Maine Pets

The December 2006/January 2007 (Vol. 8, Issue 6) Animal Wellness Magazine features an article by Ann Brightman on the Rabies Challenge Fund and the 5 and 7 year canine challenge studies it will finance entitled, How Often Does He REALLY Need a Rabies Shot? at http://animalwellnessmagazine.com/m/m86/main.htm.

The link above to the Animal Wellness article by Ann Brightman article HOW OFTEN DOES HE REALLY NEED A RABIES SHOT? contained an inaccuracy, the address is: http://animalwellnessmagazine.com/m/m86/main.htm (minus the . after htm).

Are horses being included in this rabies challenge? Can anyone provide me with any information concerning the possible over-vaccination of horse vis-a-vis rabies?

This is really outrageous. As many of you know, I despise the fact that rabies vaccinations are required for dogs every three years and even annually in some states. I've read about all the adverse reactions and the belief of many holistic vets that rabies vaccinations confer immunity for a lifetime. Nobody would like to see the laws changed to allow dogs to be vaccinated for rabies less frequently more than I would. However, I draw the line at torturing animals in order to accomplish that.
Apparently, some people have no such scruples, such as two people whom I admired and respected up until recently, when I read the "Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust Research Study" for which one of them is fundraising and the other is the principal investigator. In this study, two rather large groups of beagles (each with at least 35 members―it's not known exactly how many) will be isolated for five years or seven years, depending on the group; at least 25 of them will be vaccinated; and then they will all be injected with rabies virus to see who dies and who doesn't. The man doing the experiment is Ronald Schultz, D.V.M., chair of pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and an outspoken critic of the laws regarding rabies vaccinations, and the person raising the funds for the experiment is none other than W. Jean Dodds, D.V.M., a veteran of the holistic veterinary medical community. I find this terribly disturbing and hypocritical.

Death by rabies is ugly indeed. The virus infects the brain, causing encephalitis, and can also attack the spinal cord. There can be everything from fever and flu-like symptoms to anxiety, confusion, erratic behavior, aggression, disorientation, seizures, partial paralysis, coma, and death from respiratory arrest. One of the horrible aspects of the disease is that the jaw and throat become paralyzed, making it impossible to drink or even swallow one's own saliva, causing the characteristic drooling.
Of course, none of this is mentioned in Dodds' fundraising. I doubt that she would get a dime if it were. She is soliciting funds from dog lovers of all kinds, preying on their fears for their own dogs' health while totally misleading them. Her Web site and her flier contain not a single word about the negative aspects and gruesome details of the actual experiment. This is deceitful at best. The idea of torturing upwards of 70 dogs in order to improve the health of the rest of the dog population is no different from deciding to torture 70 children in order to improve the health of other children. Those 70 dogs matter! Each one matters! None of them wants to die a horrible death, be killed prematurely, or spend their entire life in a kennel.

We all want our own dogs to be healthy, but people with true compassion don't want that to be at the expense of any other dogs. I'm sorry to have to say it, but in this experiment, the ends, as laudable as they are, do not justify the means.
A better way to spend the $1.25 million being raised for these experiments would be to develop an acceptable serological method to test for rabies antibodies and immunity to the rabies virus.
If you agree, why not shoot Dr. Dodds an e-mail at hemopet@hotmail.com and let her know how you feel?

http://blog.helpinganimals.com/2008/05/when_the_ends_dont_justify_the.php

It's interesting that the Rabies Challenge Fund folks are now saying they will attempt to make changes to the protocol after the experiments have begun on beagles (even though it is highly unlikely the USDA will agree to that since the experiments have already begun). So it is still likely that many dogs will die and many will die excruciating deaths.

As far as I can tell, RCF has made no attempts to date to get a serological protocol approved. The experiments being conducted by RCF are purely elective. Why not design a tenable serological protocol that can be approved by USDA? A serological method would allow data to be collected from volunteers rather than dogs stuck in a laboratory. Why were none of these efforts made before PETA began to shine a spotlight on the myriad of problems with RCF's plans?

With regards to RCF's statement that PETA should be working on this issue, we are indeed working on non-animal protocols for vaccine testing at both the USDA and the FDA. PETA has spent more than a quarter million dollars in recent years to develop non-animal testing methods. We're very happy to put our money where our mouth is!

Despite repeated requests, the RCF folks have refused to provide details including:

. the actual number of dogs involved in each study. The USDA gives only the minimum number of dogs that they must have data for at the culmination of the study, so logically RCF must use more dogs than the USDA's minimum of 70. However, RCF will not even answer this simple question.

. the conditions and socialization for the dogs. Dodds referred PETA to USDA's protocol for this information. USDA's protocol does not specify that dogs should be socialized or that they should receive toys or even a bed.

. how and when the dogs would be killed. RCF referred PETA to the USDA protocol for this information. USDA's protocol stipulates that even vaccinated dogs are to be killed and their brains examined. This is in direct contradiction RCF's current claim that it will adopt out the dogs who don't die.

RCF makes it appear that dogs will be killed at the first signs of rabies. Rabies is painful and its symptoms can begin quietly. Dogs will likely die of painful complications related to paralysis and inability to breathe.

No one is disputing how the immune system works and that dogs are most likely being over-vaccinated in many ways. However, a way to combat this is not to launch yet another study that will kill even more dogs.

Much more good could have come from an effort to change the way rabies vaccine efficacy is tested rather than to use more than $1 million to kill beagles.

We encourage the RCF to do better! They could not be doing much worse.

Ms. Dozier and other PETA members have been targeting The Rabies Challenge Fund for about a week. Attacking The Rabies Challenge Fund, which seeks to save thousands of dogs' lives by funding research with the goal of extending state-mandated rabies vaccine boosters to 5 and then 7 years will not change USDA vaccine licensing standards (which all 13 licensed rabies vaccines for dogs have gone through -- Fort Dodge, Merial, Schering-Plough, Intervet).

If PETA were truly concerned about dogs' lives, they would channel their concerns constructively and launch a massive petition to the USDA to get them to change their vaccine-licensing standards. Every member of The Rabies Challenge Fund team would applaud such a movement.

Dog owners who would like to see PETA petition the USDA to change their Code of Federal Requirements , Title 9, part 113.209 , please contact PETA member Bob Chorush at bob2001@verizon.net and let him know how you feel.

PETA member, Samantha Dozier, failed to fully disclose the following in her post: April 28, 2008 Newsweek article entitled PETA and Euthanasia by Jeneen Interlandi http://www.newsweek.com/id/134549 "Since 1998 PETA has killed more than 17,000 animals, nearly 85 percent of all those it has rescued. "

Nor did Ms. Dozier disclose the following from Channel 3 News in Kentucky May 7, 2008: http://www.ky3.com/news/trends/?feed=bim&id=18743839 OVER 90 PERCENT PUT TO DEATH "WASHINGTON -- An official report filed by People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with the Virginia government shows that the organization put to death more than 90 percent of the dogs, cats, and other pets it took in for adoption during 2007. "

Below is a copy of Dr. Dodds' response to two other PETA members who have contacted her with concerns.

Unfortunately, this information from PETA is terribly misleading. See below. We've tried to have a dialog with PETA about their RCF concerns and so hope that they now understand what we're doing and why. We appreciate your concern about the way in which we must conduct the RCF Research Study. Please allow me to explain the regulatory requirements we must follow as specified by the Code of Federal Requirements, USDA , Title 9, part 113.209. We cannot get a new rabies vaccine licensed by the government with the extended booster periods of 5 and eventually 7 years unless we strictly follow these regulatory requirements. The protocol is not up to us .

The Rabies Challenge Fund is designed to prove to UDSA authorities that dogs only need two booster rabies vaccines in their lifetime. This would significantly reduce the tragedies outlined below, save countless animal pain and suffering, and still protect the public health.

The public has little understanding of how all vaccines must be tested through USDA -specified trials before they are licensed for veterinary use. Every currently licensed rabies vaccine has been required to successfully complete these specified trials; and these vaccines as you know are required by law.

Only purebred beagles raised in a dog breeding facility run by veterinarians are involved in our project. This a large USDA licensed facility maintained in strict compliance with animal care and use requirements. The dogs live in large pens and are housed together in small groups for socialization and exercise. Further socialization is provided by their caretakers.

Today, we have a formidable uphill battle compounded by inertia in trying to change outdated rabies regulations to reflect what is truly needed to protect animals and people from contracting rabies. The federal government is just not interested in promoting a uniform requirement throughout the country that rabies booster vaccinations be given every three years. A few individual states and locales still insist on mandating annual rabies boosters when these vaccines are licensed for three years by the USDA. The recent media furor over the annual rabies booster mandate by the city of Wichita, KS is but one example.

While this travesty continues under the rubrick of state's rights, countless companion animals suffer from being required to receive rabies boosters even when they're terminally ill, debilitated, very old or have a record of prior serious adverse reaction to vaccination. This usually occurs when veterinarians either don't believe that adverse events occur or are likely, or they use the excuse that they're merely following the law. This situation is further complicated when local or state authorities will not accept waivers of booster requirement even with a veterinary letter of justification and/or a rabies antibody titer beyond the 1:5 titer level deemed by CDC to be adequate for people. Just today, a distraught caregiver was faced with having to revaccinate a middle aged dog with prior history of collapse after rabies vaccine. The dog's rabies antibody titer was 1: 3125, six hundred times that required for people, and yet the local authorities refused to grant a waiver.

These all too common occurrences have resulted in an increasing number of people simply breaking the law and not vaccinating their dogs at all. However, IF these dogs injure someone, even accidentally, and they're quarantined without evidence of an in-date rabies vaccination, the public health authorities have the right to require surety and direct that the animal be killed; his/her head is then examined for rabies. One such tragedy where a family was not given the chance to appeal on behalf of their dog is in litigation as we speak.

Then, there are the heartbreaking adverse reactions and deaths that occur when animals are forced to be given rabies boosters in lieu of waivers, when justified, and the dog seizures uncontrollably and dies in the caregiver's arms. Such a case also happened this past week.

Best wishes. With reverence for all life. Jean

More information on this subject from Dr. Dodds below responding to another PETA Member's inquiry. None of the research dogs will be allowed to develop full-blown rabies (see below) and the vaccinates will survive and can be adopted out.

1. Question: How many dogs actually suffer, per year, to make purposely killing 70 pure bread beagles acceptable?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: It has been estimated that the adverse reaction rate of aerious nature to rabies vaccinations is in the order of 0.38- 0. 50 % , with another 1-3% of vacinates experiencing less severe reactions. of the millions of dogs thatr must be vacinated by law annually.

2. Question: How long does the dog suffer with obvious rabies before he is humanely euthanized?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: Not at all ; as soon as any relevant sign is noted with round-the-clock coiverage --- at the end of the 5 and 7 year trials -- when all the dogs must be challenged with rabies virus, they are humanely sacrificed. We expect that all the non-vaccinated dogs will become ill, and that vaccinates will survive. BUT, as all these dogs will be just housed in large family style group pens, cared for and socialized for the entire trial period, without any exposure challenge to rabies virus until the end of the study, we have at least 4 years of their routine husbandry and care in which to dialog with the respoonsible USDA authorities to ask them to consider an alternative endpoint to the trial -- for example, allowing us to run rabies vaccine serolgy titers as proff of adequartete protection from rabies rather than an actual live rabies virus challenge. Dr. Schultz and I are both personally committed to work towards changing the current requirements before the end of the trials.

3. Question: What makes you believe that if an owner does not vaccinate their dog every three years because of the reaction the dog may have to the vaccination, that that same owner WILL get the dog vaccinated every five years?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: We don't, but, if the law is changed , then a dog will only need one more booster in midlife and none in old age - a biger isue if they're frail or ill. Also, remember that some states and locales within states still madate annual rabies boosters ! In Wichita, KS and Cheyenne, WY a huge recent blitz of officials challenging their ignorant position of annual rabies vaccination resulted in the city ordinances being changed for the future. Much of this effort was spearheaded by Kris Christine and the RCF. .

Question: As we all know, there’s a fine line between scientific experiments that are worthwhile for the benefits of those in the future and there are those experiments that are more harmful than what will benefit anyone in the long run! I am a firm believer that the end must justify the means and I, at this point, am not convinced that the ends of this experiment justifies the means, mainly due to the fact that I’m unsure as to how many animals, per year, truly suffer from five vaccinations in their lifetimes, rather than just three !

Dr. Dodds' Answer: Rabies vaccine is the strongest of all vaccines available today, and so elicits the highest likelihood of adverse events , including death. I deal with these tragedies almost every day from all over North America -- as does Dr. Schultz.

Actually, this is what does and will happen -- once a rabies vaccine is licensed for 5 years, a puppy would receive 2 initial doses, and then one more dose 5 years after the second one. IF we can show that a rabies vaccine can be effective and licensed for 7 years, then the dog will require one more vaccine 7 years after the second one. As it now stands, dogs are required to get a rabies booster either annually or every three years after the second one -- depending on the applicable state or local laws, and so when these privately cared for dogs become older and ill or frail - even with life-threatening diseases, most states and locales refuse to grant exemptions from rabies boosters even with justification provided by the primary care veterinarian and/or a high level of rabies antibody titer.

If the states would extend their rabies booster requirements without USDA Title 9, part 113.209 challenge studies, accepted rabies titers in lieu of vaccination, or accepted the 1992 French rabies challenge study results demonstrating a minimum 5 year duration of immunity, this research would not be necessary. The Rabies Challenge Fund seeks to save the lives of thousands of dogs and millions of others from suffering vaccinal adverse reactions. PETA has given misleading and false information about the rabies challenge studies (see more below).

If the USDA does not change their vaccine licensing requirements upon which all state rabies immunizations laws are currently based, Title 9 Part 113.209, by the time the first challenge is conducted in 4 1/2 years, then 40 of the dogs will be required to be euthanized and their brain tissue tested for rabies according to USDA's standard. Dr. Dodds and Dr. Schultz are committed to trying to get the USDA to change that requirement, and we're all very much hoping that they will be successful.

The rabies challenge studies being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund hope to save the lives of thousands of dogs, and if the USDA does not change Title 9 Part 113.209 it will come at the cost of 40 lives in 4 1/2 years. If looking strictly at the number of dogs for whom "death" is an adverse reaction to rabies vaccination within days (not taking into account those which develop cancers, etc...), the result of these studies could save 1,250 dogs a year.

The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association has published a report in its April 1, 2008 issue, Vol. 232, No. 7, entitled: Postmarketing Surveillance of Rabies Vaccines for Dogs to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy."

Despite the extreme under-reporting of vaccinal adverse reactions, this report states on the second page that between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2007, the Center for Veterinary Biologics, "nearly 10,000 adverse event reports (all animal species) were received by manufacturers of rabies vaccines..........Approximately 65% of the manufacturer's reports involved dogs."

The report further states on the second page that: "Rabies vaccines are the most common group of biological products identified in adverse event reports received by the CVB," and they give the following description of the adverse reaction followed by the % of dogs affected: Vomiting-28.1%, Facial Swelling-26.3%, Injection Site Swelling or Lump-19.4%, Lethargy-12%, Urticaria-10.1%, Circulatory shock-8.3%, Injection site pain-7.4%, Pruritus-7.4%, Injection site alopecia or hair loss-6.9%, Death-5.5%, Lack of Consciousness-5.5, Diarrhea-4.6%, Hypersensitivity (not specified)-4.6%, Fever-4.1%, Anaphylaxis-2.8%, Ataxia-2.8%, Lameness-2.8%, General signs of pain-2.3%, Hyperactivity-2.3%, Injection site scab or crust-2.3%, Muscle tremor-2.3%, Tachycardia-2.3%, and Thrombocytopenia-2.3%.

Veterinarians are not required by law to report adverse reactions to vaccines, to which the World Small Animal Veterinary Association stated in their 2007 Vaccine Guidelines that there is: "gross under-reporting of vaccine-associated adverse events which impedes knowledge of the ongoing safety of these products," and in an article entitled, A New Approach to Reporting Medication and Device Adverse Effects and Product Problems, (JAMA - June 2, 1993. Vol.269, No.21. p.2785) Dr. David Kessler, former head of the Food & Drug Administration, reported that "only about 1% of serious events are reported to the FDA."

In light of the 10,000 adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine in the JAVMA report, 65% of which were in dogs, the estimated 1% reporting of "serious" events by the former head of the FDA means that the actual number of dogs that had adverse reactions to the vaccine would be more like 650,000 -- applying the 5.5% figue given by the CVB resulting in death indicates that 3,750 died over the same 3 year period (1,250 a year or 6,250 over the course of 5 years, or 8,750 over the course of 7 years).

PETA members have been targeting The Rabies Challenge Fund for over a month. Attacking The Rabies Challenge Fund, which seeks to save thousands of dogs' lives and millions of others from suffering vaccinal adverse reactions by funding research with the goal of extending state-mandated rabies vaccine boosters to 5 and then 7 years will not change USDA vaccine licensing standards (which all 13 licensed rabies vaccines for dogs have gone through -- Fort Dodge, Merial, Schering-Plough, Intervet).

If PETA were truly concerned about dogs' lives, they would channel their concerns constructively and launch a massive petition to the USDA to get them to change their vaccine-licensing standards. Every member of The Rabies Challenge Fund team would applaud such a movement.

Dog owners who would like to see PETA petition the USDA to change their Code of Federal Requirements , Title 9, part 113.209 , please contact PETA's policy advisor, Samantha Dozier at samanthapeta@hotmail.com 757-622-7382 and let her know how you feel.

Pet owners interested in learning more about PETA might want to read the following articles: April 28, 2008 Newsweek article entitled PETA and Euthanasia by Jeneen Interlandi http://www.newsweek.com/id/134549 "Since 1998 PETA has killed more than 17,000 animals, nearly 85 percent of all those it has rescued. "

Channel 3 News in Kentucky May 7, 2008: http://www.ky3.com/news/trends/?feed=bim&id=18743839 OVER 90 PERCENT PUT TO DEATH "WASHINGTON -- An official report filed by People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with the Virginia government shows that the organization put to death more than 90 percent of the dogs, cats, and other pets it took in for adoption during 2007. "

Below is a copy of Dr. Dodds' response to two other PETA members who have contacted her with concerns.

Unfortunately, this information from PETA is terribly misleading. See below. We've tried to have a dialog with PETA about their RCF concerns and so hope that they now understand what we're doing and why. We appreciate your concern about the way in which we must conduct the RCF Research Study. Please allow me to explain the regulatory requirements we must follow as specified by the Code of Federal Requirements, USDA , Title 9, part 113.209. We cannot get a new rabies vaccine licensed by the government with the extended booster periods of 5 and eventually 7 years unless we strictly follow these regulatory requirements. The protocol is not up to us .

The Rabies Challenge Fund is designed to prove to UDSA authorities that dogs only need two booster rabies vaccines in their lifetime. This would significantly reduce the tragedies outlined below, save countless animal pain and suffering, and still protect the public health.

The public has little understanding of how all vaccines must be tested through USDA -specified trials before they are licensed for veterinary use. Every currently licensed rabies vaccine has been required to successfully complete these specified trials; and these vaccines as you know are required by law.

Only purebred beagles raised in a dog breeding facility run by veterinarians are involved in our project. This a large USDA licensed facility maintained in strict compliance with animal care and use requirements. The dogs live in large pens and are housed together in small groups for socialization and exercise. Further socialization is provided by their caretakers.

Today, we have a formidable uphill battle compounded by inertia in trying to change outdated rabies regulations to reflect what is truly needed to protect animals and people from contracting rabies. The federal government is just not interested in promoting a uniform requirement throughout the country that rabies booster vaccinations be given every three years. A few individual states and locales still insist on mandating annual rabies boosters when these vaccines are licensed for three years by the USDA. The recent media furor over the annual rabies booster mandate by the city of Wichita, KS is but one example.

While this travesty continues under the rubrick of state's rights, countless companion animals suffer from being required to receive rabies boosters even when they're terminally ill, debilitated, very old or have a record of prior serious adverse reaction to vaccination. This usually occurs when veterinarians either don't believe that adverse events occur or are likely, or they use the excuse that they're merely following the law. This situation is further complicated when local or state authorities will not accept waivers of booster requirement even with a veterinary letter of justification and/or a rabies antibody titer beyond the 1:5 titer level deemed by CDC to be adequate for people. Just today, a distraught caregiver was faced with having to revaccinate a middle aged dog with prior history of collapse after rabies vaccine. The dog's rabies antibody titer was 1: 3125, six hundred times that required for people, and yet the local authorities refused to grant a waiver.

These all too common occurrences have resulted in an increasing number of people simply breaking the law and not vaccinating their dogs at all. However, IF these dogs injure someone, even accidentally, and they're quarantined without evidence of an in-date rabies vaccination, the public health authorities have the right to require surety and direct that the animal be killed; his/her head is then examined for rabies. One such tragedy where a family was not given the chance to appeal on behalf of their dog is in litigation as we speak.

Then, there are the heartbreaking adverse reactions and deaths that occur when animals are forced to be given rabies boosters in lieu of waivers, when justified, and the dog seizures uncontrollably and dies in the caregiver's arms. Such a case also happened this past week.

Best wishes. With reverence for all life. Jean

More information on this subject from Dr. Dodds below responding to another PETA Member's inquiry. None of the research dogs will be allowed to develop full-blown rabies (see below) and the vaccinates will survive and can be adopted out.

1. Question: How many dogs actually suffer, per year, to make purposely killing 70 pure bread beagles acceptable?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: It has been estimated that the adverse reaction rate of aerious nature to rabies vaccinations is in the order of 0.38- 0. 50 % , with another 1-3% of vacinates experiencing less severe reactions. of the millions of dogs thatr must be vacinated by law annually.

2. Question: How long does the dog suffer with obvious rabies before he is humanely euthanized?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: Not at all ; as soon as any relevant sign is noted with round-the-clock coiverage --- at the end of the 5 and 7 year trials -- when all the dogs must be challenged with rabies virus, they are humanely sacrificed. We expect that all the non-vaccinated dogs will become ill, and that vaccinates will survive. BUT, as all these dogs will be just housed in large family style group pens, cared for and socialized for the entire trial period, without any exposure challenge to rabies virus until the end of the study, we have at least 4 years of their routine husbandry and care in which to dialog with the respoonsible USDA authorities to ask them to consider an alternative endpoint to the trial -- for example, allowing us to run rabies vaccine serolgy titers as proff of adequartete protection from rabies rather than an actual live rabies virus challenge. Dr. Schultz and I are both personally committed to work towards changing the current requirements before the end of the trials.

3. Question: What makes you believe that if an owner does not vaccinate their dog every three years because of the reaction the dog may have to the vaccination, that that same owner WILL get the dog vaccinated every five years?

Dr. Dodds' Reply: We don't, but, if the law is changed , then a dog will only need one more booster in midlife and none in old age - a biger isue if they're frail or ill. Also, remember that some states and locales within states still madate annual rabies boosters ! In Wichita, KS and Cheyenne, WY a huge recent blitz of officials challenging their ignorant position of annual rabies vaccination resulted in the city ordinances being changed for the future. Much of this effort was spearheaded by Kris Christine and the RCF. .

Question: As we all know, there’s a fine line between scientific experiments that are worthwhile for the benefits of those in the future and there are those experiments that are more harmful than what will benefit anyone in the long run! I am a firm believer that the end must justify the means and I, at this point, am not convinced that the ends of this experiment justifies the means, mainly due to the fact that I’m unsure as to how many animals, per year, truly suffer from five vaccinations in their lifetimes, rather than just three !

Dr. Dodds' Answer: Rabies vaccine is the strongest of all vaccines available today, and so elicits the highest likelihood of adverse events , including death. I deal with these tragedies almost every day from all over North America -- as does Dr. Schultz.

Actually, this is what does and will happen -- once a rabies vaccine is licensed for 5 years, a puppy would receive 2 initial doses, and then one more dose 5 years after the second one. IF we can show that a rabies vaccine can be effective and licensed for 7 years, then the dog will require one more vaccine 7 years after the second one. As it now stands, dogs are required to get a rabies booster either annually or every three years after the second one -- depending on the applicable state or local laws, and so when these privately cared for dogs become older and ill or frail - even with life-threatening diseases, most states and locales refuse to grant exemptions from rabies boosters even with justification provided by the primary care veterinarian and/or a high level of rabies antibody titer.