For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDON or ABANDONMENT. ABANDONMENT consists of leaving an animal for a period in excess of 24 hours, without the animal's owner or the owners’ designated caretaker providing all provisions of necessity as defined in this chapter and checking on the animal's condition.
AGRICULTURAL USE. A tract of at least five contiguous acres for the production of agricultural or horticultural crops, as defined in KRS 100.111.
ALTERED ANIMAL. Any animal that has been spayed or neutered.
ANIMAL. Any non-human living creature, domestic or wild, excluding fish, insects, and eggs.
ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENDER REGISTRY. The registry for animal abuse established under § 91.170 of this chapter for registering any person residing in Jefferson County convicted of an animal abuse offense or any person convicted of an animal abuse offense in Jefferson County.
ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENSE. A violation of any of the offenses found in KRS 525.125, 525.130, 525.135, 525.200, or 525.205.
ANIMAL CONTROL or ANIMAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION or DIVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION or DIVISION. See "Metro Animal Services".
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER (ACO). Persons designated by the Metro Government as the primary enforcement officers of ordinances and state and federal laws pertaining to, and regulating animals and owners of animals, and for the enforcement of sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes pertaining to the cruelty to animals.
ANIMAL DEALER. Any person engaging in the business of buying and/or selling any animal or animals, including fish, for the purpose of resale to pet shops, research facilities, another animal dealer or to another person, including the sale of any animal from any roadside stand, booth, flea market or other temporary site. (Persons buying or selling animals fit and destined for human consumption and agricultural uses as defined in this chapter are not included in this definition. Agricultural uses as defined in this chapter are not included in this definition.) ANIMAL DEALERS are also subject to the provisions of §§ 91.090 through 91.101 and § 91.123 of this chapter.
ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLE. Vehicles with four or more wheels drawn by an animal.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises designated and/or operated by the Metro Government for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals held under authority of this chapter.
ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP. Any organization existing for the purpose of the prevention of cruelty to animals, and providing shelter for abandoned and lost animals and are incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
APPROVED RABIES VACCINE. Any vaccine for protecting an animal from contracting rabies approved as effective by the Kentucky Department for Human Resources and 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.
ASSISTANCE DOG. A dog accompanying and providing support for a person who is deemed to be disabled under federal, state, or local law. For purposes of this chapter, the term ASSISTANCE DOG shall include a service dog recognized or defined under federal or state law.
AT-RISK DOG. An at-risk dog is one which either when off its owner’s premises or off those on which its presence had explicitly been allowed, and unprovoked:
(1) Menaces, chases, displays threatening or aggressive behavior, or otherwise threatens or endangers the safety of any person;
(2) Causes physical injury to any domestic pet or livestock while not under restraint; or
(3) Is found not under restraint, excluding those dogs engaged in hunting activities or training therefore.
ATTACK. An unprovoked attack in an aggressive manner on a human that causes a scratch, abrasion, or bruising, or on a domestic pet or livestock that causes death or injury.
BOARDING KENNEL or CATTERY. Any establishment where dogs, cats, puppies, or kittens are kept for the purpose of boarding for any part of a 24-hour period. This includes veterinary hospitals and clinics or grooming shops that advertise boarding services other than for treatment, diagnostic, or recuperative purposes, or for grooming.
BOARDING STABLE including RIDING SCHOOL or STABLE. Any facility for boarding, livery, training or riding school or any facility which maintains horses or ponies, mules, donkeys or burros for the purpose of housing, feeding, riding, training, driving or riding lessons, for a fee and/or which advertises these services by the use of a sign, billboard or by placing an advertisement in newspapers, on bulletin boards or in any other publication excluding licensed pari-mutuel facilities.
CARETAKER. Any person or organization who participates in TNR and/or who regularly provides care to a community cat.
CAT. Of the species Felis Catus. A domestic cat four months of age or older.
CIRCUS. A traveling public entertainment show consisting of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, but shall not include a show including wrestling bears or other direct contact between members of the public and inherently-dangerous animals.
CLASS A KENNEL OR CATTERY. Any establishment where dogs and/or puppies or cats and/or kittens are kept for the primary purpose of breeding, buying, or selling such animals and which establishment is so constructed that the dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens cannot stray therefrom. The Class A Kennel or Cattery license shall apply to up to five dogs or cats and shall require an additional Class A Kennel or Cattery license for each increment of up to five dogs or cats.
CLASS B KENNEL OR CATTERY. Any establishment where dogs, puppies, cats, or kittens are kept for the primary purpose of showing (including but not limited to field trial competition, hunting trial competition, herding, conformation, and obedience competition) and which establishment is so constructed that the dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens cannot stray therefrom. The primary purpose shall be determined by verifying the participation of one or more of the housed animals in a sanctioned competition in the preceding 12 months. The license shall apply to up to five dogs and cats. Animals in excess of five shall be licensed individually.
CLASS C KENNEL OR CATTERY. Any establishment where dogs or puppies are kept for the primary purpose of training for guard, sentry, field, obedience, whether gratuitously or for a fee. A Class C Kennel may also offer boarding services if the boarding occurs at the same location with no additional boarding kennel license required, except that an additional boarding kennel license shall be required when the facility reaches a maximum of 25 dogs and cats.
COMMUNITY CAT.
Any cat or kitten that has no apparent owner or identification and is free-roaming.
CRUELTY. Failing to provide adequate food and water; failing to detect the need for or withholding veterinary care; creating or allowing unhealthful living conditions, infliction of suffering, injury, or death to an animal by striking, beating, dropping, kicking, dragging, choking, or by the use of an object or weapon; causing pain, injury, or death by means of caustic, flammable, boiling, or heated substances; causing suffering, injury, or death by suffocation or drowning; failure to provide health-related grooming. For purposes of this chapter, the definition of CRUELTY shall not include the acts as described in KRS 525.130(2) and (3).
DANGEROUS DOG. Except as exempted in § 91.150(B) a dangerous dog is:
(1) Any dog, including an at-risk dog, which when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner commits a severe attack on any person or inflicts death or serious injury to any person;
(2) Any dog which maims or kills domestic pets or livestock when not under restraint;
(3) Any dog which is used in the commission of a crime as provided in the Kentucky Penal Code including, but not limited to dogfighting, threatening or menacing, or guarding the conduct of unlawful activity;
(4) Any dog which is declared by the Director to be a dangerous dog under the procedures set forth in this chapter; or
(5) Any dog owned or harbored primarily for the purpose of fighting or harming other animals, excluding any dog used for hunting or training for hunting purposes.
DIRECTOR. The Director of Louisville/ Jefferson County Metro Animal Services and/or his or her designee.
DOG. Any domestic canine four months of age or older.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Any of the following owned animals: dog, cat, rabbit, mouse, rat, reptile, guinea pig, chinchilla, hamster, gerbil, ferret.
DWELLING UNIT. Either a single room or two or more connected rooms sold or leased as a unit and intended for occupancy by one or more persons, and which at a minimum contains sleeping, toilet and bathing facilities which are accessed independently from any similar such facilities in the same building. This term includes hotel or motel rooms, extended stay lodging facilities, nursing home rooms and assisted living units.
ELEPHANT RIDE. Allowing individuals to ride on the backs of Asian elephants, as regulated under § 91.130.
ENCLOSURES.
(1) ENCLOSURES FOR DOGS AND PUPPIES.
(a) Enclosures for dogs and puppies shall be a fence or structure of sufficient height and construction to prevent the animal from leaving the owner’s property. The fence or structure must be in good repair and fit to ground level or a fabricated structure that prevents the animal from digging out. Gates and doors must fit properly and must be locked or secured by a latch that prevents the animal from opening the gate or door.
(b) Property enclosed by a buried wire which produces a signal received by a device attached to a collar worn by the dog or puppy which prevents the animal from leaving the property of the owner will be considered a proper enclosure, provided the device and signal are working and the animal does not leave the property unrestrained. Such property must be clearly marked with a sign prescribed by MAS, posted next to the driveway or entry to the property. The enclosure must contain proper shelter from the weather. This type of enclosure is not acceptable for a female in heat, for dangerous dogs, or potentially dangerous dogs. However, a dog that is found unrestrained outside this type of enclosure twice within a one-year period shall be issued a violation notice and corollary penalty assessed by MAS. Nevertheless, in lieu of paying the penalty as set forth in the violation notice for the first offense only, the owner can elect to have his or her dog attend and satisfactorily complete an education or training course established under § 91.060. The owner must notify MAS within seven days of receiving the violation notice that he or she plans on having the animal undergo training, and must provide written proof to MAS within seven days after completion of the training course that the dog successfully completed the training. Failure to attend or successfully complete the training course, including complying with the notification requirements as set forth immediately above, will result in the penalty from the violation notice being assessed. Finally, a dog found unrestrained outside an enclosure as described in this subsection (b) a third time within a one-year period shall not only subject the dog’s owner to a penalty issued by MAS, but the dog shall no longer be permitted to be kept in this type of enclosure.
(2) ENCLOSURES FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS AND DANGEROUS DOGS. Enclosures for potentially dangerous dogs and dangerous dogs shall be an uncovered fence or
structure at least six feet in height, installed beneath ground level or in concrete or pavement, or a fabricated structure, to prevent digging under it, and with a gravel or concrete floor, sufficient in size to allow the dog to stand, sit, and turn around in a natural position, to defecate away from food and water, and which allows for an adequate exercise area for the size/breed being kept. Either enclosure shall be designed to prevent the entry of children or unauthorized persons and to prevent those persons from extending appendages inside the enclosure. The enclosure must contain proper shelter from the weather. A “DANGEROUS DOG” sign prescribed by MAS must be posted at the entry to the property.
EXOTIC SPECIES. Any animal born or whose natural habitat is outside the continental United States excluding non-venomous reptiles and fish.
FERRET. A weasel-like, usually albino mammal (Mustela putorius furo) related to the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits.
FIRST RESPONDER. Any Animal Control, Law Enforcement, Fire Services, and Emergency Medical Services, either on or off duty that has jurisdiction in Jefferson County.
KITTEN. Of the species Felis Catus. A domestic cat younger than four months of age.
LICENSE FACILITY. Any facility and/or business operation or person designated by the Metro Government pursuant to § 91.020 of this chapter to issue licenses required by this chapter and/or provide applications thereto.
LIVESTOCK. Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas, buffaloes, or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, lagomorph, caprine, or equine species, deer and elk, whose regulatory requirements are under KRS Chapters 150 and 246, as well as poultry, ratites, and cervine, that are privately owned and raised in a confined area for breeding stock, food, fiber, and other products.
METRO ANIMAL SERVICES or MAS. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Department of Animal Services.
METRO COUNCIL. Legislative Council of the Metro Government.
METRO GOVERNMENT. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government.
MICROCHIP. A passive transponder which can be implanted in an animal and which is a component of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. Such system must be compatible with a scanner used by MAS.
MULTIPLE PET LICENSE. A license available for purchase to a party who owns, maintains, or possesses four or more altered pets that are kept for the primary purpose of companionship. This license may be purchased in lieu of required individual dog, cat, or ferret licenses.
NUISANCE.
(1) Any act of an animal or its owner that irritates, perturbs or damages rights and privileges common to the public or enjoyment of private property or indirectly injures or threatens the safety of a member of the general public. By way of examples and not of limitation, the commissions on the following acts or actions by an animal or by its owner or possessor shall hereby being declared a nuisance:
(a) Allowing or permitting an animal to habitually bark, whine, howl, mew, crow or cackle in an excessive or continual fashion or make other noise in such a manner so as to result in a serious annoyance or interference with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises.
(b) Allowing or permitting an animal to damage the property of any person other than its owner or caretaker, including but not limited to getting into or turning garbage containers or damaging gardens, flowers, plants or other real or personal property or leaving fecal material on the property of another person.
(c) Allowing or permitting an animal to molest, chase, snap at, attack or attempt to attack passers-by, vehicles, domestic pets or livestock.
(d) Allowing or permitting an animal to habitually or continually roam or be found on property of other than its owners or caretakers, trespassing school grounds, parks or the property of any person.
(e) Allowing or permitting an animal to be housed or restrained at a distance, that, in the discretion of the animal control officer, poses a threat to the general safety, health and welfare of the general public.
(f) Allowing or permitting an animal to be maintained in an unsanitary condition.
(g) Allowing or permitting an animal to habitually charge in an aggressive manner a fence separating from another property when the usual residents are taking pleasure in such property without provoking such animal.
(2) Subject to the restrictions set forth in KRS 413.072(7), an agricultural operation, as defined under KRS 413.072(3), shall be exempt from any enforcement under this chapter which arises out of a nuisance violation as defined herein.
OFFENDER. Any person who has been convicted of or entered a guilty plea to an animal abuse offense.
OFFENDER INFORMATION. The offender’s name, age, address, current photograph, a description of the crime or crimes committed, and other identifying information determined necessary by Louisville Metro Animal Services.
OWNED CAT. Any cat that is a companion to a person, is regularly fed and sheltered in that same person's habitation. All owned cats are required to be in compliance with § 91.020.
OWNER. Any person owning or keeping animals in Jefferson County.
PERSON. An individual, partnership, association, company, firm, business or corporation.
PET BIRDS. Any tamed or domesticated bird kept caged or within doors.
PET SHOP. Any person engaged in the business of breeding, buying, selling at retail or as a broker of animals, including fish, of any species for profit-making purposes, except farming operations that breed, buy, or sell at retail pursuant to and in conjunction with their agricultural use shall not be considered pet shops for purposes of this chapter.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG. Except as exempted in § 91.150(B) a potentially dangerous dog is:
(1) Any dog, including an at-risk dog, as defined herein, which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner bites, scratches, or bruises any person.
(2) Any unrestrained dog which, when unprovoked, bites, injures, or kills another domestic pet or livestock while that animal is restrained in compliance with this chapter.
(3) Any dog which is declared by the Director to be a potentially dangerous dog under the procedures set forth in this chapter.
POULTRY. Chickens, ducks, turkeys, or other domestic fowl.
PUPPY. Any domestic canine younger than four months of age.
QUALIFIED PERSON. Any veterinarian, or other person granted a permit by the State Secretary of Health and Family Services to vaccinate their own dogs or cats against rabies.
QUARANTINE. Humane confinement of an animal in a building in a manner which prevents the animal coming into unplanned contact with any other animal or human being.
REASONABLE HOURS. The normal business hours of any establishment or business regulated by this chapter.
RESTRAINT.
(1) For all domestic animals except puppies and dogs, RESTRAINT shall mean on the premises of the owner or on premises which the animals' presence has been explicitly allowed, or, if off the premises of the owner where permission has not been granted, under restraint by means of a lead or leash or in a cage or carrier and under the control of a responsible person. Community Cats are exempt from restraint requirements.
(2) For puppies and dogs, RESTRAINT shall mean on the premises of the owner or on premises which the animals’ presence has been explicitly allowed, and confined in a secure enclosure, or accompanied by the owner and under his/her direct control. If off the premises of the owner where permission has not been granted, the animal must be restrained by a lead or leash and under the control of a responsible person physically able to control the
dog, or except for dangerous dogs, and potentially dangerous dogs, accompanied by a responsible person into an enclosed “off-leash” area designated by the Kentucky Department of Parks or the Metro Department of Parks and in conformance with all regulations and/or requirements imposed as a condition of utilizing such “off-leash” area by such Departments of Parks, or their designees.
(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (2), above, under this definition, RESTRAINT for dangerous dogs and potentially dangerous dogs shall mean as follows:
(a) That dangerous dogs and potentially dangerous dogs are at all times securely muzzled when off the premises of the owner. The muzzle shall be made in such a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but shall prevent it from biting any human or other animal;
(b) That owners of dangerous dogs and potentially dangerous dogs shall not allow the dog to be outside an enclosure as defined in this chapter unless the dog is confined to a secure cage, or is chained, leashed, and is under the control of a person physically able to restrain the dog.
(c) That a lead or leash for a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog shall not exceed four feet in length.
(4) Other standards and requirements for restraining dogs shall be as set forth in § 91.091.
(5) All livestock weighing more than 40 pounds, except horses, stallions, colts, geldings, mares, fillies, ponies, miniature horses, mules, jacks, jennies, goats, kids, sheep, and porcine species, must be kept on tracts or lots of at least .5 acres or more.
(6) Horses, stallions, colts, geldings, mares, fillies, mules, jacks and jennies must be kept on an individual tract, lot, or parcel (as defined in the Land Development Code) of at least one acre or more; except that the properties and facilities of Louisville Zoo, the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Police Department, Churchill Downs, and the Kentucky Derby Museum shall be exempt from this requirement.
(7) All livestock other than poultry as set forth in subsection (8), below shall be confined by a fence in good repair sufficient to prevent the animal(s) from leaving the owner’s property. Livestock found not restrained by a fence in good repair and which present a threat to public safety may be removed and the owner charged with a violation of this section.
(8) All crowing and non-crowing poultry must be kept on tracts or lots of at least .5 acres or more, unless a tract or lot is on less than .5 acres and only houses five or less non-crowing poultry, and no more than one crowing poultry in accordance with the remainder of this subsection. All crowing and non-crowing poultry shall be kept in a fence or structure of sufficient height and construction to prevent the animal(s) from leaving the owner’s property. The fence or structure must be in good repair. All gates or doors to the fence or structure shall fit properly and shall be locked or secured by a latch. Poultry associated with an agricultural use shall not be subject to the restraint requirement as set forth herein.
(9) All porcine must weigh less than 200 pounds and measure to a height of no more than 22 inches. If upon sight inspection MAS determines a porcine may exceed the specified weight and/or height requirements, the owner of the porcine in question will be responsible for supplying MAS with certification from an approved establishment verifying the weight and/or height. All porcine species must be kept on tracts or lots of at least .5 acres or more, unless a tract or lot is on less than .5 acres and only houses three or less porcine. No more than seven porcine may be quartered outdoors on an individual tract, lot or parcel, or dwelling unit, (as defined in the Land Development Code), which is more than .5 acres but less than two acres and has on such property any building or structure containing a residential use. All porcine shall be kept in a fence or structure of sufficient height and construction to prevent the animal(s) from leaving the owner’s property. The fence or structure must be in good repair. All gates or doors to the fence or structure shall fit properly and shall be locked or secured by a latch. Porcine associated with an agricultural use shall not be subject to the restraint requirement as set forth herein. All porcine registered with MAS by January 28, 2019 shall be grandfathered in for purposes of their current height and weight and number owned per tract or lot of land.
(10) For purposes of this chapter, the term “lawful hunting activities” contained in KRS 258.265(3) shall be deemed to include the training of hunting dogs, including field trials.
SECRETARY. The Secretary of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Cabinet for Public Works and Services.
SEVERE ATTACK. An unprovoked attack in an aggressive manner upon a human in which the victim suffered a bite(s) or was shaken violently, and which caused serious physical trauma or death.
THEATRICAL EXHIBITION. Any exhibition or act featuring performing animals. The inclusion of any prohibited wild animal, as defined in this chapter, shall not be allowed without the express written permission of the Director, which shall be notated on the issued permit. Such permission shall be given only if it is demonstrated to his/her satisfaction that the animal(s) will not constitute a threat to public health or safety. THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS shall not include resident or non-resident dog and cat shows which are sponsored and/or sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, the United States Kennel Club, the Cat Fanciers Association, American Cat Fanciers Association or any affiliate thereof, nor shall it include any primary horse show.
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN ("TNR"). The method of managing community cats by humanely trapping, altering, vaccinating, eartipping, returning the community cat to the location where they were trapped where the community cats will be provided with long-term care by a caretaker.
UNALTERED DOG, CAT OR FERRET. Any dog, cat or ferret which has been neither spayed nor neutered.
UNFIT FOR PURCHASE OR ADOPTION. Any disease, deformity, injury, physical condition, illness or any defect which is congenital or hereditary and which would adversely affect the health of the animal, or which was manifest, capable of diagnosis or likely to have been contracted on or before the sale and delivery of the animal. For purposes of this chapter, veterinary findings of internal and external parasites shall not be grounds for declaring the animal unfit for purchase unless the animal is clinically ill due to such condition. An animal shall not be found unfit for purchase on account of injury sustained or illness contracted subsequent to the consumer’s taking possession thereof.
VACCINATIONS. The injection by a veterinarian or other qualified person of rabies vaccine approved by and administered in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
VETERINARIAN. A licensed practitioner of veterinary medicine, accredited by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL OR CLINIC. Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian on the premises for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injury to animals and/or for the hospitalization of animals for diagnostic or recuperative purposes.
WILD ANIMAL. Shall include the following:
(1) Any animal that generally is not domesticated, except community cats, and living among humans, nor those defined as domestic animals herein; and
(2) Any animal classified by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in its statutes or regulations as either:
(a) Inherently dangerous wildlife;
(b) Exotic wildlife; or
(c) Wildlife whose importation or possession is prohibited by any federal or state law or regulation; and
(3) A hybrid of any animal herein classified as a WILD ANIMAL.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. Any park or zoo operated by a person or private corporation, but excluding any governmental agency or foundation.
(1994 Jeff. Code, § 91.001) (Jeff. Ord. 17-1990, adopted and effective 12-19-1990; Jeff. Am. Ord. 46-1996, adopted and effective 12-10-1996; Jeff. Am. Ord. 24-2000, adopted and effective 10-10-2000; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 97-2003, approved 5-16-2003; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 186-2003, approved 10-10-2003; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 15-2004, approved 3-2-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 44-2004, approved 4-7-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 54-2004, approved 4-26-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 222-2005, approved 12-27-2005; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 233-2006, approved 1-4-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 60-2007, approved 4-9-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 290-2007, approved 12-20-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 79-2012, approved 4-30-12; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 201-2018, approved 10-30-2018, effective 1-28-2019; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 45-2019, approved 4-25-2019, effective 10-22-2019; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 86-2021, approved 7-8-2021)
Editor’s Note:
Section 91.001 is amended by Louisville Metro Ordinance No. 138-2023, approved 10-3-2023 and effective 10-3-2024. See the online Code of Ordinances for a copy of Ordinance No. 138-2023.