(a) Vaccination required. Any person who owns or harbors in New York City a dog or cat four months of age or older, other than a dog or cat exempt from vaccination requirements pursuant to subdivision (d) of this section, shall have such animal actively vaccinated against rabies, as defined in 24 RCNY Health Code § 11.27.
(b) Vaccination certificates and reports to the Department. The veterinarian either administering the vaccine or responsible for supervising the vaccination shall give to the dog or cat's owner a rabies vaccination certificate. Within five days of performing a vaccination, the veterinarian shall report such vaccination to the Department by forwarding to the Department a completed form designed by the Commissioner via facsimile, mail or electronic transmission acceptable to the Department. In the case of a dog or cat whose health would be adversely affected as a result of a vaccination, the veterinarian shall give to the dog or cat's owner a signed and dated statement indicating this. In addition, the veterinarian shall, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner, report this information to the Department via facsimile, mail or electronic submission acceptable to the Department within five days of having determined that the administration of a vaccine would adversely affect the health of the dog or cat.
(c) Filing vaccination certificates. The rabies vaccination certificate and the form prescribed by the Commissioner to be forwarded to the Department shall be dated and signed by the veterinarian and shall include the following information: a description of the dog or cat, its age, color, sex, and breed; the dog's license number; the name and address of the owner; whether the dog or cat was vaccinated or exempted from vaccination by reason of the adverse effect such vaccination would have on the health of such dog or cat, and, if vaccinated, the type of vaccine injected, its duration of immunity, the amount and manner of injection, the name of the manufacturer, and the lot number and expiration date of the vaccine. The vaccination certificate shall be effective for the duration of immunity. Upon the expiration of the certificate, the owner shall have his or her dog or cat revaccinated in accordance with this section.
(d) Exemptions. Active vaccination against rabies shall not be required for dogs or cats actually confined to the premises of incorporated societies, devoted to the care or hospital treatment of lost, strayed or homeless animals, or confined to the premises of public or private hospitals devoted to the treatment of sick animals, or confined for the purposes of research to the premises of colleges or other educational or research institutions, or for dogs or cats actually confined to the premises of a person, firm or corporation actually engaged in the business of breeding or raising dogs or cats for profit and are so licensed as a class A dealer under the Federal Laboratory Animal Welfare Act or if such vaccination would adversely affect the health of the dog or cat as determined by a duly licensed veterinarian.