PRESS RELEASES FDACS, USDA Remind Veterinarians To Sign Animal Rabies Certificates
Forgery of Health Certificates
ORLANDO – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Con‑ sumer Services (FDACS) and the USDA remind veterinarians to sign their rabies certificates. It was brought to the attention of the two organizations by shipping brokers that several rabies certificates have recently been submitted without signatures. According to the USDA, “these unsigned rabies certificates primarily have been accompanied with health certificates, (as that is who the shipping broker deals with), but it raised concerns if the same veterinarians who aren’t signing the rabies certificates for health certificates are also not signing the rabies certificates of clients who are not traveling abroad.” “I think the problem is a failure of the practice to furnish the veterinarian with the printed certificate at the time of vaccine administration, and to make sure that it is signed or stamped,” said Dr. Sam R. Lamb, FDACS, Bureau of Animal Disease Control Vet‑ erinarian Manager, Small Animal Programs. “This would poten‑ tially be a liability issue or a violation of the Florida Rabies Law.” Below is a reprint of Florida Statutes, Section 828.30(3):
TALLAHASSEE – Increasing reports or allegations of the forgery, alteration of Official Certificates of Veteri‑ nary Inspection, or issuance of fake health certificates are being brought to the attention of the Office of the State Veterinarian. The penalty for this is cited in Florida Statutes, 545.145 (3):
(3) Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and the animal control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate. Each animal control authority and veterinarian shall use the "Rabies Vaccination Certificate" of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) or an equivalent form approved by the local government that contains all the information required by the NASPHV Rabies Vaccination Certificate. The veterinarian who administers the rabies vaccine to an animal as required under this section may affix his or her signature stamp in lieu of an actual signature. “As you can see, either an actual signature or a signature stamp is required,” Dr. Lamb said.
“A person who forges, counterfeits, simulates or alters, or who knowingly possesses, uses, presents or utters, any forged, counterfeited, altered or simulated official certificate of veterinary inspection or any other document relating to animal health requirements or substitutes, represents, or tenders an official certificate of veterinary inspection or any other document relating to animal health requirements of one animal for another animal commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.” Recently a person in Polk County, who is not a veterinarian, was arrested and charged with three felony counts involving falsification and forgery of an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required for an animal sale. To report a suspected or forged or altered health certificate, or any fraudulent use of the health certifi‑ cate, contact the Office of the State Veterinarian, Teresea Brown, Companion Animal Program by faxing a copy of the health certificate to (850) 410-0929 with a cover statement of the circumstances surrounding your sus‑ picions. Or you may also scan and email the certificate and statement to teresea.brown@freshfromflorida.com. Feel free to contact the State Veterinarian’s office if you would like to discuss this further at (850) 410-0900.
In Remembrance John C. Dunn
John C. Dunn, DVM, 82, of Mims, passed away on June 6, 2012. He was born March 29, 1930, in Lasca, AL to the late Gena and John T. Dunn, Sr. For more than 30 years, Dr. Dunn operated Dunn Animal Hospital in Titusville. He was a member of the Florida Veterinary Medical Associa‑ tion (FVMA), the Indian River Masonic
Lodge No. 90, North Brevard Shrine Club "Hillbilly's," Sertoma Club of Titus‑ ville and Park Avenue Baptist Church. Dr. Dunn is survived by his wife, Kathleen Dunn; four children, Ashleigh Ruggles (Todd), Mark Dunn, Allison Carver (John), Amanda Coffy (Martin); five grandchildren, Erica, Lesley, Jonathan, Haleigh and Martin; four sisters, Maree Chapman, Jessie Stringer
(Winston), Goldia Hart (Jim) and Rose Esther Crenshaw; and one brother, David Dunn. Funeral services were held on June 9, 2012 at Park Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Lord officiating. Burial was held at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Arrangements were made by the North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville. Memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of North Brevard, P.O. Box 5513, Titusville, FL 32783 or the Auburn University Alumni Association, 317 S. College St., Auburn, AL 36849. www.fvma.org | 3