will have to wait until the animal is at least 10 months old, according to new rules on rabies.

As of January, 1995, dogs and cats will have to be immunised twice, once when they are at least three months old and again six to 12 months later, before they are allowed into Bermuda from the US and Canada.

The second shot has to be given 30 days before entry into Bermuda.

With the increasing number of rabies cases reported on the US eastern seaboard, "Government is implementing stricter measures to prevent the inadvertent transmission of rabies into Bermuda,'' a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks explained.

The spokesperson added: "The new law would no doubt impact on people hoping to import puppies from the US and Canada as their puppy would now be at least 10 months old before it is allowed in Bermuda.

"It is also designed to prevent pets from being transported from a rabies infected area to a rabies-free area where it can be registered for the benefit of being transported to the Island as a rabies-free pet.'' The spokesperson also said that while there will be some people who feel the new law is excessive, "the benefits of enforcing it far outweigh the risks of disease to the Island's dog and cat population.'' Dogs and cats may still be imported from rabies-free countries which include the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or Jamaica with normal veterinarian certificates and minus the double rabies shots.

In recent figures released by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases reveal that new migrating patterns of people and infected animals, in particular, foxes, raccoons, and skunks have resulted in a higher incidence of rabies infection in areas where there previously was little or no problem.

In 1992, the US recorded well over 8,000 cases of rabies in animals, with the State of New York alone recording the highest number of 1761 cases. Both Massachusetts and Connecticut each had over 700 cases, and New Jersey had 462.

Canada has also recorded 2,270 cases in 1992 including 100 dogs and 100 cats.