§ 2141 — Compulsory vaccination

§ 2141. Compulsory vaccination. 1. Every dog, cat and domesticated\nferret shall be actively immunized against rabies in accordance with\nregulations promulgated by the commissioner. Every dog, cat and\ndomesticated ferret shall have all initial vaccinations administered no\nlater than four months after birth. Every dog, cat and domesticated\nferret shall have a second vaccination within one year of the first.\nTerms of subsequent vaccine administration and duration of immunity must\nbe in compliance with USDA licenses of vaccines used. The veterinarian\nimmunizing or supervising any person authorized by law to immunize such\nanimal shall provide the owner with a certificate of immunization\nconsistent with the requirements of section one hundred nine of the\nagriculture and markets law. The veterinarian immunizing or supervising\nany person authorized by law to immunize such animal shall provide any\npublic health official with the certificate of immunization in any case\ninvolving a dog, cat or domesticated ferret which has been or may have\nbeen exposed to rabies or in any case of possible exposure of a person\nor another animal to rabies.\n 2. Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to any feral animal\nor any dog, cat or domesticated ferret:\n (a) that is transported through the state and remains in the state\nfifteen days or fewer;\n (b) confined to the premises of an incorporated society devoted to the\ncare of lost, stray or homeless animals;\n (c) for which vaccination against rabies would adversely affect the\nanimal's health, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; or\n (d) confined for the purposes of research to the premises of a college\nor other educational or research institution.\n 3. (a) Every veterinarian providing treatment to a dog, cat or\ndomesticated ferret shall verify, in accordance with standards\nestablished by the commissioner, if such animal is actively immunized\nagainst rabies or is exempt under subdivision two of this section. If\nactive immunization or exemption cannot be verified, the veterinarian\nshall immunize the animal at the owner's request.\n (b) If the animal is exempt from the provisions of subdivision one of\nthis section, pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this\nsection, the veterinarian shall provide the owner of the dog, cat or\ndomesticated ferret with a certified statement verifying that the animal\nis exempt from immunization because the immunization would adversely\naffect the health of the animal, and verifying the nature and duration\nof such exemption. The certified statement shall be in a form prescribed\nby the commissioner and shall be consistent with the requirements of\nsection one hundred nine of the agriculture and markets law. Medical\nexemptions are to be renewed on an annual basis.\n 4. The owning of a dog, cat or domesticated ferret by any person in\nviolation of subdivision one of this section shall constitute a\nviolation, and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred\ndollars for each offense.\n