Sheba and Her Rabies Tag - A Little Metal Saves a Little Life

By Dr. Mary Bryant, DVM

This is Sheba's story - the embodiment of just how important a rabies tag can be. Sheba was a patient of mine, and a favorite of our hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Her elderly owner, Mrs. Boda, adored her 11year old little dog. Blind since a puppy, Sheba was the epitome of a beloved pet. Topping out at 7 lbs, she was cute, fluffy and her mother's favorite "child". We mostly saw Sheba when she came in for her regular grooming - Mrs. Boda was never late for that hair appointment!

I don't remember when I learned that Mrs. Boda was critically ill, but soon other family members started bringing Sheba in for grooming. Even from her deathbed, Mrs. Boda insisted that Sheba be properly cared for! However, we did notice the family members didn't seem to share the same bond with Sheba as poor Mrs. Boda. When we learned of Mrs. Boda's death, we noticed the absence of Sheba, especially in our grooming salon.

A few months later on a busy Saturday at our hospital, I received an interesting call. A woman living 60 miles from our hospital found a little dog on her farm. She explained that unfortunately, many people "dump" unwanted animals at her doorstep - the old "leave-Fido-on-the-farm-to-fend-for-himself-routine". She tried to keep the little impish dog, but she was bullying her two 100 lb Labradors! She found our hospital through the dog's rabies tag. As you may have guessed, the little, blind, "old lady's dog" found was our own Sheba. The Good Samaritan left Sheba at our hospital, full of fleas, burrs and although a little travel worn, in pretty good shape. Mrs. Boda's family was sent a certified letter giving them ample time to come and reclaim Sheba. They never contacted us. They just didn't care. The once pampered pet was homeless. There is a happy ending, however. Sheba is adored by her new mother, who also happens to be my mother. (Gee, I wonder how that happened?)

As you can see, the importance of a rabies tag can't be overstated. Like every good pet owner, you probably take your pet to the vet to make sure they're current on their rabies vaccine. They receive the "shot", and you get a rabies tag and certificate. But what is rabies, and what is the purpose of the rabies tag, really? Lots of people think rabies is like polio, smallpox or many other diseases that are "long gone by". Growing up in NJ, living in PA and practicing in DE, three states that are endemic for rabies, I can tell you this is not so.

The background of rabies is an interesting one. At the turn of the century, human and animal deaths from rabies occurred often. However, no actual statistics exist because no formal structure required human or animal rabies deaths to be reported. Transmission of the rabies disease occurred through domestic and wild animals. To reduce transmission, structured vaccination programs began in the United States in the 1940's. According to Dr. Jim Steel, retired CDC Public Health Veterinarian, the first rabies vaccination trials began in the late 1920's. These trials were based on the reported successes from Japan. However, these early trials, which began in Vermont, were considered a failure. Even though dogs had been immunized, the rabies disease and death still occurred. With continued research and support from the Rockefeller Foundation, a national rabies program finally began in the 1940's¹. The national program focused on annual rabies immunization with a certificate of proof of vaccination and animal licensing. Implementing a national rabies program had its challenges.

At the 77^th annual meeting of the American Veterinarians Medical Association, the House of Delegates debated the "Report of the Special Committee on Rabies". The report followed a special committee meeting held May 27, 1940 in Washington, DC to address concerns over the current rabies problem in the United States. The report contained the following:

It is thoroughly recognized by all members of the Committee and it is likewise believed that all members of the veterinary profession are agreed, that rabies is definitely a controllable disease, and that if proper, uniform and universal support could be obtained from all concerned, the disease could actually be eradicated.

In the 20^th century, the human death toll from rabies declined significantly. In the early years, about 100 deaths occurred from the rabies disease. Today, few deaths are reported each year. According to the CDC, four humans died from rabies in 1997 and one died in 1998. In 1998, 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico reported 7962 cases of rabies in animals. Raccoons accounted for 44% of the reported cases and domestic species accounted for 7.6%. Only one case in humans was reported to the CDC. Hawaii is the only state that has never reported a rabies case in humans or animals.

Rabies disease in domestic dogs has declined, too. The NASPHV Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control Memo dated December 13, 1999 reports that laboratory confirmed cases in dogs has declined from 6,949 in 1947 to 113 in 1998. The decline is attributed to these vaccination and animal control programs. The first state rabies programs only concentrated on dogs.

In 1953, the State of Arkansas, like many states, passed its Rabies Control Act. At that time, the act only covered dogs. However, in 1975, the General Assembly passed an emergency clause including the Act's coverage to cats due to the high incidence of rabies being reported.

In 1972, the United States Animal Health Association's Committee on Rabies issued its report stating more effort should be made to increase the number of rabies immunizations for cats. The single concentration on rabies prevention on dogs allowed the rabies cases in cats to increase. Today cat rabies cases are more than twice as numerous than in dogs and cattle². According to the NASPHV, vaccinations in cats should be required since more rabies cases are reported annually involving cats (282 in 1998).

In the United States, over $300 million is spent for rabies prevention - - a large portion on actual dog vaccinations. Further, the CDC estimates that approximately 25% of the dog population must be revaccinated due to annual turnover (lost and abandoned pets or lost proof of vaccination). According to the Center for Veterinary Biologics, which is a part of the USDA, 64,546,000 doses of rabies vaccine was produced and distributed for calendar year 1996. That means about 62,000,000 dogs, cats and horses received rabies vaccinations across the country.

As rabies prevention programs continued to develop, rabies tags became part of the "proof of rabies vaccination" protocols. According to Dr. Steel, the first rabies tags came from the manufacturers with the rabies vaccines. The tags included the type of vaccine used and were serially numbered to monitor number of vaccinations given. Over time, some states decided to issue the tags themselves. According to Jim Haas, president of The Hasco Tag Company, printed dog identification tags started in the 1800's in Europe. Animal licensing tags had been in existence since the early 1900's³. The Hasco Tag Company, a fourth generation family owned business in Dayton, Kentucky, started manufacturing rabies tags in the early 1940's. Mr. Haas' great-great grandfather started Hasco Tag in 1902 with animal identification of livestock.

1996 statistics showed that in the United States, 40 of the 54 states and territories⁴, had adopted some type of Rabies Control Act for dogs and 28 had adopted protocols for cats. That number has increased over the years. These acts provide vaccination protocols and proof of vaccination procedures. All acts require some type of certificate of vaccination as well as issuance of a "rabies tag". Currently, North Carolina provides about 85% of its veterinarians with rabies tags⁵. Other states allow veterinarians to order their own tags from the many tag manufacturers available.

Many states adopted their rabies immunization program from the American Veterinary Medical Association's Policy Statements and Guidelines. The AVMA's Policy Statements and Guidelines (2000) set forth a model Rabies Control Ordinance. Section III of the model Rabies Control Ordinance discusses the Veterinarian and pet owner duties as follows:

A. Duties of Veterinarian - A durable metal or plastic, serially numbered rabies tag issued by the Rabies Control Authority or the veterinarian who administers the vaccine shall be provided to the owner with instructions that it must be securely attached to the dog's, cat's or ferret's collar or harness.

B. Duties of Owner - The owner is responsible to procure rabies vaccination for his or her dog, cat or ferret as outlined above and to secure a license. The owner is responsible to assure that his or her dog, cat or ferret wears a collar or harness with identification and the approved license or rabies tag securely attached. The license or rabies tag shall be worn at all times unless specific exemptions are set forth in the local ordinance.

Therefore, the rabies tag has become important and necessary for several reasons. It protects your pet and it protects the public. If a pet becomes lost and has no identification, it is very difficult for the person who finds the pet to know whether the pet is lost or has been abandoned. Further, without the visible rabies tag, it is difficult to know whether the pet is potentially diseased or not. If a person fears a dog or cat may be potentially dangerous, the likelihood of that pet being helped diminishes greatly.

Just like Sheba, millions of pets are lost each year. Eight to twelve million pets end up in animal shelters while millions of others roam neighborhoods and farms until they are found. According to the American Humane Association, only fourteen percent of dogs and four percent of cats in shelters are ever reunited with their owners. Cats are at the greatest risk due to owners believing cats should not wear collars for safety reasons⁶ or that indoor cats will never get out. A cat without identification will have a very difficult time finding its home as evidenced by the American Humane Association's statistics.

Most state statutes require specific information to be engraved on the issued rabies tag. For example, in Connecticut, the issuing rabies tag must be metal and embossed with the year of issue, name and address of the issuing Veterinarian and be serially numbered. This is to ensure compliance with the state's rabies vaccination procedures and to allow animal control sufficient information to determine the pet's potential for the rabies disease and to obtain clinical histories if necessary.

The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians assists the regulating community by recommending specific color and shape for rabies tags. Although not binding, the association's recommendations are followed by a majority of veterinarians to assist in standardizing both rabies certificates and rabies tags. For 2000, the recommended rabies tag is the red heart. In 2001, it will be the blue rosette.

The purpose behind the change in color and shape addresses another public health concern, although anecdotal. Unfortunately, dog and cat bites are common with small children. Traumatized by the event, some children are unable to describe the animal's color or size. However, a child may be able to remember whether the pet had something around its neck - - a red heart or a green bell. Children can remember color and shape. In some instances, the dog may never be found. By identifying the rabies tag color and shape, the child may not have to undergo painful rabies shots themselves.

The unique color and shape also assists animal control when policing for stray and lost animals. The identifiable tag helps animal control officials ascertain the animal's health (how recent was the last rabies vaccination) and what veterinarian or agency last treated the animal. Without this identification, animal control officials are required to remove stray animals by placing them in custody for at least three days. Jurisdictions differ on what happens to an animal after the required "holding" period. If unclaimed or unwanted, the animals are usually euthanized.

Although not designed as a "pet identification" tag, historically, the rabies tag has become one of the most successful ways to reunite lost pets with their owners. Ask Sheba. Veterinarians will attest to taking hundreds of lost pet phone calls each year. States like Delaware, where Sheba is from, have adopted rabies vaccination protocols that require veterinarians to keep copies of the rabies certificate provided to the pet owner. The certificate lists pet owner and pet information and includes the rabies tag number. Upon finding a pet with a rabies tag, most individuals like Sheba's Good Samaritan, will contact the veterinarian or agency listed on the tag. Using the numbers listed on the tag, the issuing veterinarian or agency can review their records to determine the pet's owner. The states differ on the length of time a veterinarian must maintain his/her records. Therefore, allowing a pet to wear an old rabies tag is not beneficial.

To increase the success of reuniting lost pets with their owners, a new company has merged the rabies tag with search engine technology to provide an around-the-clock method of getting lost pets home. AWOLPET.com launched in January 2000. Founded by a veterinarian's daughter, it is the first company to allow pet owners to register their pets' rabies tags and pet owner information. Says AWOLPET.com's founder Debbie Tate Welsh, "My father has been a solo practitioner for 57 years, and is still going strong. AWOLPET.com was my chance to do something to have an impact on the millions of pets lost each year. The thought of so many lost pets breaks my heat. I am an animal advocate and with the success of AWOLPET.com, I will contribute money to promote anything that improves animal protection and animal wellness initiatives."

Here's how AWOLPET.com works. Your pet's rabies tag has important information on it. Your veterinarian's name and/or clinic and phone number will be listed on the tag. The tag also has a series of numbers. This is your pet's unique rabies tag number. The rabies tag itself alerts the finder of a lost pet that the pet belongs to someone and isn't a stray. Additionally, the tag helps the finder of a lost pet know where to take your pet in case they cannot reach you - other than the pound!

If your pet should become lost, the finder need only log onto www.awolpet.com and enter information taken directly from the pet's rabies tag (municipal license tags and microchip/tattoo codes can be used, too) to obtain the pet owner's requested contact information. . This is important because not all veterinary offices are open at night or on weekends and holidays. It is also important for you to know that the company goes to great lengths to protect the pet owner information provided. User ID and passwords are given to allow pet owners to update and change information.

In today's society with eight to twelve million pets becoming lost each year and fifty percent of those pets being euthanized, making sure a pet wears its rabies tag is a simple way to ensure your pet's safety and the safety of others. Sheba's story ends happily, indeed. She is now 15 & 1/2 years old, and continues to live the high life with her adopted family. Had it not been for a little metal tag, who knows how her life would have ended? Kind of gives you a new respect for that clanky, nondescript tag that hangs down from your pets collar, doesn't it?

The Author

The author, Dr. Mary Bryant graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and is in companion animal practice in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Bryant is very active in the profession on a national level, representing the state of Delaware on the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates and is the outgoing chair for the American Animal Hospital Association's Recent Graduate Task Force. Dr. Bryant also volunteers for local retirement homes providing veterinary care for the resident pets in the Wilmington area. She lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania with her husband, a neurobiologist, and their four furry children.

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemiology Report (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/drvd/rabies/Epidemiology/Epidemiology.htm), page 3.

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemiology Report (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/drvd/rabies/Epidemiology/Epidemiology.htm), page 3.

³ Jim Haas, president Hasco Tag Company.

⁴ Hawaii requires proof of rabies vaccination for any pet coming to the State of Hawaii. Native pets are not required to have rabies vaccinations.

⁵ Dr. Lee Hunter, Public Health Veterinarian, State of North Carolina.

⁶ The breakaway cat collar has proven very effective to overcome this objection in cat owners.