Arizona Revised Statutes 32-2239 states:

Duty of veterinarian to report suspected dog participants of dog fights or animal abuse; immunity.

In summary, this new law extends legal protection to veterinarians reporting, in good faith, any suspected case of animal abuse. This includes dog fighting, domestic animals and livestock. The exact wording of the law is as follows.

A. A veterinarian shall report in writing concerning any dog fighting or animal abuse to a local law enforcement agency in the county where the veterinarian is practicing within thirty days of any examination or treatment administered to any dog or any animal which the veterinarian reasonably suspects and believes has participated in an organized dog fight or any animal which the veterinarian reasonably suspects and believes has been abused. The report shall contain the breed and description of the dog or any animal together with the name and address of the owner.

B. A veterinarian shall report, in writing, suspected cases of abuse of livestock to the associate director of the division of animal services in the Arizona Department of Agriculture pursuant to Title 3, Chapter 11, Article 1. The report shall be made within thirty days of treatment or examination and shall include the breed and description of the animal together with the name and address of the owner.

C. A veterinarian who files a report as provided in this section shall be immune from civil liability with respect to any report made in good faith.




EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE WARNING:
Exotic Newcastle Disease is a contagious and often fatal disease affecting all types of birds. It is caused by the most virulent strain of a group of related Newcastle Disease viruses. Exotic Newcastle Disease is probably one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. It is so virulent, birds may die without showing any symptoms.

Exotic Newcastle Disease affects the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems. The incubation period may be as short as two days, or as long as two weeks. Symptoms include:
sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, and coughing
greenish, watery diarrhea
depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of the head and neck, circling, and paralysis
thin-shelled eggs, with a partial to complete drop in egg production maybe seen
swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck
sudden death
increased death loss in a flock

Exotic Newcastle Disease spreads primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds, such as bird droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes. In addition, the disease may be spread by mechanical means, such as on vehicles or on the shoes and clothing of people visiting an infected premises. The disease is often spread by manure haulers, rendering-truck drivers, feed delivery personnel, poultry farm and egg processing workers, and exhibitors at bird shows. The virus can live for several weeks on bird feathers, manure, and other materials.

Finally, smuggled pet birds, especially parrots from Latin America, pose a great risk of introducing Exotic Newcastle Disease into the U.S. These birds can be infected and not show symptoms, and are capable of shedding the virus for over a year. Prior to last fall, the last outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in the U.S. was in 1971.

In October 2002, Exotic Newcastle Disease was discovered in backyard poultry in southern California. Because Exotic Newcastle Disease has severe adverse impacts on poultry and egg production, and disrupts international export markets for these products, and the fact that this disease can also cause severe illness in pet birds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture formed a joint task force to eliminate the disease.

In late December 2002, Exotic Newcastle Disease was identified in commercial poultry in southern California and has since been diagnosed in several other large poultry flocks. On January 16th, it was announced that an infected backyard poultry flock was found in southern Nevada.

On February 4th, Exotic Newcastle Disease was confirmed in a backyard poultry flock on the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation in western Arizona. In order to help prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of Arizona, La Paz County,Yuma County, and the portion of Mohave County south and east of the Colorado River were placed under quarantine. The Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture has issued several Administrative Orders for Exotic Newcastle Disease. These Orders augment restrictions put in place last October in California, and in mid-January in Nevada.

As of February 12, 2003, the quarantined areas include the following counties:
In southern California, the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Imperial.
In southern Nevada, the quarantined counties are Clark and Nye.
In western Arizona, the counties under quarantine are all of La Paz and Yuma Counties, and that portion of Mohave County that is south and east of the Colorado River.

The Administrative Order issued on February 11, 2003 includes the following restrictions:

1. The Order prohibits the movement of birds of any type out of the quarantined areas. Movement of birds within the Arizona quarantined areas requires prior authorization from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

2. The Order restricts the movement of poultry waste, used bird equipment, and vehicles that are transporting feeds, birds, used bird equipment, or other materials that may transmit the disease. These items may not be moved into Arizona from the quarantined area in California or Nevada. Movement of these materials within the Arizona quarantined area requires prior authorization from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

3. The Order restricts the movement of eggs. Eggs may not be moved into Arizona from the quarantined area in California or Nevada, or out of the Arizona quarantined area unless they are accompanied by an official certificate stating the eggs have been washed, sanitized, and packed in new material.

4. The Order restricts the movement of equipment used for the processing of eggs, or for housing, feeding, watering, entertaining, or otherwise caring for birds of any type. Equipment of this type being moved into Arizona from the quarantined area in California or Nevada must be accompanied by an official certificate stating the equipment has been cleaned and disinfected. This certificate must be presented at the Yuma, Ehrenberg, Parker, Topock, or Kingman port of entry.

5. The Order restricts the movement of commercial vehicles that are transporting feed or eggs from the quarantined area in California or Nevada. These vehicles must stop at the Yuma, Ehrenberg, Parker, Topock, or Kingman port of entry and present proof of cleaning and disinfection of the vehicle, trailer, and packing material.

6. The Order restricts the movement of birds of any type that are being transported from any non-quarantined area in California or Nevada. Vehicles of any type, including automobiles and pick-up trucks, that are transporting birds of any type into Arizona from outside the quarantined area of California or Nevada must stop at the Yuma, Ehrenberg, Parker, Topock, or Kingman port of entry and present a veterinarian’s health certificate verifying the birds are healthy and do not originate from a quarantined area.

7. The Order restricts all bird events in Arizona, such as exhibits, shows, auctions, competitions, or other public displays of birds. These events are prohibited.

8. The Order does not restrict poultry meat products produced under USDA inspection or equivalent Arizona inspection. Vehicles transporting such products may be subject to inspection at a port of entry.

For additional information on Exotic Newcastle Disease visit the ADA website www.agriculture.state.az.us. Questions may be e-mailed to the State Veterinarian at statevet@agric.state.az.us. END Information Line (888) 742-5334.