VACCINATION OF DOGS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30369, 19 February 1964, Page 20

VACCINATION OF DOGS

Conway Rabbit Board Ruling

By a show of hands at its recent meeting, the Conway Rabbit Board carried an amendment to the effect that only selected dogs in its packs be vaccinated against distemper. The division resulted in a vote of five for and four against. The amendment was moved by Mr J. G. Armstrong against a motion by Mr N. K Young that all dogs be vaccinated against the disease. The board's inspector. Mr R. Phillip, said that the cost Of vaccinating all the dogs would be prohibitive, especially if it. included all dogs tried out during any given year. There was a considerable turnover in dogs in the Board’s packs, said Mr Phillip. and after trials many were found to be no good. It would be a waste of money vaccinating all such dogs. “Ait the first sign of distemper in the packs." said Mr Phillip, “only those which had been vaccinated would be used in operations." Mr B. Fraser said it would not be a good advertisement for the board if dogs were taken on to properties and later distemper broke out.

Mr J. G. Latter said the bulk of ratepayers would not mind the expenditure of doing all the dogs and, if an outbreak of distemper was tracked down to Rabbit Board packs, it would not do the board any good. “If we do some dogs, we should do the lot,” said Mr Latter.

The chairman (Mr H. C. Acton Adams) said it was a matter of either looking after the ratepayers’ money, or looking after his dogs.