BILL AS INTRODUCED H.447
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VT LEG #381071 v.1
H.447 1
Introduced by Representative Durfee of Shaftsbury 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Internal security and public safety; animals; domestic pet or wolf-5
hybrid control; licenses; general provisions 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 7
veterinarians and domestic pet owners to send copies of the current rabies 8
vaccine certificate for animal licensure to the municipal clerk. 9
An act relating to rabies vaccination certificate requirements for domestic 10
pet or wolf-hybrid licensure 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 3581 is amended to read: 13
§ 3581. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 14
(a) A person who is the owner of a dog or wolf-hybrid more than six 15
months old shall annually on or before April 1 cause it to be registered, 16
numbered, described, and licensed on a form approved by the Secretary for one 17
year from that day in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the 18
dog or wolf-hybrid is kept. A person who owns a working farm dog and who 19
intends to use that dog on a farm pursuant to the exemptions in section 3549 of 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.447
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VT LEG #381071 v.1
this title shall cause the working farm dog to be registered as a working farm 1
dog and shall, in addition to all other fees required by this section, pay $5.00 2
for a working farm dog license. The owner of a dog or wolf-hybrid shall cause 3
it to wear a collar and attach a license tag issued by the municipal clerk to the 4
collar. Dog or wolf-hybrid owners shall pay for the license $4.00 for each 5
neutered dog or wolf-hybrid, and $8.00 for each unneutered dog or wolf-6
hybrid. If the license fee for any dog or wolf-hybrid is not paid on or before 7
After April 1 of a given license year, its the owner or keeper may thereafter 8
procure a license for that license year by paying a fee of 50 percent in excess 9
of that otherwise required. 10
(b) Before a person shall be entitled to obtain a license for a neutered dog 11
or wolf-hybrid, he or she the person shall exhibit to the clerk a certificate 12
signed by a duly licensed veterinarian showing that the dog or wolf-hybrid has 13
been sterilized. 14
* * * 15
(d)(1) Before obtaining a license for a dog or wolf-hybrid six months of 16
age or older, a person shall deliver to the municipal clerk a certificate or a 17
certified copy thereof issued by a duly licensed veterinarian, stating that the 18
dog or wolf-hybrid has received a current preexposure rabies vaccination with 19
a vaccine approved by the Secretary, and the person shall certify that the dog 20
or wolf-hybrid described in the certificate or copy is the dog or wolf-hybrid to 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.447
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be licensed. The municipal clerk shall keep the certificates or copies thereof 1
on file. The Secretary shall prescribe the size and format of rabies certificates. 2
The owner of any such dog or wolf-hybrid shall maintain a copy of the rabies 3
vaccination form certificate and provide it to State or municipal officials upon 4
request. 5
(2) The rabies vaccination certificate shall include the following: 6
(A) the signature of the veterinarian; 7
(B) the dog or wolf-hybrid owner’s name and address; 8
(C) the species, sex, age, color, and primary breed of the animal; and 9
(D) the vaccination number and expiration date. 10
(3) Veterinarians must present a list of rabies vaccinations to the 11
municipal clerk every 30 days. 12
* * * 13
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 15