H 447

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.447
 2025  Page 1 of 3
1H.447
2 Introduced by Representative Durfee of Shaftsbury
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Internal security and public safety; animals; domestic pet or wolf-
6hybrid control; licenses; general provisions
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require
8 veterinarians and domestic pet owners to send copies of the current rabies
9 vaccine certificate for animal licensure to the municipal clerk.
10    An act relating to rabies vaccination certificate requirements for domestic
11    pet or wolf-hybrid licensure
12 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
13 Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 3581 is amended to read:
14 § 3581. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
15    (a) A person who is the owner of a dog or wolf-hybrid more than six
16 months old shall annually on or before April 1 cause it to be registered,
17 numbered, described, and licensed on a form approved by the Secretary for one
18 year from that day in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the
19 dog or wolf-hybrid is kept. A person who owns a working farm dog and who
20 intends to use that dog on a farm pursuant to the exemptions in section 3549 of
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1 this title shall cause the working farm dog to be registered as a working farm
2 dog and shall, in addition to all other fees required by this section, pay $5.00
3 for a working farm dog license. The owner of a dog or wolf-hybrid shall cause
4 it to wear a collar and attach a license tag issued by the municipal clerk to the
5 collar. Dog or wolf-hybrid owners shall pay for the license $4.00 for each
6 neutered dog or wolf-hybrid, and $8.00 for each unneutered dog or wolf-
7 hybrid. If the license fee for any dog or wolf-hybrid is not paid on or before
8 After April 1 of a given license year, its the owner or keeper may thereafter
9 procure a license for that license year by paying a fee of 50 percent in excess
10 of that otherwise required.
11    (b) Before a person shall be entitled to obtain a license for a neutered dog
12 or wolf-hybrid, he or she the person shall exhibit to the clerk a certificate
13 signed by a duly licensed veterinarian showing that the dog or wolf-hybrid has
14 been sterilized.
15***
16    (d)(1) Before obtaining a license for a dog or wolf-hybrid six months of
17 age or older, a person shall deliver to the municipal clerk a certificate or a
18 certified copy thereof issued by a duly licensed veterinarian, stating that the
19 dog or wolf-hybrid has received a current preexposure rabies vaccination with
20 a vaccine approved by the Secretary, and the person shall certify that the dog
21 or wolf-hybrid described in the certificate or copy is the dog or wolf-hybrid to
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1 be licensed. The municipal clerk shall keep the certificates or copies thereof
2 on file. The Secretary shall prescribe the size and format of rabies certificates.
3 The owner of any such dog or wolf-hybrid shall maintain a copy of the rabies
4 vaccination form certificate and provide it to State or municipal officials upon
5 request.
6(2) The rabies vaccination certificate shall include the following:
7(A) the signature of the veterinarian;
8(B) the dog or wolf-hybrid owner’s name and address;
9(C) the species, sex, age, color, and primary breed of the animal; and
10(D) the vaccination number and expiration date.
11(3) Veterinarians must present a list of rabies vaccinations to the
12 municipal clerk every 30 days.
13***
14 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
15    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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