Kris L. Christine, New Member Introduction

[Kris L. Christine]

Greetings!

My name is Kris L. Christine. I live in Maine and am the Founder and Co-Trustee of THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND (www.RabiesChallengeFund.org). My precious canine companion, Meadow, developed a malignant mast cell tumor directly on the site of his rabies shot at the age of 6 (syringe hole still visible in the tumor) and died in July after repeated surgeries failed to yield clean margins and the cancer metasticized throughout his body.

It is my goal to make available to all dog owners the scientific data on the known durations of immunity for canine vaccines and the adverse reactions associated with them so that they can make informed vaccine decisions for their beloved companions. In 2004 I launched a successful effort to change Maine's rabies immunization regulations for dogs from 2 to 3 years and insert a medical exemption clause; later that year Representative Peter Rines introduced the nation's first pet vaccine disclosure legislation on my behalf.

If anyone would like copies of the American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines, the 1992 French challenge study demonstrating that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, the 2003 Italian study documenting fibrosarcomas at the presumed injection sites of rabies vaccines in dogs, as well as Dr. W. Jean Dodds' papers on vaccinal adverse reactions, please e-mail me at ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com.

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST my vaccine informational posts.

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz Duration of Immunity

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines - WSAVA - Scientific Advisory Committee Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at Special Report .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at About AAHA .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at Home

[MyPemCharlie]

Hi Kris,

I'm sorry to hear about Meadow. Was he a Pembroke or Cardigan?

It's nice to know that more and more vets seem to be moving away from annual (or too frequent) vaccines. Hopefully that trend will continue.

Are you planning to get another Corgi?

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Hi Kris,

I'm sorry to hear about Meadow. Was he a Pembroke or Cardigan?

It's nice to know that more and more vets seem to be moving away from annual (or too frequent) vaccines. Hopefully that trend will continue.

Are you planning to get another Corgi?

I don't think her dog was a corgi. She's just announcing the Rabies Challenge Fund. I'll bet she's posting on as many dog forums/lists as she can.

Peggy

[Kris L. Christine]

Responding to the question from MyPemCharlie -- Meadow was a yellow labrador, and my vaccinal ignorance cost him his life. My husband's best friend and golfing partner has a marvelous Corgi named Murphy (an incredible character, quite dignified).

It is my goal to provide everyone and anyone who owns and loves a dog with the vaccine data they need to make informed vaccine choices. Too few veterinary care providers disclose vital basic information on the known durations of immunity of the core canine vaccines and the adverse reactions associated with them. That is my purpose in joining the forum -- my husband's friend loves his Corgi and wants to make sure he is not redundantly vaccinated, and I'm sure most people on this forum feel the same.

Kris

[Michael Romanos]

New Zealand is rabies-free so no vaccination of dogs here in this regard is necessary.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Kris L. Christine

Responding to the question from MyPemCharlie -- Meadow was a yellow labrador, and my vaccinal ignorance cost him his life. My husband's best friend and golfing partner has a marvelous Corgi named Murphy (an incredible character, quite dignified).

It is my goal to provide everyone and anyone who owns and loves a dog with the vaccine data they need to make informed vaccine choices. Too few veterinary care providers disclose vital basic information on the known durations of immunity of the core canine vaccines and the adverse reactions associated with them. That is my purpose in joining the forum -- my husband's friend loves his Corgi and wants to make sure he is not redundantly vaccinated, and I'm sure most people on this forum feel the same.

Kris

Well, I'm sorry for the loss of your lab, and agree that we should all be informed about side effects of vaccines and other dog-related topics which can affect our Corgis. However, I really don't want to see our forum turned into a platform for general animal-related causes. This forum is for Corgi owners and admirers of the breed to talk about our dogs, the Corgi breed, and their issues (yes, including topics on immunizations). Others may or may not share my opinion, but I don't want to have to sift through a lot of spam-type posts from general animal cause advocates to find the posts about our Corgis.

[Kris L. Christine]

Responding to MyPemCharlie,

The vaccine information that I share and make available is important for Corgi owners to have, regardless of what breed I may happen to own, and it is information not readily accessible to pet owners.

Seizure issues I have dealt with may and perhaps are helping Corgi owners on this forum (see Bear99's issue under the Health Issues sections, "Corgi Having Seizures").

If the majority of members on this forum feel that I have nothing of value to offer by being on it, then I will permanently log out of it.

My efforts to raise awareness and share vaccinal data poses a significant threat to veterinary income and there have been many attempts to keep me silent in order to keep the material I have out of the public domain.