"Update on Dog Vaccination and Licensing for Vaccinating Veterinarians — Effective April 1, 2024"

Dear Veterinarian,

An amendment to the Rabies Regulations (Vaccination) will take effect on 1.4.2024.

Under the new regulations, any dog that has received two or more rabies vaccinations during its lifetime may be vaccinated against rabies once every two years. Please note that dog licensing remains annual, so while dogs will need vaccination once every two years, their licenses must still be renewed every year.

Unvaccinated puppies and dogs that have not yet received two rabies vaccinations must receive two rabies vaccinations between one month and 3 months apart: an initial vaccination and a booster. Residents receive their dog ownership license at the second vaccination, after paying the legally required fees and meeting the licensing requirements. After two vaccinations, the rabies vaccination is valid for two years, so vaccination will not be required as a condition for renewing the dog's annual license the following year.

Key Changes Effective 1.4.2024:

❖ Puppy

The first rabies vaccination must be given at 3 months of age. The puppy must receive a booster vaccination one month after the first vaccination. Once the booster is administered, the owner will receive a dog license, provided all legal requirements have been met.

❖ Dog over three months old that has never been vaccinated

The dog must be vaccinated against rabies immediately. A booster vaccination must be given one month after the first vaccination. Once the booster is administered, the owner will receive a dog license, provided all legal requirements have been met:

> A dog vaccinated against rabies only once must receive a booster one month after the first vaccination. Once the booster is administered, the owner will receive a dog license, provided all legal requirements have been met.

> For a dog vaccinated more than twice by 1.4.2024, the vaccination will be valid for two years from the date of the last vaccination. The owner must renew the dog's license when it expires, one year after its issue date:

• In a year when the dog needs to be vaccinated, the owner pays for both the vaccination and the license. The vaccination is valid for two years and the license for one year.
• In a year when the dog does not need to be vaccinated, the owner pays only the license fee. The license is valid for one year, provided all requirements have been met and the dog's and owner's details are up to date in the veterinary service system.

You can see the system changes in the following screenshots:

❖ For example, a dog with two or more vaccinations and a valid license

The resident will receive an annual reminder to pay the license fee and a vaccination reminder every two years. The license appears under the Licenses tab, and the Reminders tab contains two reminders: one for the license fee (replacing the previous reminder for both vaccination and the license fee), and another, scheduled for two years after the last vaccination, for a vaccination that also includes the fee.

Animal Record - Licenses

Animal Record - Reminders