The document discusses Maine's state laws regarding importation of shelter animals. It outlines requirements for vaccinations within 14 days of arrival, which helps prevent disease but requires animals to stay in shelters longer. It also notes testing requirements for heartworm, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease allow identification of positive animals but are costly and don't prevent infection. Overall, the laws aim to prevent spread of disease but some requirements have more drawbacks than benefits for shelters and transported animals.

1. Saving
Lives
One
Mile
at
a
Time
Mandie
Wehr,
DVM
Veterinarian
Coastal
Humane
Society
UC
Davis
ASPCA
Fellow
Sandra
Newbury,
DVM
Koret
Shelter
Medicine
Program
Center
for
Companion
Animal
Health
U
C
Davis
School
of
Veterinary
Medicine
This
chart
explores
the
strengths
and
drawbacks
of
state
importation
laws
in
Maine
as
an
example
of
how
to
put
state
requirements
into
context
for
a
transport
program.
In
some
cases,
(green
/
bold)
importation
requirements
may
help
reinforce
recommended
practices
for
transport;
in
others
(red
/italics)
requirements
may
seem
to
have
more
drawbacks
than
strengths.
It
is
useful
for
both
the
source
and
destination
shelters
to
have
a
clear
understanding
of
the
state
laws
for
importation
in
order
to
assess
the
requirements
and
potential
success
of
a
partnership.
Requirements
vary
from
state
to
state
and
may
have
resource
limiting
factors
for
source
shelters.
In
some
cases,
destination
shelters
may
help
to
defer
costs.
Many
shelters
will
expand
their
partnerships
to
include
additional
support
for
a
source
shelter
to
meet
importation
laws
such
as
provision
of
vaccinations,
tests
or
financial
reimbursement
for
animals.

2.
Maine State Law
Vaccine timing
Vaccinations required
14 days prior to
arrival
Distemper,
Hepatitis, Parvo
Strengths
• Vaccination for designated
disease processes will have
had enough time to be
effective
•
•
Infectious
Tracheobronchitis
Leptospirosis
•
•
Drawbacks
• This time limit requires animals to stay in a source shelter’s care (either
in shelter or foster care) for 2 weeks with potential additional exposure
to contagious disease
• LOS and effect on total shelter population (overcrowding, increased
exposure to disease, etc.)
• Gives a false sense of security especially for puppies and kittens
• Some immunity may be present within hours with complete protection
developing 3-5 days post-vaccination for core vaccines (not 14 days)
These preventable diseases
may be life threatening and
easily transmitted
Vaccination for these disease
processes are very effective
May decrease clinical signs
and severity of disease
May decrease clinical signs
and severity of disease
•
•
•
•
•
•
Testing required
Heartworm
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
•
•
Allows for identification of
positive animals and
treatment as needed
Allows for state to track
results
•
•
•
Vaccination does not necessarily prevent infection or shedding
Cost limiting for source
More likely to cause a vaccine reaction than core standard vaccines
According to AAHA guidelines Leptospirosis vaccination is not
recommended for use in the Shelter Environment:
http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.p
df
Cost & time limiting for source
Does not prevent infection or shedding so poses higher risk to public
and other animals if infected and not displaying clinical signs of illness
Cost & time limiting for source
Ehrlichia and Lyme are antibody tests so a positive test may result
from previous exposure rather than clinical illness
No required preventive follow up (eg. Microfilaricide) to protect
against disease spread and support the testing requirement