Procedures - Licensing and Vaccination of Animals in the City of Lod

Rabies Vaccination

1. Only an authorized vaccinator may administer rabies vaccinations.

2. Starting on April 1, 2024, dogs must receive their first rabies vaccination between the ages of 2.5 and 3 months.
 

3. Three weeks after the first vaccination, a notice will be sent to the dog owner that the dog must be given a booster shot 1-3 months after the first vaccination in order to comply with the license conditions. Dogs that have been vaccinated twice will receive an additional vaccination every two years.
 

A. If the dog is 3 months old or older and has not been vaccinated in the past – the dog must be vaccinated with the first rabies vaccine upon arrival at the owner's premises, and with a second vaccine 1-3 months after the first vaccination.

B. If the dog came into the owner's possession more than 3 months after the first vaccination, the dog must be vaccinated with a second rabies vaccine immediately upon arrival at the owner's premises.

C. If the dog has been vaccinated twice by April 1, 2024, it must be vaccinated two years after the last vaccination.

D. If the dog has been vaccinated once and more than 3 months have passed since its previous vaccination, the dog must be vaccinated immediately.

4. Starting on April 1, 2024, a veterinarian will not vaccinate an animal unless the following actions have been taken:

A. Check that the animal is free of signs of disease that could compromise the effectiveness of the vaccine.

B. Ask the owner for information about any medical treatment given to the animal in the 14 days prior to vaccination, and ensure that the treatment given cannot compromise the effectiveness of the vaccine.

c. In the case of a dog, ensure that the dog is legally microchipped, verify this with a microchip reader, and ensure that the microchip is registered in the dog's license. If the dog is not microchipped, it must be microchipped in accordance with the supervision regulations.

D. Ask the owner if, to the best of their knowledge, the animal has been bitten in the 10 days prior to vaccination. Vaccination is only possible if the answer is negative.

Dog License Fee

5. The Dog License Fee must be paid once a year, at the rates published by the veterinary services.

A. A dog that has received its first vaccination and needs to complete a second vaccination within 1-3 months – the owner will pay a fee for the first rabies vaccination only. The annual dog license will take effect after the second vaccination is completed. If 3 months have passed since the first vaccination and the dog has not been vaccinated, the dog will be kept without a license and enforcement action may be taken against its owner.

B. The license is valid for one year from the date of registration, provided that the owner has met its conditions.

C. The second rabies vaccination described in section 5A will be given after payment (rabies vaccination fee), in addition to the license fee and first rabies vaccination fee paid previously. The license will be valid for one year from the date of the second vaccination.

D. In the year in which the dog needs to be vaccinated, a license fee will be sent for payment approximately one month before the license expires. The license fee will be paid together with the rabies vaccination. The license will only become valid after the rabies vaccination has been given and all conditions have been met.

E. In the year in which the dog does not need to be vaccinated – a license fee payment notice will be sent approximately one month before the license expires. The license fee will be paid 11-12 months after the date of the last rabies vaccination. In this case, the dog license will take effect immediately. Payment can be made digitally, and there is no need to visit the municipal veterinary service for this purpose, but you must ensure that the microchip and the details appearing on it are correct.

**In practice, there is a separation between the rabies vaccination and the license. Please note that the license is only granted after meeting its conditions, i.e., at least two vaccinations, and therefore there may be a situation in which a dog is registered with the municipal veterinary service but does not have a license until the vaccination is completed.

Postponement of rabies vaccination

6. Postponement of rabies vaccination if the dog has been vaccinated in the past:

A. Postponement of rabies vaccination does not exempt the owner from obtaining a dog license and paying the licensing fee.

B. The Municipal Veterinarian may allow the keeping of a dog without a valid vaccination for a period of up to 3 months, for reasons related to the dog's health. If permission is granted, the period may only be extended by the director of veterinary services.

C. If the Municipal Veterinarian grants permission to postpone vaccination, the director of veterinary services may permit the keeping of a dog without a valid vaccination for a period of up to three years, for reasons related to the dog's health. The Director of Veterinary Services may renew and extend the period for an additional 3 years at a time.

7. Deferral of rabies vaccination if a dog has never been vaccinated is only possible with the approval of the Director of Veterinary Services.

8. The Municipal Veterinarian and the Director of Veterinary Services shall not exercise this authority unless a written request has been submitted at least 30 days before the expiration of the vaccination period or the extension of the permit.

Rabies observation:

  1. According to the Rabies (Vaccination) Regulations, only a dog that has received two or more vaccinations is defined as vaccinated. Therefore, only a dog that has received two or more vaccinations can undergo home observation, provided that it meets the other conditions for home observation and subject to the discretion of the municipal veterinarian. In any other case, rabies observation must be carried out at an approved municipal kennel.

1. We at the Lod Municipal Veterinary Service are happy to assist you and your pet in the process of entering the State of Israel.

2. The Lod Municipal Kennel (which is part of the Municipal Veterinary Service) provides quarantine services for the Import-Export Department of the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, the policy for receiving and releasing your pet is based solely on their instructions.

3. Below are a few points to note regarding the admission of animals to the municipal kennel:

  • Please notify us at least one business day before the animal's arrival in Israel. The notification must be sent by email and include the estimated date of arrival, including the landing time.
  • The following documents must be attached to the update: the animal's health certificate, including vaccination record, owner's ID, residential address in Israel, and two telephone numbers where the owner can be reached.
  • If you do not have email, you can send the information via WhatsApp to 050-5911845.
  • The animal will only be admitted to the kennel if it has valid vaccinations against diseases, preventive treatment against worms, and preventive treatment against fleas/ticks. If any of the above is not valid, the treatment will be carried out at the kennel at the owner's expense.
  • The department's hours of operation are Sunday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Please notify us when you leave the airport and are heading our way. If you arrive outside of operating hours, please notify us after passport control via the Lod Municipal Call Center at 08-9279900, extension 3, or 053-55950733.

Attached is a request form for the quarantine of animals entering from abroad to the Lod Municipal Kennel.

Costs:

  • Calendar day at the kennel - 40.50 NIS
  • Opening outside reception hours - 300 NIS
  • Transportation of blood to the veterinary institute - 83 NIS
  • One day at the kennel - 40.50 NIS
  • Transportation of blood to the laboratory - 92 NIS

If there are no vaccinations, parasite treatment, or deworming, the costs will be:

  • Six-in-one vaccination for dogs and cats - 36 NIS
  • External parasite treatment - 50 NIS
  • Worming Treatment - 15 NIS
     

Payment by credit card only!

  • The Municipal Veterinary Service does not perform blood tests for private clients. Therefore, it is the owner's responsibility to arrange for a private veterinarian to take blood (taking blood and filling out the form is the sole responsibility of the private veterinarian). After the blood is drawn, the test tube will be sent to us, and we will arrange for it to be tested.
     
  • The antibody test must be paid for separately, directly to the Ministry of Agriculture. Attached are instructions for filling out the form and making the payment.

It is your responsibility, with the assistance of your private veterinarian, to fill out all the paperwork and pay for the test.

Our address on WAZE: “Lod Municipal Veterinary Service”