Most veterinarians, including those in Wichita, use a
rabies vaccine for dogs that is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to give immunity for three years.
That's why Michael Nawrocki, president of the Wichita
Veterinary Medical Association, calls yearly rabies vaccinations
"overkill."
"Every animal, whether they get the one-year or the
three-year vaccine, it's the exact same vaccine; it's good for three
years," Nawrocki said.
If the vaccine is good for three years, why does the
city of Wichita require pets to be vaccinated every year?
Kay Johnson, director of the city's department of
environmental services, says irresponsible pet owners are to blame.
Until we see better compliance with vaccinations in
general, I'm not inclined to relax our position" on the yearly
vaccine, she said.
"It's insane for them to go through this every year,"
said Christopher Hesse of College Hill Animal Hospital.
Requiring all dogs to be vaccinated annually because
some people don't take their dogs in for shots is "ludicrous
thinking," Hesse said.
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If you would like to see the
national 3 year rabies protocol adopted, you can contact Kay
Johnson at
KJohnson@wichita.gov
Phone (316) 268-8351 Fax: (316) 268-8356 Environmental
Services1900 E. 9th St. N. Wichita, KS 67214. Kansas
Legislators can be contacted by clicking on the link below or by
copying and pasting the e-mails at the bottom of this post.