Thursday 28th March 2024

Fiscal court moves to require rabies vaccination for cats, dogs in county

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Tim Coomer, Barren County magistrate for the fourth district, studies a document during a meeting of the Barren County fiscal court. 
(WCLU NEWS FILE PHOTO)

GLASGOW, Ky. — Dog and cat owners residing in Barren County must now ensure their pets are vaccinated and revaccinated against rabies.

The Barren County fiscal court passed an ordinance at its Tuesday meeting stating cats and dogs must be vaccinated by four months old. The animals are expected to be revaccinated at the expiration of the immunization period.

The ordinance describes response stipulations when a rabid animal bites a human or another animal.

“Animal control shall secure an animal that has bitten a human being or is suspected of being rabid and report the incident to the local health department in order to collaborate and determine if a quarantine period is needed,” according to the ordinance.

Certain stipulations currently exist in chapter 258 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes. The chapter describes quarantine limitations that a health officer may impose upon an animal suspected of being infected with rabies.

The ordinance goes onto describe that a health officer may “order an animal to be destroyed and tested for rabies” in lieu of a quarantine for the animal. The head of the animal must be sent to an approved laboratory for rabies testing, however.

Financial liability for testing and quarantine falls upon the owner of the animal, according to the ordinance. An owner is also responsible for the post exposure treatment of another person if they kill the animal in a way that disables the proper testing of it for rabies.

Offenses to the stipulations in KRS 258 include a fine of at least $10 but no more than $100. Each day of an offense is considered a new violation and it carries new fines.

The court unanimously approved the ordinance. The ordinance will take effect Nov. 18, 2021.

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