2141. Compulsory vaccination. 1. Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall be actively immunized against rabies in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner. Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have all initial vaccinations administered no later than four months after birth. Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have a second vaccination within one year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine administration and duration of immunity must be in compliance with USDA licenses of vaccines used. The veterinarian immunizing or supervising any person authorized by law to immunize such animal shall provide the owner with a certificate of immunization consistent with the requirements of section one hundred nine of the agriculture and markets law. The veterinarian immunizing or supervising any person authorized by law to immunize such animal shall provide any public health official with the certificate of immunization in any case involving a dog, cat or domesticated ferret which has been or may have been exposed to rabies or in any case of possible exposure of a person or another animal to rabies.
2. Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to any feral animal or any dog, cat or domesticated ferret:
(a) that is transported through the state and remains in the state fifteen days or fewer;
(b) confined to the premises of an incorporated society devoted to the care of lost, stray or homeless animals;
(c) for which vaccination against rabies would adversely affect the animal's health, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; or
(d) confined for the purposes of research to the premises of a college or other educational or research institution.
3. (a) Every veterinarian providing treatment to a dog, cat or domesticated ferret shall verify, in accordance with standards established by the commissioner, if such animal is actively immunized against rabies or is exempt under subdivision two of this section. If active immunization or exemption cannot be verified, the veterinarian shall immunize the animal at the owner's request.
(b) If the animal is exempt from the provisions of subdivision one of this section, pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section, the veterinarian shall provide the owner of the dog, cat or domesticated ferret with a certified statement verifying that the animal is exempt from immunization because the immunization would adversely affect the health of the animal, and verifying the nature and duration of such exemption. The certified statement shall be in a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall be consistent with the requirements of section one hundred nine of the agriculture and markets law. Medical exemptions are to be renewed on an annual basis.
4. The owning of a dog, cat or domesticated ferret by any person in violation of subdivision one of this section shall constitute a violation, and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars for each offense.
Last modified: February 3, 2019