PORT ANGELES — Clallam County residents are still required to get rabies shots for their dogs and cats.
But, beginning next year, they will no longer be required to show proof of rabies vaccination to get a pet license.
An ordinance proposed last summer by Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict — and approved Tuesday by the three commissioners — removes one sentence from Clallam County code.
“A rabies vaccination certificate or certification by a veterinarian of rabies immunity determined by rabies antibody titer must be presented when purchasing a [dog or cat] license,” the deleted sentence reads.
Benedict’s intention is to drive up the lackluster licensing compliance rates in Clallam County. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office uses the licensing fees to fund the services provided by Olympic Peninsula Humane Society.
Licensing is good for pets and people, Benedict said, because it makes it easier to connect stray animals with their owners.
Less than 10 percent of dogs and about 1 percent of cats are licensed in Clallam County.
It costs $8 for a spayed or neutered dog or cat to get a license. The fee goes up to $35 for non-spayed or neutered pets.
Rabies shots cost $53.40 and must be renewed every three years.
Six out of eight veterinarians who returned a survey said the licensing and rabies requirements should stay linked.
“They tended to neutralize their position when the sheriff talked to them,” commissioner Mike Doherty said.
Commissioners Steve Tharinger, Mike Chapman and Doherty said they would support the proposal if the new licensing form includes a check box to remind people of their obligation to get their pets vaccinated.
“That’s a good way to go right there,” Chapman said.
Vaccinations for rabies — a fatal disease — are required by state law.
Benedict is working with city jurisdictions to create a uniform licensing form.
In 2010
He hopes to implement the county’s new license at the beginning of 2010.
“The goal is to have one license for all pets in the county,” Benedict said.
Dr. Tom Locke, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, and members of the Clallam County Animal Issues Advisory Committee endorsed Benedict’s proposal at a public hearing on Tuesday. Earlier public hearings were held on Aug. 18 and Sept. 29.
Most of the counties in the state — including Jefferson — have already uncoupled the proof of rabies vaccination requirement from the licensing form.
Locke said the last known rabies case in Clallam County involved a bat near Lake Ozette in 2007.
Another bat had rabies in Clallam County earlier that year, but no other cases are known in the county.
“Almost all the Washington cases have been bats,” Locke said.
“We don’t have any record of rabid cats or dogs in Clallam County.”
A dog tested positive for rabies in Eastern Washington in 1987, Locke said. A cat tested positive for rabies in Eastern Washington in 2002.
Eight humans have had rabies in Washington. Six cases happened in the 1930s.
No people have had rabies on the North Olympic Peninsula. The closest case was one in Mason County in 1997, Locke said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
