PET SHOP LICENSING 



Pet shop licensing, with attendant mandatory record keeping, is conducted 

 both for animal protective reasons and to provide a particular "trace-back" pro- 

 cedure. During fy 1983, as in prior years, several "exposed" parrots were 

 quarantined and tested for the presence of Exotic Newcastle Disease. Endemic in 

 South America, this disease appears in the United States with increasing regu- 

 larity via sick or smuggled psittacine birds. Pet Shop records allow a trace- 

 back capability for a disease which, should it escape into poultry flocks, would 

 cause untold losses. 



POULTRY PROGRAM 



Routine inspections for egg quality are carried out in retail stores, 

 hospitals and schools by a field staff of six Poultry Products Inspectors. 

 These men also monitor the use of the logo "Massachusetts Grown and Fresher" 

 which assures that extra-special characteristic of the locally-produced egg. 

 The blood-testing program for all poultry in the Commonwealth also assures the 

 world that hatching eggs from here are free from many genetically carried 

 diseases. Our export market for hatching eggs is worldwide. 



RABIES AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMAL PROGRAMS 



We initiate, through Town Animal Inspectors and/or Dog Officers, the 

 quarantine of any animal which has bitten a person. With rabies on the alarming 

 increase in wild animals (i.e. raccoons) in the mid-Atlantic states, we have 

 tightened this program materially; although, since all dogs must be vaccinated 

 and most towns enforce this and attendant leash laws, and since most bites are 

 canine, we do not feel the degree of danger of rabies to humans in Massachusetts 

 has increased. A new rabies vaccine for human use has recently become 

 available through the interest in this usually fatal disease by all state 

 Departments of Public Health. 



In fy 1983, rules and regulations for the licensing of Guard Dog Businesses 

 were promulgated. Licensing under this program was begun. Inspections prior to 

 licensing are carried out by agents of the Animal Rescue League, the 

 Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other 

 designated humane societies. 



IN CONCLUSION 



The goal of the Division of Animal Health is good domestic animal health, 

 as mirrored by the eradication of certain important animal diseases, the preven- 

 tion of others and the effective control of any which remain. To this end, both 

 office and field personnel are totally dedicated. We are indebted to others: 

 the farming community, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, agents of the 

 MSPCA and other humane societies, our counterparts in the APHIS branch of USDA, 

 those in Veterinary Services at the University of Massachusetts and those at the 

 Surburban Experiment Station in Waltham. We have also had the help and support 

 of the entire Department of Food and Agriculture, The Secretary of Environmental 

 Affairs' and both the Legislature and the Executive Office of the Commonwealth. 

 We feel that Massachusetts present excellent status in major areas of animal 

 health truly reflects this joint effort. 



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