Dear Mr. Henderson,
The definition of "Dangerous Animal" in both
the current ordinance and the 8th Draft is problematic. From the 8th Draft, a
"Dangerous Animal" is "Any
warm-blooded mammal which is known to carry or be susceptible to the rabies
virus and which cannot be effectively vaccinated against that virus with any
vaccine approved by the Kentucky Department of Human Resources. A dangerous
animal includes any hybrid animal or any pet wildlife which has attacked a human
or which is apprehended or observed unrestrained."
I'm sure you are aware that any mammal can carry or be susceptible to the rabies
virus. However, are you aware that only 7 species can be effectively vaccinated
against that virus? If you go to the following link, you will see a list of all
approved rabies vaccines licensed and marketed in the United States.
http://www.cdc.
Notice that the species listed are limited to horses, sheep,
cattle, ferrets, cats and dogs. Raccoons are provisionally listed--they may
only be vaccinated via a state or federal rabies control program. Under the
current definition of Dangerous Animal, all mammals except those 7 species, are
dangerous and may not be kept in Jefferson County. This includes rats, mice,
guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.
If the law was not intended to outlaw such creatures as pets, then it should be
changed to reflect that. There is no reason to have a confusing, overbroad law
on the books.
The next problem is the reference to "hybrid animal." How will MAS determine
whether an animal is a hybrid or not? The Courier-Journal has long printed in
its advertisement section a caveat that wolf-hybrids are not permitted in
Jefferson County. However, since wolves and dogs are the same species (dogs are
subspecies Canis lupus familiaris), it
would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to prove that an animal was a
wolf-hybrid, even using DNA technology. How, then, will any prohibition against
wolf-hybrids be enforced?
Please consider these matters in submitting your list of "friendly amendments
and technical changes" to the Gov't Admin. Committee on Tuesday, September 5th.
Sincerely,
Karen Brinkley