Pet vaccine bill deserves support

Sunday, January 9, 2005

Because many veterinarians have failed to disclose that most core veterinary vaccines protect for seven or more years, pet owners, unaware that their animals don't need multiple yearly vaccinations, have overvaccinated their companions -- taking an unnecessary toll on their finances and animals' health. Rep. Peter Rines of Wiscasset has introduced legislation -- LR883, An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms -- to solve this problem.

Most Maine veterinarians have vaccinated clients' pets annually, biennially or triennially and not disclosed the fact that challenge studies by Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine have proven that distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines protect for at least seven years. According to Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, "Yearly booster vaccine recommendations for vaccines other than rabies virus have been determined arbitrarily by manufacturers."

Why haven't veterinarians disclosed this information to clients? One possible explanation is in a Veterinary Economics August 2004 cover story titled "Targeting Changing Vaccine Protocols," which states: "In the 1970's and '80s many veterinarians derived a substantial percent of their total incomes from vaccinating dogs and cats ... (a)nd in many practices today, the vaccination reminder is the one thing that drives visits from healthy pets. So changing ... vaccine protocols could have a significant affect on finances."

The American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Vaccine Guidelines reports: "(T)he ethical issue that our profession struggles with today is whether economics justifies giving an animal a drug (vaccines are biologic drugs) that is not necessarily required. As a minimum, we should allow pet owners to make this choice rather than make it for them." Rines' legislation would give pet owners the information they need to make that choice for their animals. Please ask your legislators and pet-owning friends to support this bill.

Kris L. Christine

Alna

Name Route 3 link

with future in mind

The new bridge and highway -- Route 3 to Bar Harbor -- should be named "Downeast Connector."

I think Martha Ballard should be recognized in another venue. She was a remarkable lady and made a major contribution in the settling of Augusta. While we profit from the past work of the founders and settlers, we must look to the future. The new bridge opens up a great opportunity for Augusta to expand the tax base and bring new business to the area. "Downeast Connector" is an eye-catcher and will attract people who might bypass Augusta and travel farther up Interstate 95 to connect with the coastal area.

By using Route 3 from the interstate, travelers will see the area of Augusta not visible from the interstate. They will have the opportunity to stop for business reasons and buy products available in this area. New restaurants, lawn-and-garden stores, and boat and trailer sales will emerge.

Lapointe Lumber and O'Connor Motors will benefit this summer. When they have an increase in sales, they benefit, and all of Augusta benefits.

Russell F. Brown

Vassalboro

Returned ring

evokes gratitude

While shopping at J.C. Penney in Waterville on Dec. 19, I lost my mother's ring. On my way home, I noticed it was gone. I never expected to see it again.

My daughter called J C Penney later and found out that somebody had picked it up and turned it in. I appreciate that person, whoever he or she may be. We hear about all the crime that is going on, but I want to let people know there are still good, honest people out there.

That person made my holidays much better. I hope he or she had a good Christmas too.

Ruth Fuller

Palermo