Section 8. Vaccination Of Dogs And Cats Required

A. Dogs and cats over the age of three months shall be vaccinated against rabies. The animal shall receive a booster within the 12-month interval following the initial vaccination. Every domestic dog and cat shall be revaccinated against rabies within 12 months if a 1-year vaccine is administered or within 36 months if a 3-year vaccine is administered with a rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered according to label recommendations. The “compendium of animal rabies control (CARC),” published by the national association of public health veterinarians, Inc., shall be the reference for the route of inoculation and the type of vaccine. Copies are available upon request from the department. B. Rabies vaccine shall not be distributed except to a veterinarian. C. The veterinarian who administers rabies vaccine to a dog or cat shall issue to the owner a serially numbered vaccination certificate containing the name of the veterinarian, the type of vaccine used, the initials of the producer of the vaccine, the name and address of the owner, a description of the dog or cat vaccinated, the date of vaccination, and the expiration date for the period of immunity. The veterinarian shall also furnish the owner with a tag bearing the certificate number and the year of the vaccination. The tag shall be affixed to the vaccinated dog or cat and shall be worn at all times the animal is not on the premises of the owner or otherwise confined. A combination rabies vaccination certificate and city/county license shall be permitted providing the certificate/license contains at least the above required information. D. Approved rabies vaccine shall be administered to the species, by the route and in the amount recommended by the producer of the vaccine and the latest CARC. E. Nothing herein shall prohibit the acceptance and recognition for purpose of compliance with this section of the administration of an approved rabies vaccine by a veterinarian licensed in another state east the above required information. D. Approved rabies vaccine shall be administered to the species, by the route and in the amount recommended by the producer of the vaccine and the latest CARC. E. Nothing herein shall prohibit the acceptance and recognition for purpose of compliance with this section of the administration of an approved rabies vaccine by a veterinarian licensed in another state. [8/27/79; 10/31/96; 7.4.2.8 NMAC - Rn & A, 7 NMAC 4.2.8, 5/30/2003] 7.4.2.9 HUMAN EXPOSURE; ANIMALS WITH SYMPTOMS OF RABIES: A. When any person is bitten by an animal, it is the duty of such person or his parent or guardian, or any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of the animal, to immediately notify the animal control officer or the field office of the public health division. B. Any dog, cat or ferret which bites or otherwise exposes a person to rabies shall be either destroyed and the head sent to the laboratory for rabies testing or confined immediately at the owner’s expense at a place and in a manner designated by the animal control officer and approved by the field health office. If the dog, cat or ferret shows signs or symptoms of rabies during the ten (10) day confinement and observation period, it shall be destroyed and the head sent to the laboratory for rabies testing. C. Any skunk, bat, raccoon, coyote, bobcat or other wild animal not born or reared in captivity, with the exception of rodents (order rodentia) or rabbits (order lagomorpha), which bites or otherwise exposes a person to rabies shall be destroyed immediately and the head sent to the laboratory for testing. Rabbits and rodents do not normally transmit rabies. 7.4.2 NMAC 2 D. Except for rodents and rabbits, the head of a susceptible animal suspected of having rabies, which bites or otherwise exposes a person to rabies and either dies or is destroyed within ten (10) days following the exposure shall be immediately sent to the laboratory for rabies testing nd the head sent to the laboratory for testing. Rabbits and rodents do not normally transmit rabies. 7.4.2 NMAC 2 D. Except for rodents and rabbits, the head of a susceptible animal suspected of having rabies, which bites or otherwise exposes a person to rabies and either dies or is destroyed within ten (10) days following the exposure shall be immediately sent to the laboratory for rabies testing. Rodent and rabbit specimens may be submitted with the consent of the state epidemiologist of the division of epidemiology, evaluation and planning division. A rabies submission form and instructions for shipping are available upon request from the scientific laboratory division, department of health.