Anyone wishing to have a copy of either the 1992 French challenge study data from a research team led by Michel Aubert in which dogs were demonstrated to be immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, or Vascellari's study which documented cancerous tumors in dogs at presumed injection sites of rabies vaccine, please e-mail me.
Regards, Kris Christine
The Rabies Challenge Fund
World-renowned vaccine research scientist and practicing veterinary clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of California, and pet vaccine disclosure advocate, Kris L. Christine of Maine, have established The Rabies Challenge Fund to raise money to fund concurrent 5 and 7 year rabies vaccine challenge studies in the United States.
In addition to the challenge studies, the fund will finance a study of the adjuvants used in veterinary rabies vaccines and establish a rabies vaccine adverse reaction reporting system.
Rabies vaccination is the one immunization required by law across the country for domestic dogs and cats, and researchers believe this vaccine causes the most and worst adverse reactions in animals. According to the August 2003 Journal of Veterinary Medicine, a research study by M. Vascellari and colleagues documents cancerous tumors in dogs at the presumed injection sites of rabies vaccinations.
Although pets used to be vaccinated yearly for rabies, the majority of state protocols now require re-vaccination every three years. There are scientific data indicating that vaccinating dogs against rabies every three years is unnecessary. Results of Michel Auberts French challenge study published in 1992 demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination and the serological studies of Dr. Ronald Schultz (Professor and Chair of the Department of Patho-biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine) have shown that dogs have antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity 7 years after vaccination for rabies. The Rabies Challenge Fund has been founded to improve the safety of rabies vaccines and to determine, by challenge, if they confer immunity for 5 or 7 years.
The Rabies Challenge Funds first official sponsors are Deb Odom (Florida) and Dawn Turner (Arizona), who have committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their pet vaccine informed consent posters and informational flyers.
Donations can be sent to THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND, c/o Hemopet, 11330 Markon Drive, Garden Grove, CA 92841.
Rabies Challenge Fund poster designed by fund sponsor Deb Odom is accessible at http://www.zbirdbrain.com/PetAdvocatesTownHallCisSupport.htm
Kerry Blue Foundation Donates $5,000 to Rabies Challenge Fund
The Kerry Blue Terrier Foundation (http://www.kerryblues.info) has generously donated $5,000 to The Rabies Challenge Fund, which was established to raise money to finance concurrent 5 and 7 year rabies vaccine challenge studies in the United States. It is spearheaded by world-renowned vaccine research scientist and practicing veterinary clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of California, and pet vaccine disclosure advocate, Kris L. Christine of Maine. The Kerry Blue donation was announced by the Foundations President, John Van den Bergh.
As an educational organization, we are happy to be able to fund a study that will finally shed some light on vaccination research, says Van den Bergh. He believes that by supporting The Rabies Challenge study, We will have the ammunition to talk to legislators to bring the law in line with science.
Rabies vaccination is the one immunization required by law for domestic dogs and cats. Researchers believe this vaccine causes the most and worst adverse reactions in animals. . The August 2003 Journal of Veterinary Medicine reports a study by M. Vascellari and colleagues documenting cancerous tumors in dogs at presumed rabies vaccination injection sites. Scientific data indicate that vaccinating dogs against rabies triennially, as most states require, is unnecessary. In 1992 French researchers demonstrated dogs immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination (a challenge study involves control groups and challenging the animals immunity with live virus). The serological studies of Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine have shown dogs antibody titer counts at levels known to confer rabies immunity 7 years post-vaccination. The Rabies Challenge Fund has been founded to improve the safety of rabies vaccines and to determine, by challenge, if they confer immunity for 5 or 7 years.
World-renowned vaccine research scientist and practicing veterinarian, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of California, and pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine have established The Rabies Challenge Fund to raise $1.5 million to fund the 5 and 7 year challenge studies, as well as a study of the adjuvants used in canine rabies vaccines and establish a rabies vaccine adverse reaction reporting system.
Rabies is among the antigenically strongest vaccines, containing potent adjuvants to bolster the immune response. Rabies vaccines are documented to elicit severe and even fatal adverse reactions. According to Dr. Dodds, giving them more often than truly needed is unwise, unnecessary, and can be unsafe. She further states, To date, most states require rabies vaccination every three years, but some states still require annual rabies revaccination, even though the USDA licenses these vaccines for three years
Dr. Dodds received the D.V.M. degree with honors in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Toronto. In 1965 she joined the New York State Health Department in Albany and began comparative studies of animals with inherited and acquired bleeding diseases. Her position there began as a Research Scientist and culminated as the chief of Laboratory of Hematology at the Wadsworth Center. In 1980 she also became Executive Director of the New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services. This work continued full-time until 1986 when she moved to Southern California to establish Hemopet, the first non-profit national blood bank program for animals.
Certainly, veterinarians are aware of the adverse reactions that can occur after rabies and other vaccinations in dogs and cats, Dodds said. The public is the body most motivated to address the issues here, because it is some of their beloved companions that have suffered by the existing regulations.
Other beneficial research to be financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund will be a safety study of adjuvants used to enhance the immune response in veterinary rabies vaccines. Some pet owners, like Kris Christine, believe the adjuvants may cause more adverse reactions than the actual vaccine -- her own dog developed a malignant mast cell tumor at the site of a rabies shot. Unlike human vaccines where all adjuvants are required to be the same, there is no such standardization in veterinary medicine, Christine said. Hopefully, this study can be completed before the five and seven years of the parallel challenge studies, to make vaccines safer for our precious canine companions.
Pet Vaccine Lawsuit
It's official -- the lawfirm of the Chicago lawfirm of Childress Duffy Goldblatt, Ltd. (petvaccine@childresslaw.net) 312-494-0200 -- attorneys Roy R. Brandys and John Sawin-- has posted an announcement on their website about the NATIONAL pet vaccine class action lawsuit that their firm is undertaking at http://www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp "arising from the misrepresentation of the need for vaccinations for your pets."
Subject: Pet Legislation-Yes on SB1144 and SB1145
Date: Tue 04/25/06 03:27 PM
Greetings All!
Very important pet legislation is pending in Pennsylvania which would require veterinarians to provide disclosure sheets when dispensing veterinary drugs (SB1144 http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/SB1144P1612.HTM) and would subject them to possible discipinary action under the Veterinary Medical Practice Act if they fail to perform the prescreening tests recommended by drug manufacturers prior to medicating an animal (SB1145).
Below is a copy of the e-mail I have sent supporting this important legislation. Even if you are not a resident of Pennsylvania (which I am not), please contact the legislative members by copying and pasting the e-mail addresses below and simply ask the legislators to vote "YES" on these bills -- simple.
It's only a matter of time before legislation like this is introduced in every state, if pet owners show their support, it will benefit all of us and our precious companions.
Regards, Kris L. Christine
PERMISSION TO POST & CROSS-POST GRANTED, PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter & Kris Christine
To: rtomlinson@pasen.gov ; jcorman@pasen.gov ; eerickson@pasen.gov ; jgordner@pasen.gov ; sgreenleaf@pasen.gov ; jpiccola@pasen.gov ; mwhite@pasen.gov ; rwonderling@pasen.gov ; boscola@pasenate.com ; Senator_Fumo@fumo.com ; lavalle@pasenate.com ; wozniak@pasenate.com ; dbrightbill@pasen.gov ; jconti@pasen.gov ; rrobbins@pasen.gov ; nwenger@pasen.gov ; jscarnati@pasen.gov ; mellow@pasenate.com ; opake@pasenate.com ; hughes@pasenate.com ; costa@pasenate.com ; chwilliams@pasenate.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 7:32 AM
Subject: Pet Legislation-Yes on SB1144 and SB1145
Greetings Senators, Representatives, and members of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee:
As a pet owner, I am writing to strongly urge you to support both Senate Bill #1144 and Senate Bill #1145. Pet owners are entitled to have the same disclosure information accompanying veterinary drugs that they receive with human prescriptions, enabling them to recognize any adverse side affects and seek immediate, appropriate medical intervention. Veterinarians who fail to perform the drug manufacturer's recommended prescreening of an animal prior to administration should be legally subject to potential disciplinary action by the State Veterinary Board under the Veterinary Medical Practice Act.
Two years ago, my 6 year Labrador Retriever, Meadow, underwent two significant surgeries relating to an aggressive cancer he developed at the site of a rabies vaccination. After his second surgery, his veterinarian sent him home with pain medication containing no information other than the drug name (Rimadyl) and dose frequency. Fortunately, an e-mailed announcement of the Rimadyl lawsuit settlement arrived just before Meadow was due for his first dose. After educating myself about the potentially deadly side affects associated with Rimadyl, I opted to forego the medication and avoid the risks, my dog had enough challenges to face with cancer.
The veterinary pharmaceutical industry recognizes the importance of drug disclosure information for pet owners. The following link for the veterinary drug, Rimadyl, will take you to the Dog Owner Information warning of potential adverse reactions and contraindications from the drug manufacturer, Pfizer, and state: "This summary contains important information about Rimadyl. You should read this information before you start giving your dog Rimadyl and review it each time the prescription is refilled."
If veterinarians are not required to give clients disclosure sheets with the veterinary drugs they dispense, pet owners will be unable to recognize life-threatening side affects in their beloved companions. Passing this legislation mandating disclosure information accompany dispensed veterinary drugs will mean that ALL pet owners in Pennsylvania will be entitled by law to receive this vital information from their veterinary care providers. Another benefit to passing these bills will be that of alleviating veterinarians of potential liability for failure to perform prescreening or give disclosure information to a pet owner whose animal suffers a significant adverse reaction under their care. Passage of this legislation will benefit both pet owners and veterinarians -- it is reasonable and responsible.
Sincerely,
Kris L. Christine
Alna, ME 04535
Our own personal story about our Lovely Miss Hennie Penny:
Hennie was diagnosed with an inner ear infection in early 1999. Other than the inner ear infection, she was a healthy dog. Vibrant, playful, loving and so increbily sweet that words are hard to define how great she was. We took her to our vet who diagnosed the inner ear infection and prescribed to her the drug, Rimadyl.
After just a short few months of taking this prescription, we noticed a severe decline in Hennie's health. She was sleeping more...not wanting to go outside for bathroom breaks and urinating in the house. We took her back to the vet. She was so ill that he had to give her IV fuids and keep her over night. They ran extensive blood work and other tests and they came back to say she was in Kidney failure and that we should consider having her euthanized. The devestating news was probably one of the worst things we could have ever heard regarding Hennie. She seemed to have perked up with the IV treatment and so, we decided NOT to have her euthanized at that time....but within a week, she began to decline again. We continued the IV treatments for probably two weeks before we had to make the devestating decision of having her euthanized. She got to the point we had to pick her up and carry her just for her to go outside to the bathroom. She was in crippling pain.
We can't bring Hennie back or lessen the pain we suffered over her loss....what we can do is now bring awareness to any canine owner whose vet has prescribed the drug, Rimadyl.
Please be careful with this drug! Too late, we have discovered there was a lawsuit with the company who makes this drug and the devestating side effects.
Below you will find important links regarding this drug and more information that could be of help.
We miss Hennie on a daily basis and here we are into 2006! No amount of money can bring her back...but maybe awareness can help others.
