(a) The custodian (excluding animal shelters as defined
in the Texas Health and Safety Code, §823.001) of each dog or
cat shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by 16 weeks of
age. The animal must be vaccinated by or under the direct supervision
of a veterinarian with rabies vaccine licensed by the United States
Department of Agriculture for that species at or after the minimum
age requirement and using the recommended route of administration
for the vaccine. If a previously vaccinated animal is overdue for
a booster, once revaccinated, the animal will be considered currently
vaccinated; the animal should be placed on a vaccination schedule
according to the maximum labeled duration of immunity for the most
recently administered vaccine. The attending veterinarian has discretion
as to when the subsequent vaccination will be scheduled as long as
the revaccination due date does not exceed the recommended interval
for booster vaccination as established by the manufacturer or vaccination
requirements instituted by local ordinance. Livestock, domestic ferrets,
and wolf-dog hybrids should be vaccinated against rabies. Among livestock
species, vaccination of equines and others that have frequent contact
with humans is strongly advised. The administration of a rabies vaccine
in a species for which no licensed vaccine is available is at the
discretion of the veterinarian; however, an animal receiving a rabies
vaccine under these conditions will not be considered to be vaccinated
against rabies virus in potential rabies exposure situations.
(b) An official rabies vaccination certificate shall
be issued for each animal by the veterinarian responsible for administration
of the vaccine and contain the following information:
(1) custodian's name, address, and telephone number;
(2) animal identification-species, sex (including neutered
if applicable), approximate age, size (pounds), predominant breed,
and colors;
(3) vaccine used-product name, manufacturer, and serial
number;
(4) date vaccinated;
(5) revaccination due date;
(6) rabies tag number if a tag is issued;
(7) veterinarian's signature, signature stamp, or computerized
signature, plus address and license number.
(c) Each veterinarian who issues a rabies vaccination
certificate, or the veterinary practice where the certificate was
issued, shall retain a readily retrievable copy of the certificate
for a period of not less than five years.
(d) If a veterinarian ceases the practice of veterinary
medicine, the duplicate rabies vaccination certificates retained by
that practice shall be turned over to the local rabies control authority.
This does not apply to the sale or lease of a practice, when the records
of the practice are transferred to a new owner.
(e) The custodian shall retain each rabies vaccination
certificate until the animal receives a subsequent booster and shall
produce the certificate upon request by any local rabies control authority,
public health official, or animal control, law enforcement, or peace
officer when the request is part of the requester's official duty.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §169.29 adopted to be effective April 1, 1980, 5 TexReg 812; amended to be effective March 29, 1988, 13 TexReg 1337; amended to be effective February 22, 1993, 18 TexReg 845; amended to be effective February 21, 1996, 21 TexReg 963; amended to be effective August 21, 1996, 21 TexReg 7660; amended to be effective July 12, 1998, 23 TexReg 7224; amended to be effective March 19, 2003, 28 TexReg 2341; amended to be effective December 20, 2007, 32 TexReg 9341; amended to be effective March 31, 2013, 38 TexReg 1994 |