
More than 50 percent of the dogs and cats in Clallam County have proof of a rabies shot, but fewer than 15 percent of dogs — and 2 percent of cats — have a county license, Benedict said.
Part of the problem is that many veterinarians don’t sell pet licenses with the rabies vaccinations, Benedict said.
Many counties in the state, including Jefferson, have already uncoupled the requirements.
“What I proposed to do . . . is all fees that the county receives for animal licenses goes straight to the humane society,” Benedict said.
Further delays would affect the ability of the Sheriff’s Department to fund the animal shelter, he said.
Concerns
Andrew May of Port Angeles addressed the board on behalf of his wife, Carmen Czachor, a local veterinarian who was unable to attend the meeting.
“Licensing pets is sometimes the only reason an owner will get rabies vaccines,” Czachor said in a letter that May read to the commissioners.
“I realize that just licensing pets without the vaccine might bring more people in to license their pets, but those pets will then have tags that hang around their collar that gives many counties a false impression that they are vaccinated,” she said.
“Rabies vaccinance is the law of the state, the law of the county. Licensing, in my view, is less important than vaccinating for rabies and may facilitate even more rabies cases.”
Czachor stressed the severity of the disease that pets can get from bats and spread to humans.
“If you get rabies, you will die,” she said.
Speaking on his own behalf, May said veterinarians were unaware of Tuesday’s hearing.
“I do worry about the communication links and again would respectfully request that the commissioners consider that,” May said.
The ordinance was debated in three Animal Issues Advisory Council meetings. The council, which represents the entire county, recommended Benedict’s proposal to the board.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger asked for input from Benedict and the advisory council on the number of animals that would miss their rabies shots if the proof of vaccination requirement were removed from the licensing requirement.
“The number that get that vaccination because of the link to the license — that’s the issue,” Tharinger said. “How would we address that?”
Responsible owners
“Most pet owners — in fact the vast majority — if they’re responsible enough to get a license, they’re responsible enough to get a pet vaccinated,” Benedict said.
“I don’t see it the other way around.”
Benedict cited the example of Jefferson County, which uncoupled the requirements and saw its licensing compliance rise to 50 percent and its vaccination rate higher than that.
Eventually, Benedict hopes to have a standardized pet licensing form for the entire county, including the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks.
To view the ordinance with the proposed changes outlined in red, click on www.clallam.net and follow the link to “county code, policy and laws,” then click on “comment on draft policies and ordinances.”
Public comment can be submitted through the county’s Web site or dropped off at the commissioners’ office in the Clallam County courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
