Sec.12-574-F31. Veterinarians

(a) License. All veterinarians referred to in this section shall be licensed to practice in the state of Connecticut by the state Board of Veterinary Registration and Examination, and association veterinarians shall be licensed by the division.

(b) Division veterinarian. The division shall retain a veterinarian who shall be responsible for administration and coordination of all activities under sections 12-574-F21 to 12-574-F49, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies which pertain to the division veterinarian.

(c) Association veterinarian. Each association shall employ one or more veterinarians to carry out the duties enumerated in this section. The association veterinarians shall be paid by the association at whose track the services are rendered.

(d) Treating veterinarian.

(1) Only veterinarians who have been licensed by the executive director may practice veterinary medicine at an association facility and may treat greyhounds at such facility.

(2) No veterinarian licensed to practice at any association facility shall in any manner furnish to any person any hypodermic syringe, hypodermic needle or other device which could be used for injection or other infusion of any substance into a greyhound without first securing written permission from the judges. Only one-time disposable syringes and infusion tubes are authorized for use in the treatment of greyhounds at the facility of an association.

(3) No kennel owner or trainer shall obtain the services of any veterinarian at a facility who has not been duly licensed. The association shall exclude all unlicensed veterinarians. The veterinarians shall make daily reports to the division veterinarian and to the racing judges of all active greyhounds under treatment by them and the medication given. If a kennel owner or trainer leaves the facility and obtains for an active greyhound the services of a veterinarian not licensed by the executive director to practice within the facility, the kennel owner or trainer must file a written report on a form provided by the division with the division veterinarian and racing judges within forty-eight (48) hours of such treatment.

(e) Requirements of association veterinarian.

(1) The veterinarian shall perform a visual examination of each greyhound at weighing in time.

(2) Any greyhound the veterinarian does not consider in proper physical condition shall be reported to the racing judges who shall order said greyhound scratched.

(3) Any greyhound that vomits between weigh-in and weigh-out as determined by the veterinarian may be scratched, and if scratched a written report shall be filed with the division.

(4) Any greyhound that has diarrhea or hematuria shall be scratched unless the veterinarian determines upon examination that the racing performance or health of said greyhound will not be affected. A written report shall be filed with the division.

(5) It shall be the duty of the veterinarian to make a final examination and inspection of all greyhounds during the time they are in the paddock before they leave for the track. If the veterinarian finds any greyhound not in proper physical condition such greyhound shall be reported to the judges who shall order said greyhound scratched.

(6) Lactating bitches and bitches in season are not permitted on the racing strip for any purpose.

(7) Bitches coming in season during the racing meet shall not be accepted for entry for thirty (30) days after coming in season.

(8) The association veterinarian may treat or prescribe, provide or administer medication of any form to any greyhounds under the charge, custody or care of any kennel running greyhounds at the race track of the association employing said veterinarian, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be required by the division.

(9) Each association shall safeguard the health of all greyhounds housed at its licensed facility by requiring a periodic vaccination of each greyhound against diseases deemed by the division veterinarian to be communicable to other greyhounds at the facility. The vaccination requirements of each association shall be approved by the division veterinarian. Records of vaccinations of all greyhounds shall be maintained by the association.

(10) Greyhounds without proof of vaccination sufficient in the judgement of the division veterinarian shall not be permitted at a racing facility under any circumstances. If a greyhound without sufficient proof of vaccination is found at a facility, said greyhound shall, in the judgement of the division veterinarian, be either immediately vaccinated or removed from the facility, and the owner or trainer of that greyhound shall be liable to a fine, license suspension or both.

(Adopted effective October 3, 2001)