Rabies vaccine Ontario law: what every dog and cat owner must do

What the rabies vaccine Ontario law says

The rabies vaccine Ontario law says that every owner or person having the care or custody of a cat, dog or ferret three months of age or over shall ensure that the animal is immunized against rabies. That's section 1 of Regulation 567, and it's one sentence long.

Two details in that sentence are easy to miss. The duty sits with whoever has care or custody, so a pet sitter or a relative looking after your dog for the week can be on the hook, not just you. And there's no indoor exception anywhere in the text.

Section 3 adds the second duty: the animal has to be reimmunized by the date specified in its certificate of immunization. Where does that date come from? The vaccine your vet used. The certificate has to record the reimmunization interval from that vaccine's product monograph, so it isn't the same for every pet.

In Ontario, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies from three months of age, and kept up to date by the date on their certificate.

The regulation reaches past pets, too. It covers some livestock the public can get at, like horses, cattle and sheep, and Toronto's rabies page notes that animals coming into contact with the public are included. We'll stick to dogs, cats and ferrets here.

Who can give the vaccine, and where

A veterinarian authorized to practise in Canada or the United States, where the vaccine is given, has to give the shot, or that vet's lawfully authorized delegate can. That's section 4. The vaccine also has to be licensed in that place and given according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Why care? Say you adopted a cat from a rescue in Manitoba, or you just moved up from Buffalo with your dog. A valid rabies shot given there by a licensed vet can count in Ontario. If the vaccine was given somewhere else, or nobody can find the certificate, bring that up with your Ontario vet.

Wondering when the first shot and the boosters fit in with everything else? Our dog and cat vaccine schedule for Canada lays out the core vaccines side by side. Your vet sets the actual timing for your pet.

The rabies certificate and tag: what you should get

Each time your pet gets the rabies vaccine, the vet has to give you a signed certificate of immunization, plus a rabies identification tag for a cat, dog or ferret. Section 6 spells out what goes on the certificate. Next time you're handed one, it should show:

• Your name and address
• Your pet's species, breed, colour, sex, age and name, plus any markings and approximate size
• Any microchip or tattoo number
• The clinic's address and the vet's full name and contact information
• The vaccine's name and serial number, and its reimmunization interval
• The date given, and whether it was a primary or booster immunization
• The date by which your pet must be reimmunized
• The number on the rabies tag

Hang on to it. The City of Toronto tells owners to keep a copy of the vet-issued vaccine certificate at all times, and kennels, groomers and daycares tend to ask for it before your dog's first stay. Our post on proof of rabies vaccination for daycare and boarding covers what they look for.

Paper gets lost in kitchen drawers, so snap a photo too. In the free PetGrid app you can keep the certificate with your pet's records and make a vaccine card PDF with a QR code for anyone who needs to check it.

Can a pet be exempt from the rabies vaccine?

Yes, but only for a medical reason, and only with paperwork. Section 7 exempts an owner whose animal has a medical condition that makes vaccination unsafe, as long as two things are true:

1. A veterinarian issues a signed statement of exemption for that animal.
2. The animal is controlled in a way that prevents it from being exposed to rabies.

The statement isn't a quick note. It has to describe the pet, list the dates of past rabies vaccines and any documented reactions, name the medical condition, and say how long the exemption lasts.

Age on its own doesn't qualify. Neither does preferring not to vaccinate. If your pet reacted badly to a shot before, tell your vet, and let them decide what's safe.

If your pet bites someone

If your pet bites someone, the bite gets reported to the local medical officer of health, and you'll be expected to help. Ontario's communicable diseases regulation, Regulation 557, requires bites from any mammal to be reported. If your pet has bitten a person, or is suspected of it, you have to give the medical officer of health the information and help they ask for about the animal.

If a medical officer of health or public health inspector thinks a dog, cat or ferret may be rabid, they must have it confined and isolated for at least ten days. A pet with no symptoms of disease is usually confined at home. One with symptoms may go to a pound or a veterinary hospital.

An up-to-date certificate is the fastest way to answer public health's first question after a bite: was this pet vaccinated?

It can go the other way, too. If a bat, raccoon, skunk or fox bites your pet, call your vet right away. If a person is bitten or scratched, they should contact a doctor or the local public health unit.

How to stay on the right side of the law

Staying legal mostly comes down to the first shot, the date on the certificate, and not losing the paper. Once your puppy or kitten is old enough, book that first rabies vaccine; your vet will tell you when. Every new certificate can carry a different reimmunization date, depending on the vaccine used, so write it down each time rather than assuming last year's interval.

• Keep the certificate somewhere you'll find it, with a copy on your phone.
• Put the tag on your pet's collar.
• If a visit is out of reach right now, ask your vet or the city about lower-cost options. Toronto Animal Services' Chip Truck occasionally offers low-cost rabies vaccination.

Once you add the vaccine and its next due date, PetGrid's free reminders can email or notify you when it comes due.

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En resumen

So: vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret from three months, get the booster done by the date on the certificate, and keep the certificate and tag where you can find them. A vet's signed medical exemption is the only way out, and if there's ever a bite, a current certificate saves everyone a lot of back and forth.

Your vet can tell you the right timing for your pet. The free PetGrid app can hold the certificate, remind you when the next one is due, and hand a kennel a vaccine card in seconds.