It's just a way the state government helps the local dog and cat breeders. Like requiring 2 years of training to braid hair or a special degree to be a teacher. Keeping rabies out is certainly an important priority but they know perfectly well that their program is massive overkill. On the other hand, dog breeders vote.

We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.