Welcome to the Rabies Challenge Fund.
The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust will determine the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines. The goal is to extend the required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then to 7 years. This project depends primarily upon grassroots gifts for funding the costs of conducting the requisite vaccine trials. Our contributions to date have come mostly from kennel clubs and private individuals. The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust is a federally registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization [Fed. EIN # 84-6390682].
Essential Fundraising Efforts Continue ...
The research began in November 2007 under the direction of Dr. Ronald Schultz and The University of Wisconsin Foundation and is now in year three. We have raised the required funds needed for the first three years of the study and we now seek donations to fund year four. Continuing to raise the funds is essential so the project can continue.
With Your Help...
The Rabies Challenge Fund needs to raise a total of $1.25 million to complete the 5 and 7 year challenge studies. With your help for year four, we are another year closer to making this goal a reality!
California Action Alert - Rabies Bill AB 2000
REVISED CALIFORNIA RABIES BILL AB 2000 -- PLEASE SUPPORT
JUNE 17 UPDATE - URGENT ACTION NEEDED California Medical Exemption Bill AB 2000 -- On June 8th, Monica Wagoner, the Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health (916) 440-7502, sent a letter to legislators opposing the revised rabies medical exemption bill AB 2000. Her letter states: "There is no scientific evidence that canine rabies vaccines are associated with severe or a high rate of vaccination reactions. ...Modern canine rabies vaccines are safe ...."
PLEASE make a brief call or send a short e-mail to the Senate Health Committee members below and tell them you support "Molly's Bill" AB 2000 and ask everyone you know to do the same. Opposition to this bill from the Health Department will require a very strong show of public support to overcome.
The quarantine clause in AB 2000 inserting a medical exemption in California's rabies law has been removed, and The Rabies Challenge Fund is asking dog owners to voice their support for this bill. The bill has a hearing set for June 23rd in the Senate Health Committee. Please contact the members of the Senate Health Committee below and ask them to pass the bill.
Senate Health Committee Phone: (916) 651-4111
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/sen/committee/STANDING/HEALTH/_home1/PROFILE.HTM
Elaine Alquist (Chair)
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Phone: (916) 651-4013
Tony Stickland (Vice-Chair)
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Phone: (916) 651-4019 Fax: (916) 324-7544
Samuel Aanestad
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Phone: (916) 651-4004 Fax: (916) 445-7750
Gilbert Cedillo Phone: (916) 651-4022 Fax: (916) 327-8817
Dave Cox
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Phone: (916) 651-4001 Fax: (916) 324-2680
Mark Leo
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Phone: (916) 651-4003 Fax: (916) 445-4722
Gloria Negrete McLeod
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Phone: (916) 651-4032 Fax: (916) 445-0128
Fran Pavley
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Phone: (916) 651-4023 Fax: (916) 324-4823
Gloria Romero
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Phone: (916) 651-4024 Fax: (916) 445-0485
Bill Co-Sponsor Assembly Member Curt Hagman
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Phone: (916) 319-2060 Fax: (916) 319-2160
Breaking News / Alerts
$10,000 MATCHING GIFT
Between September 1 and November 30, 2010, donations made to the Rabies Challenge Fund will be matched by an anonymous donor, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000! Please note that all cash gifts under $1,000 will be matched until $10,000 is reached. The donor makes this request so that the challenge will remain open longer to enable more small donors to participate. Donate now
MASSACHUSETTS DOG OWNERS
Massachusetts Medical Exemption Bill, SB 784 An Act Relative to Rabies Vaccination for Dogs and Cats, received a "study order" from the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on 3/9/10. In order for this bill to be reintroduced for passage the Committee Chairs and the bill sponsors must write a letter to the Rules Committee asking that it be reintroduced. Learn more.
CALIFORNIA DOG OWNERS
URGENT ACTION NEEDED California Medical Exemption Bill AB 2000 -- URGENT--California AB 2000 Action Alert "Molly's Bill" -- Please make 3 calls: Monica Wagoner Dept. Health (916) 440-7502, Appropriations Committee (916-651-4101), and Committee Chair Senator Kehoe (916) 651-4039. Tell them to stop playing politics with the lives of California's sick dogs and get this bill to the Senate Floor for passage.
NEW MEXICO MEDICAL EXEMPTION ACTION ALERT
New Mexico pet owners have launched an effort to get a rabies medical exemption clause inserted into the Rabies Code. Learn more.
WEST VIRGINIA ADOPTS 3-YEAR RABIES VACCINE STATUTE
On June 13 became the 50th state in the country to adopt national standard! Learn more.
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Did You Know?
The RCF study will also generate data to establish the level of immunity (also called a titer) in a dog’s blood that provides protection against rabies virus. This is important because at present we have to rely upon information known about the protective rabies titer for people, which is then applied to dogs and other mammals. Once the RCF has established the protective rabies titer, it should provide a scientific basis to avoid unnecessary rabies booster vaccination..
Making a Difference
Successful efforts by the Rabies Challenge Fund have led to changing the state rabies laws/municipal ordinances to the 3-year national standard in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Wichita, Kansas; and the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Maine Rhode Island and West Virginia.About the RCF Study
This vaccine research project to address the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccine is being performed by Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chairman of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. If the Rabies Challenge Fund succeeds in raising funds to complete both the 5 and 7 year challenge studies, the second phase of the project will finance a study of the adjuvants used in veterinary vaccines, and establish a federal adverse reaction reporting system for rabies and other vaccines.
An All Volunteer Effort
The University of Wisconsin has donated all of the necessary overhead costs for these studies which normally amount to 48% of the direct research costs. Furthermore, Dr. Ron Schultz, the Principal Investigator, has volunteered his time in conducting the research. Dr. W. Jean Dodds and her staff at Hemopet are also donating their efforts, as is Founder Kris Christine. The only monies used from the pre-grant funds were IRS fees. All other monies donated to The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust go directly to funding these studies.
Year 4 Donations
7/27/2010
Quick Links
$10,000 Matching Gift Thru November 30Donate to take advantage of an anonymous donor's $10,000 matching gift.
Look Who's Endorsing the Rabies Challenge FundRin Tin Tin, Benji and and award-winning author Jan Rasmusen all endorse the RCF.
Purchase RCF Gear!Check out GlobalDog's great RCF t-shirts, bags and mouse pads. All profits donated to RCF.
Join Our Facebook CommunityJoin our community and connect with other supporters of the RCF.
Thank You!
The Rabies Challenge Fund is a grassroots, team effort. Every contribution, regardless of size, moves us closer to our goal. We thank all the individuals, businesses, and breed clubs, canine clubs and associations for their generous support.
The Rabies Challenge Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization studying the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines.