(a) A "kennel," for purposes of this section shall mean any establishment where eight (8) or more dogs are kept. Puppies in two (2) nursing litters shall not be included in the number of dogs used to define a kennel.
(b) Any owner or operator of a kennel within the urban county shall apply to the designated license facility for a kennel license. A kennel license shall not be required for a licensed veterinary clinic, a state or federally regulated animal research facility, the urban county government division of police canine unit facility or the urban county animal shelter.
(c) Any license issued by the designated license facility under this section shall be subject to all applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance, department of health regulations, chapter 12 of this Code, and the minimum facilities and operating standards established by section 4-12.5 of the Code. Licenses shall be effective upon issuance and remain in effect for a period of twelve (12) months and shall expire the following year on the last day of the calendar month in which the license was issued, unless suspended or revoked pursuant to subsection (g). The designated license facility may refuse to issue a license to any person that fails to meet the requirements of this section or section 4-12.5 of the Code.
(d) The license fee for each kennel is one hundred and thirty-five dollars ($135.00). All license fees collected by the designated license facility shall be paid into the general services fund of the urban county government.
(e) Any dog kept in violation of the provisions of this section or section 4-12.5 of the Code may be seized and impounded by any animal control officer and may be confined at the animal shelter until all violations are corrected and all fines paid. The animal shelter may transfer title to any animal impounded for a period greater than thirty (30) days.
(f) Any person owning or operating a kennel without the license required by this section or in violation of the minimum standards established by section 4-12.5 of the Code shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day's continuance of any such violation shall be a separate offense.
(g) The designated license facility may suspend the license of any person convicted under this section or section 4-12.5 of the Code for up to ninety (90) days, and may revoke the license of any person convicted of two (2) or more such violations within any twelve-month period. The designated license facility may revoke the license of any person convicted of violating any state or local law that criminalizes the mistreatment of animals, including without limitation KRS 525.125, 525.130, 525.135, or Section 4-2 of the Lexington-Fayette County Code of Ordinances. Any person whose license has been revoked may not apply for a new kennel license for a period of five (5) years.
(Ord. No. 77-99, § 1, 4-15-99; Ord. No. 303-2004, § 1, 12-2-04; Ord. No. 90-2005, § 4, 4-21-05; Ord. No. 290-2007, § 1, 12-11-07; Ord. No. 154-2017 , § 1, 10-26-17)