Regulation 8.	Reporting of Diseases Among Animals and Waiver Process for Rabies Inoculation
A.	Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic laboratory director, or other person having the care of, or knowledge of, the existence of animals having or suspected of having any disease which may endanger the public health such as rabies, anthrax, encephalitis, bovine spongioform encephalopathy, etc., shall promptly report the facts to the local health department or health agency or the State Department of Health. 
B.	Pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-4-607 (2), a veterinarian licensed in Colorado may issue a written waiver as provided in this section exempting an animal from a rabies vaccination order if the veterinarian, in his or her professional opinion, determines the rabies inoculation is contraindicated due to the animal’s medical condition. The terms “waiver” and “exemption” as used in this section are interchangeable.  A veterinarian may issue a waiver if:
1.	The animal to be exempted has a medical condition defined as “a disease, illness, or other pathological state” for which, in the opinion of the exempting veterinarian, a rabies inoculation is contraindicated;
2.	A valid veterinary-client-patient relationship, as defined under C.R.S. § 12-64-103 (15.5), has been established between the veterinarian, owner and animal to be exempted from rabies inoculation;
3.	The veterinarian completes and signs the veterinary section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form provided by the Department;
4.	The animal owner signs the informed consent section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form;
5.	The veterinarian maintains the signed exemption as part of the animal’s medical record and provides a copy to the owner; 
6.	The exemption issued is limited to the anticipated duration of the animal’s medical condition that precludes inoculation; and
7.	The veterinarian provides a copy of the exemption form to the Department, the local health department or animal control agency when requested. 
C.	A waiver may not exceed a period of three years from the date of issuance.  If the medical condition persists beyond a three year period and, in the professional opinion of a veterinarian licensed in the State of Colorado, the exemption continues to be appropriate, a new waiver may be issued.   
D.	Upon receiving a complaint regarding the validity of a rabies inoculation exemption, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may review Exemption from Rabies Vaccination forms and examine the veterinary records pertaining to the medical condition to determine if the medical condition legitimately contraindicates rabies inoculation. if appropriate, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may refer the case to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine.