Maine's Proposed Animal Import Regulations - Our 2 Cents...

On May 21, 2007 the Maine Department of Agriculture released a statement announcing its intention to enact an emergency rule change that would tighten the animal import regulations for the State.

Amongst other changes, the new regulations would require Maine rescue groups to quarantine dogs arriving in Maine from out of state for 5-days in a "Commissioner approved" isolation facility. The purpose of this proposed rule change regulation is to control the spread of diseases prevelent in dogs and cats from southern states.

The intent behind the proposed regulation changes is good -- however, as written, the new import laws will not resolve the spread of contagious disease from the rescued animals and will make it impossible for many legitimate rescues (including ours) to continue to operate, resulting in the needless deaths of thousands of wonderful, loving dogs.

The new rules will negatively impact reputable rescues and not impact the individuals that are responsible for bringing the sick animals into the state.

What's the Problem?

Our rescue, like most, does not have the physical or financial ability to place our dogs in a Commissioner approved quarantine facility for 5 days. After rescuing 200 - 300 dogs from other states without a single incident of Parvo or Distemper - we do not believe this quarantine measure is necessary. Nor do we want to place our dogs back into a cage after they have barely escaped death and have spent 2-3 days in a crate while being transported to safety. We want our dogs to go to foster homes, where they can relax and realize how wonderful life in a good home can be.

A similar requirement was implemented in Massachusetts last year. Because of the new requirement, rescues based in Massachusetts that are continuing to rescue Southern dogs, have been forced to raise their adoption fees to amounts unattainable by average families. The result -- MA Residents are going to backyard breeders, and looking out of state for their new canine family members, either by adopting from out-of-state rescues or by adopting directly from Southern shelters without having the safety net of a rescue to qualify the adoptive home or ensure each dog is properly vetted.

As a result, the changes in regulations have not solved the problem of disease in the state, and may have even made the problem worse. Massachusetts has experienced at least 3 outbreaks in the last few months of Parvo, Distemper and an unidentified upper respiratory disease. Why? There are several possible reasons:

1) The dogs in question are not being adopted by or transported by reputable rescues. The "rescues" in question are ignoring standard health and safety protocols. The dogs are arriving unvaccinated and without being quarantined prior to transport.

2) The dogs in question are being adopted by private citizens directly from out-of-state shelters, without having the middle man of an experienced rescue facilitating the adoption process.

3) Contageous diseases such as Distemper and Parvo have a longer incubation period than the mandatory quarantine requirement.

Transporting dogs from rural shelters with high euthanasia levels and poor vaccination practices is dangerous. If proper vaccination, quarantine and transportation protocols are ignored or overlooked, the rescuer and/or adoptive family may end up with a sick dog and a large vet bill.

Reputable rescues that save dogs from high-kill, southern shelters will follow, and often exceed the existing legal health protocols.

What Are Our Health & Safety Protocols?

Dogs Deserve Better, as with most legitimate Maine-based rescues, quarantines all out-of-state rescues for at least two weeks prior to transport. All of our dogs are fully-vaccinated (Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza), tested for Heartworm/Lyme, De-wormed, given Heartguard, Frontline and travel with a vet-issued Interstate Health Certificate. All of our dogs are spayed/neutered prior to transport.

We also use a USDA licensed transporter to bring our dogs to New England, which costs $125.00 per dog - but is worth every penny to ensure the safety and health of each pup.

To the disappointment of many adopters, Dogs Deserve Better - Maine does not rescue puppies - we generally focus our efforts on dogs that are 6 months of age or older, as these dogs have a lower chance of getting out the kill shelters and because puppies are at a higher risk for contracting diseases such as Parvo and Distemper.

We abide by these self-imposed rules, to ensure the safety and good health of our rescued dogs.

What Will Happen if the Proposed Regulations Pass?

Reputable rescues are not the individuals that are bringing diseased animals into the State. Norma Worley, Director of Maine's Animal Welfare Program confirmed this herself. In an article published by the Bangor Daily News, Worley states: "according to state law, all dogs and cats imported from out of state for retail must have health certificates and be properly quarantined to ensure they are in good health before they are adopted or sold. However, when the dogs are brought in privately, the rules don’t apply." The rules don't apply when the dogs are brought in privately...exactly.

The new rules won't apply either... to private individuals who are not savvy enough to make sure that their new puppy will arrive with a full series of 2-3 vaccinations and an Interstate Health Certificate.

The new rules will apply to seasoned rescues that save hundreds to thousands of lives annually without incident - making it impossible for safe animal importation to continue and opening the door to increased disease when private adopters head out onto Petfinder.com and rescue a litter of puppies themselves without the safety net of an experienced rescue group behind them.

What is the Solution?

We do not know what the solution is. The issue of sickness in rescue dogs is one that comes along with being crazy enough to be involved in rescue. Rescue dogs, whether from Maine or from "away" generally have not received the vaccinations and health care that they require - which is why we rescue them. There is always the chance that a rescue dog or even a dog bought from a breeder will fall ill after itgoes to its new home, but a good rescue will do everything in its power to ensure a dog is healthy prior to being adopted. Without rescues - that safety net will disappear.

Some alternatives to the proposed regulations to consider include:

1) Exploring laws that will require local dog owners to maintain annual vaccination protocols above the mandatory 3-year Rabies vaccine. This will keep local dogs safe from contagious disease that they may be exposed to either from another dog or from a wild animal.

2) Requiring that all puppies that enter the State either through a rescue or through an individual citizen have at least 2 if not 3 rounds of puppy vaccinations. Puppies are the carriers for the majority of contagious diseases. Improving the protocols surrounding puppies, would go a long way to resolving these disease challenges.

3) Educating the public regarding how to select a rescue dog. Many of these health issues could be adverted if the public knew what questions to ask when adopting a rescued dog.

4) Imposing quarantine regulations and other restrictions on rescues that have a history of adopting out sick dogs.

What Can You Do to Help?

We would love for our adopters that have added a healthy canine companion to their family to let the Department of Agriculture know.

• Attend the Hearing: Public hearing on the quarantine regulation will be held on July 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Florian Hall, 45 Commerce Street, (Department of Public Safety Building), Augusta, Maine.
  


• Write a Letter: The public is invited to submit comments at this time or may elect to submit comments via email to shelley.doak@maine.gov or Donald.E.Hoenig@maine.gov or by letter to the address below:
  
  Contact: Shelley Doak, Director, or Donald E. Hoenig, State Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health & Industry, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0028
  

Additional Reading:

Man Bites Dog -
http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid42179.aspx

Dog Rescuer, State at Odds over Rules -
http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=151376&zoneid=500

Maine Advocates Fear that Proposed Quarantine Laws will Shut Down Maine Rescues
http://network.bestfriends.org/maine/news/16245.html

Illegal Pet Importation a Major Statewide Problem -
http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Agriculture+News&id=37957&v=Article