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NE Garden Guru's avatar

I owned a cat shelter for 26 yrs. We did lots of feral trap/neuter/release.

During the rabies scare in the 80s when the govt was dropping rabies vax baited food in the wild for raccoons etc rabies vax became LAW for felines in many states and we hosted a ton of free clinics. My staff was told by our shelter vet that WE must also be vaxxed and so we recieved the series.

That was over 30 yrs ago.

My titer hasnt changed AT ALL.

I dont vax my pets for anything beginning 20 yrs ago when vax tumors were found at vax sites in cats.

If my titer after 30 yrs is the same wouldnt that hold true for pets?

Luckily I have a vet who knows better than to push me. I owned a farm for 35 yrs and vetted my own stock until the govt took away my rights,I was raising unvaxxed chickens, goats etc. Beaurocracy and greed are destroying any natural animal husbandry thats left IMO.

Now even farm raised shrimp, salmon and veg/fruits are being vaxxed. 🤑🤑🤑

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

The rabies bait drops continue, I think in most states with significant wildlife reservoirs that carry the disease. But your titer is well worth mentioning. It *may* be different in animals, but the key is, a fallen titer does not mean immunity is gone. http://vitalanimal.com/fallacy-of-titer-tests/

And good for your vet for respecting your boundaries. All should be so conscious.

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Carrie Baker's avatar

We want to help the community cat population, especially in our neighborhood, but our resources are extremely limited. We have one low cost spay/neuter clinic and one TNR organization and several rescues along with a city shelter. They all follow the unfounded rabies law and pharmaceuticals, so we can’t use any of them without going against our conscience. We literally only found one vet that will spay/neuter without requiring the rabies shot. But he won’t give us any discount for community cats because he’s a small practice. So we’re stuck. Our colony will grow and we feel like we can’t do anything about it. My question is why can’t we do exactly what TNR stands for?! Trap/neuter/return!! That’s it!! I don’t want their ears clipped or them get vaccinated. We know our colony.

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NE Garden Guru's avatar

Im so sorry you have to deal with this.

We too had to do the "protocol" in order to help the cats.

IMO it may be worth the one time compliance just to get the cats spayed/neutered. Once thats over with they can be released and wont have to suffer the consequences of followup jabs etc.

Sometimes compromise is a sacrifice of values albeit only a temporary one.

Blessings to you and your team.

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Carrie Baker's avatar

We have a lot of consequences to weigh in the matter…we may have to compromise on the rabies vax but only if the vet was willing to do the thimersol free one and split the dose between the cats. Other than that, I don’t see compromising on much because of everything I’ve learned and seen the past two years. We are definitely spending a lot of time thinking and praying about what we should do!

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Just to be clear, the TF vaccines (no thimerosal) can (and likely do) still have mercury, hiding in the “excipients” which drug manufacturers need not reveal. Are they still better? Hard to say, but I think I’d ask for them, if I absolutely had to get rabies vaccinated.

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Kathryn's avatar

Most vets in this area only carry pet rabies vxes from zoetis, which is suspected of using nanotech. I found one vet that uses old school vax. A homeopathic vet.

I do this because my 6 year old Aussie died of a violent rare pharyngonasal cancer. This cancer developed on the heels of a Lyme vx. The doctor discovered the dog already had antibodies to Lyme when given the vax.

I distrust all vaxes now, and question whether they only cause disease and death which is blamed on other factors.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Fair to distrust them. It may take decades, but one day we’ll look back at the practice and shake our heads, wondering “How did we ever think THAT was a good idea?”

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Carrie Baker's avatar

That’s what I learned from you and what makes me so hesitant to get the rabies vax for these precious little kitties. I don’t want to harm them.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

To be fair though, it'd be wise to assess your risk of the disease itself. Start with a search on your state's health dept site: rabies incidence. They should have data over the past several years, how many tested, of those tested, how many were positive, what species are usually positive where you live, etc. See what the trends have been.

Cats, especially ferals, can easily become intermediaries carrying rabies from wildlife to humans. To whit: a case where a rabid skunk came upon a litter of feral puppies, bit them all, and then died shortly after.

It's not a simple black or white decision. A 100% indoor cat? Entirely different decision than feral cats living outdoors.

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dubbydove1@yahoo.com's avatar

One m ore reason not to eat farm-raised fish. In Massachusetts if you don't get your animal vaxxed for rabies, the state will seize the animal. Good to know they have their priorities straight.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

I suspect that's illegal (seizure for non-vax) but I'm far from up on the law. There ARE lawyers going to bat in the vaccine mandate field, one place to challenge, others have learned a simple No Trespassing sign is a significant impediment. But far simpler has been "flying under the radar" in most places, meaning not registering a pet, and then raising them the way you want, finding sympathetic vets who'll understand your path and support you.

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Giselle Horton's avatar

I had a vet refuse to give my 17-year-old indoor-only cat a much-needed dental because the cat was not up to date on his rabies vaccination. The rationale: “for the safety of my staff.” I left and never went back.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Such BS. I'm glad you saw through it and withdrew your business with such ignorants.

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Donna's avatar

I had almost the exact same situation about 30 years ago. I decided to give a vet hospital that offered 24 hour emergency care my routine business as well to help support them... and my very first appointment was for a dental cleaning for a middle-aged cat who needed it. I dropped her off early in the morning and went to work. Around lunch time the vet called and said they "couldn't" do her cleaning unless I paid for shots as well. I declined, and they told me that if I didn't come get my cat immediately, they would charge me for a day of boarding. I couldn't afford to pay for that or take a half day off work plus take her somewhere else to get the cleaning done, so I agreed under protest to the rabies shot. But when I picked up my cat after work, I let the vet know in no uncertain terms that her policy of refusing service for not buying extra shots, and charging for boarding after pets had already been dropped off and owners were at a disadvantage, had just cost her practice the routine business of eight cats and three dogs. She was quite offended by my stance. But I never returned there for any routine business.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Excellent response! Offended by the truth that she acted horribly? Truth hurts sometimes, I guess.

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Cara C.'s avatar

I had a pregnant feral that needed to be spayed & the spay clinic wouldn't do it without the rabies vax. My holistic vet wrote a note saying vax was contraindicated & they accepted that. I had pointed out that vaxxing with such a severe procedure–abortion- and anesthesia, was a bad idea, but they gave me that song & dance about "safety of their staff." When I asked them if they thought vaxxing conferred instant immunity they just gave me the old standby: "It's our policy.,"

Scammers.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Bravo for your holistic vet (and the spay clinic's acceptance). And good on you for asking that pointed question!

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Cara C.'s avatar

Thanks. In Florida a note from a state vet saying the rabies vax would be harmful legally gets you off the hook (rabies is the only one mandated). You're still supposed to get a yearly license, and I'm not sure whether the note has to be done each year or not. Come to think of it I did have one sterilization clinic refuse the note...

I felt terrible for the poor stray.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

"State vet" means a vet licensed to practice in Florida (not an employee of the state, right?). I'd not ask about yearly requirements… less said, the better. Just hang onto that valuable letter.

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Cara C.'s avatar

Yes, licensed in Florida. Believe me, I didn't ask. After all, she was a stray, so how could they ever hunt her down? We, fortunately, have a "community cats" program. The BAD thing is if you go through the providers, they do Rabies and FVRCP vaccines, and topical flea prevention. I haven't had to deal with a stray in many years, so haven't had the no poison, no vaxxes fight. Local vets not in the program charge a FORTUNE for spay & neuter. Over $200!

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

First I've heard of such a program. Sounds like a racket… Are you saying the cheap spay neuter clinics all do the poisons/vaccs routine or "no service?"

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Cara C.'s avatar

The county works with some spay neuter clinics and arranges a voucher, I think. My guess is that they require the clinics to do the vaxxes & treatments. I haven't, thank heavens, had to trap any strays in a long time, so don't know if the clinics would require the treatments if I paid privately. They do include the shots with the low cost , so I'd have to see if a note from a vet could obviate everything extra they want to do. I'm emailing them to find out.

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Lans's avatar

I was also the recipient of my vet’s bs. He said he’d lose AAHA accreditation if my dogs weren’t “up to date”. So he would only treat on an outpatient basis only.

I called the AAHA to check his story and they assured me it wasn’t true. So either the vet was grossly misinformed or lied. Either way, not good.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Good for you, Lans! It’s a ploy, nothing truthful or misunderstood about it.

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Candace A's avatar

I ditched Amazon LONG ago. Between their site security risks, privacy infringement, delivery mistakes & huge carbon footprint all because buyers can’t wait to receive a package - no thanks!

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Copernicus's avatar

I use it as little as possible. For all those reasons. Sometimes it is really hard to avoid.

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Candace A's avatar

Nope! I will go without. It’s as if they don’t even exist in my world. Have to have the courage of our convictions!

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Copernicus's avatar

if I was dying of thirst and the only person offering me water was a Chinese communist, I'd take the water so that I could live to fight another day.

That is how I have chosen to proceed, for the present time. I absolutely look for local options, use Thriftbooks for books even when it costs more, and try to buy direct from sellers as often as possible.

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Cara C.'s avatar

NO ONE should be using Amazon, anyway. I feel little sympathy.

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Copernicus's avatar

I avoid Amazon as much as possible. However, recently I needed a remedy ASAP before leaving town. Amazon could get it to me the next day. And I made sure it was coming from Boiron, not a reseller.

People can be harmed by taking an improperly labeled medicine.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Absolutely, but I’d suggest “de-labeling” any Amazon label slapped on a Boiron tube, as those images reveal the problem.

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Copernicus's avatar

Exactly.

Mine have never had an Amazon-applied label. Thankfully.

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Harvy's avatar

This is the text of the waiver I signed for my cat so he could get an annual exam:

I understand that the veterinarians have recommended that a rabies vaccine be given to my pet. I am acknowledging that the rabies vaccine is required by state law, but I am still declining the required vaccination.

I understand that if my pet should bite a human, the pet may be considered a rabies suspect and this bite must be reported. I understand that the Rabies Laws will be followed. This means that the Department of Health will be notified and a quarantine period will be determined and carried out. When there are clinical signs of rabies, then rabies testing will have to be performed at an approved laboratory. Unfortunately, the only way to test for rabies is to euthanize the patient and send out the samples for testing. I understand and acknowledge these risks.

The veterinarians and staff will always have your pet's best health interests in mind, and we respect your decision to care for your pet in any humane way that you see fit. However, rabies is a public health concern and our staffs' health is of utmost importance to us. We will comply with the law if there is any uncertainty that the health of our staff or the general public may be compromised by your pet. We also have the right to decline offering care to any patient not current on a rabies vaccine, if offering that care would increase the risk factor of possible rabies transmission to our staff. Thank you for understanding.

Once signed, the vet went happily on his way with the physical exam.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Classic CYA, but if he’s willing to provide service, rather than deny it, he’s your man.

p.s. I’d never capitalize Rabies Law. It’s “law” for me. Explained further as to legality in my free Rabies Short Course. https://vitalanimal.com/rabies-short-course/

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Harvy's avatar

I have yet to go to any health care provider and not have to sign some sort of document, the purpose of which is C'ing the provider's A. The documents I've signed to see homeopaths have been pages long. It is simply a product of the litigious world we live in.

In the end, if feeling like they have their A's C'd and capitalizing certain words gives them a warm fuzzy feeling so they don't vax my animals to death, I don't give a S. I was impressed that their policy is more or less to follow the compendium.

The sense that I got was that this provider had gotten enough strong pushback and lost clientele because of taking a strong stance on the rabies vax that they've enacted this policy. The vet and tech both had a sort of brow-beaten attitude as soon as I said that I would not be allowing my cat to be vaccinated.

Everyone keep pushing! The cracks are starting to show!

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Yeah, totally with you on that. Even if it sounds a bit intense, signing off on that vs damaging your animals with unnecessary “boosters” is a win. I may copy that. What state are you in?

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Carrie Baker's avatar

I signed a waiver for my 12 year old dog at a vet here in Lubbock, TX that I would not be getting her the rabies vax. But, they didn’t want to sign an exemption that I had ready (the one from you Dr. Falconer). Our dog clearly has lumps on her body most likely caused by previous vaxxes.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Good call on no furthers vacc. Does your waiver keep them happy enough to provide services?

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Carrie Baker's avatar

They did the bloodwork I asked for and a heartworm test (last year we did Wondercide and garlic for natural prevention). All they recommended was to help her lose weight and I didn’t mention that she eats partial raw. Lol

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Harvy's avatar

PA

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Used to have one of the top homeopathic medical schools and/or hospitals, so good for them. CommieFornia would probably never allow similar.

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Harvy's avatar

Yep, Hahnemann hospital only just closed a few years ago, but homeopathy hadn't been on the menu for decades. The Amish and Mennonite in the surrounding area helped keep homeopathy alive. Much to be learned from their example. I love the left coast. There are a lot of great homeopaths out there doing good work in spite of Sacramento.

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nancylee's avatar

No shots No service perfect

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NE Garden Guru's avatar

Kinda like the kovid mandates eh?

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INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

Tried all that, nothing helped. Either jab or no nail cutting. It is the law! All brain dead, indoctrinated people. I am not even going to try the 'it only works after x days' because they might have me come back in x days! I am 45 miles away from the vet. If he is there himself, he will do the test (which of course, does not prove anything, but at least he does). But most of the time nowadays he is too busy to jump in to see a dog whose nails need a cut.... Sad but it is the truth. I did not have this happen in Belgium, the vet did not even ASK if my animal was vaxxed. And the vaxx' there was oral. And they stopped vaxxing for rabies in 2016, but now the animals have to be chipped. So the vets have some income LOL. We did not run to the vet with our animals there like Americans do, and neither are children used as pincushions for pharma profits. But I am here now, so have to abide by the rules or no service.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

“It is the law!” Okay, Doc, show me your law enforcement badge.

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nancylee's avatar

Good grief it takes 3 minutes to cut your dogs nails yourself I do it on puppies active and old dogs

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INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

that is, if the dogs lets you. the only time in 10 years she ever bit me.

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Harvy's avatar

have you tried a Dremel?

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INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

A Dremel ! I will have to ask my handyman LOL. I could cut them or I could hold her, but it takes 2 to do it. Once she is comfy, she will let people cut her nails. But if one person tries it, even a very experienced one, she bites. And she is so sweet. I have been thinking of a regular nail board too, as it is just the thumb nails, the others get worn to a point they hardly ever need cutting. I have to check that out. Thanks for the tip!

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Mary Jo Nieson's avatar

So happy to find you here Dr. Falconer! I learned so much from you b4 you went abroad! Lucky you let me onboard heRe with your HUGE following.

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Michelle Radke's avatar

Had to get the rabies for my 12 year old Pawblo to get haircuts. 1 month later he died. All symptoms pointed to the the rabies vaccine. I am so upset. Groomers really need to rethink this.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Groomers, apartment managers, etc. need to understand and take responsibility for the ignorance they are spreading and the damage they cause. It’s really reprehensible.

I’m so sorry you had to suffer such an unnecessary and untimely loss, Michelle.

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Copernicus's avatar

Are you willing to elaborate on the Boiron = Walmart comment?

I used to purchase more from WHP because they're cheaper per dose overall vs Boiron. However, they do not carry as many remedies now nor the range of potencies that I often need.

Additionally, the Boiron tubes are incredibly convenient in size and design for carrying in my pocket or sending off in a small first aid kit with my kiddo on outings. I once had a WHP bottle top get unscrewed whilst in my pocket. Was not ideal.

I'm happy to support OHM and Hahnemann, but it's hard to pay the higher costs.....

I should note that I use homeopathy in a practical, not-classical sense. So frequent dosing vs one time dosing and using several remedies vs one. Which makes the whole experience more expensive, although it is also what works for me and our family.

Thanks!

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Not my comment, so you’d have to hit up Don Hamilton for the Walmart take. He’s also concerned that Boiron’s plastic will decay over time, affecting (long stored) remedies.

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Michelle Dupar, RN's avatar

I lost 2 Bishons in 9 months to the rabies vaccines. One got diabetes the other lymphoma. No vaccine, no service was their message.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

And both had a history of rabies vacc earlier in life?

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Michelle Dupar, RN's avatar

Yes they got the rabies vax before I rescued them.

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Ouch, then it was unnecessary as well as deeply damaging. So sorry you had to suffer this loss.

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Diane G.'s avatar

Yes, I wanted to do rabies titer vs vaccination but was told even with positive titer the office required another rabies vaccination. I found a different practice. Also, my GS has pannus in both eyes. I give him 1 drop/day in each eye of dexamethasone. It does help but I was wondering if DMSO/saline would work as a natural alternative?

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

Here's his link, Diane, sounds promising for both eyes and (in an adjacent article) autoimmune diseases! https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/how-dmso-cures-eye-ear-nose-throat

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

A good question, but I’ve no experience with this Diane. See if Eye Inflammation shows up under the DMSO post of A Midwestern Doctor, he’s written extensively about the DMSO. IIRC, this is a form of autoimmune disease. Best bet (if true) is constitutional prescribing by a qualified homeopathic vet. https://youtu.be/XyEklB8W6M0

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Gail Makos's avatar

How do I help itchy😳

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

On my Apoquel post: https://vitalanimal.com/apoquel-dog-1/ download the Apoquel Alternatives Report.

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Gail Makos's avatar

I got my 2 yr old golden 1 rabies and one lepto shot. He started itching like crazy 2 days later. We also had “organic crap” put on our lawn

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Will Falconer, DVM's avatar

That’s fast, but organic can be a crock. Gasoline is organic, by a chemist’s definition.

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