(A) Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret four months of age or older shall have it vaccinated against rabies. Any owner of a dog, cat or ferret reaching four months of age shall have such animal vaccinated by the tenth business day after the date the animal attained this age. Every owner of a puppy, kitten or ferret that is between three and four months old may have such animal vaccinated against rabies. Such vaccination shall be in accordance with the vaccination requirements prescribed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) in the most current version of the annual “Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.” Vaccinations shall be performed by a veterinarian or qualified person.
(B) The veterinarian or qualified person administering the vaccination shall issue to the dog, cat, or ferret owner a vaccination certificate on a form prescribed by the Kentucky State Department of Public Health. The vaccination certificate shall be prepared and issued in triplicate. One copy shall be forwarded by the veterinarian or qualified person to the Louisville/Jefferson County Board of Health, or its designee, no later than seven days after the end of the preceding month, one copy shall be given to the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret, and one copy shall be retained by the veterinarian or qualified person. Each vaccination certificate shall bear the name and address of the issuing party and a serial number and a brief description of the animal vaccinated. The veterinarian or qualified person shall also furnish each owner with a metal tag bearing the name of the person issuing it.
(C) Any animal that has not been vaccinated by a veterinarian against rabies which is sold, traded or otherwise removed from a kennel or cattery must be re-vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian, and must be properly licensed by MAS.
(D) When a rabies voucher is purchased from MAS at the time of license application, the person purchasing such voucher shall, within seven business days, take the dog, cat, or ferret to a veterinarian who will vaccinate the animal, issue a regular vaccination certificate in the manner prescribed herein, and return the voucher to the animal shelter. The animal shelter will present the voucher to the Metro Government from which payment will be made to the veterinarian performing the vaccination. A veterinarian or other qualified person who purchases a dog, cat, or ferret does not have to purchase a rabies voucher from MAS, but must show his or her permit number.
(E) The rabies tag described herein and furnished by the veterinarian or other qualified person for dogs, cats, or ferrets shall be affixed by the owner to a collar or harness or affixed to an enclosure or cage furnished by him or her, and shall be worn by the animal for which the certificate was issued whenever off the premises of the owner, unless receiving medical treatment, or participating in a recognized dog or cat show, or a hunting or field trial.
(F) Whenever an animal is not wearing its rabies vaccination tag, as allowed in subsection (E), the owner/handler shall retain the rabies tag and shall produce the same whenever called upon to verify that the animal in question had the required vaccination. The certificate of vaccination may be produced if the tag has been lost.
(G) Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Thereafter, the interval between revaccinations shall conform to manufacturer's written instructions (currently every 12 months for annual vaccines, or 36 months for triennial vaccines), and requirements prescribed by the NASPHV in the current version of the annual “Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.”
(H) A dog, cat, or ferret owner who is visiting Louisville Metro for less than 30 days shall have proof of current vaccination for any such animal; a dog shall have its rabies tag attached to its collar or harness, in accordance with KRS 258.035, except during a recognized show or exhibition.
(1994 Jeff. Code, § 91.023) (Jeff. Ord. 17-1990, adopted and effective 12-19-1990; Jeff. Am.Ord. 46-1996, adopted and effective 12-10-1996; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 97-2003, approved 5-16-2003; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 233-2006, approved 1-4-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 290-2007, approved 12-20-2007)
Penalty, see § 91.999
