Rabies control program approved

A plan to turn Flathead County’s rabies control program over to the county Health Board is moving forward.

The county commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a revised county animal-control ordinance that shifts the regulation and enforcement oversight of rabies control to the Health Board.

A final reading and vote will be Feb. 19.

An earlier proposal to change to remove a rabies vaccination requirement for dogs from the county’s animal-control laws met with huge opposition from local veterinarians.

Putting the rabies control program under the auspices of the Health Board, similar to how it’s handled in Yellowstone and Missoula counties, makes sense because rabies is a public health issue, County Health Administrator Joe Russell said.

The new control program is being drafted and is expected to require rabies vaccinations for cats as well as dogs.

Whitefish veterinarian Elizabeth Pitman told the commissioners on Wednesday it’s “very important” to add cats to the regulations.

Kalispell veterinarian Meg Gordon, who works in private practice and at the county animal shelter, agreed that cats also should be required to be vaccinated for rabies.