(A) On or before July 1 of each year, every owner of an animal four months old or over shall have it vaccinated against rabies. It is further provided that the owner of an animal becoming four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated by the fourteenth day after the date the animal attains this age or by July 1, whichever comes first. The vaccination shall be in accordance with the vaccination requirements prescribed by the State Board of Health in all respects except the requirement that vaccination be at six months of age. Vaccination each year is not necessary if a vaccine approved by the State Board of Health for longer periods is utilized. All vaccinations shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian or other qualified person.
(B) The veterinarian or other qualified person that vaccinates the animal shall issue to the owner thereof a vaccination certificate on a form prescribed by the State Board of Health. The vaccination certificate shall be prepared and issued in triplicate, one copy to be given to the owner of the animal vaccinated and one copy to be forwarded by the veterinarian or other qualified person to the County Board of Health. Each certificate shall bear the name and address of the person who issued it, a serial number, and a brief description of the animal vaccinated. The veterinarian or other qualified person shall also furnish each owner with a metal tag bearing the certificate number and the year of vaccination. The tag may bear the name of the person issuing it.
(C) Where a rabies voucher is purchased from the Dog Warden at the time of applying for a license, the person purchasing the voucher shall, within 14 days, take the animal or animals to a licensed veterinarian or other qualified person who will vaccinate the animal, issuing a regular vaccination certificate in the manner prescribed above. The person will return the voucher to the animal pound which will present the voucher to the County Fiscal Court from which payment will be made to the person performing the vaccination.
(D) The tag furnished by the veterinarian or other qualified person for dogs shall be affixed by the owner to a collar or harness furnished by the owner and shall be worn by the dog for which the certificate was issued. No one, except the owner or his duly authorized agent, shall remove the collar with the attached tag from any dog except as provided in KRS 258.165.
(E) The tag furnished by the veterinarian or other qualified person for cats shall be given to the owner who shall retain the tag to be produced whenever called upon to verify that any cat in his possession or owned by him has had the required vaccination. The certificate of vaccination may be produced if the tag has been lost.
(Ord. 79-4, passed 1-22-79) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Authority to regulate rabies control program, see KRS 258.087
Physicians to report persons bitten by dogs or other animals, see KRS 258.065