AN ACT relating to animals.
     Create a new section of KRS Chapter 258 to prohibit the use of gunshot as a method of euthanasia in animal control situations; amend various sections of KRS Chapter 258 to delete references to dog pounds and dog wardens and use the terms animal shelter and animal control officer; to define "Cat", "Animal control officer", "Ferret", "Board", "Euthanasia", "Animal shelter", and "Quarantine"; to require dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies; to require a dog to wear a rabies tag; to allow a qualified person to vaccinate his own dog; to allow a dog, cat, or ferret from out of state to not be vaccinated against rabies if the animal is already vaccinated and meets the rabies standards of Kentucky; to allow, rather than require, local health departments to sponsor mass rabies immunization clinics; to require the destruction and testing for rabies of a wild or exotic animal that has bitten a person; to require an owner of an animal with rabies to be responsible for costs associated with any quarantine or rabies testing of that animal; to allow a governmental agency to contract with other counties or entities to maintain a animal shelter; to establish minimum standards for animal shelters; to delete the requirement that all dogs be licensed and allow each county to establish its own licensing program; to require all counties to meet the minimum standards established regarding animal shelters within two years of the effective date of this Act; to require the local Commonwealth's attorney to bring action against any county that doesn't establish an animal shelter or contract with a county that does; to allow animal control officers to impound dogs that do not bear a valid rabies tag; to reduce the minimum holding period of impounded dogs from seven to five days; to require proof of, or the purchase of, a valid rabies vaccination before an impounded dog, cat, or ferret may be reclaimed from a shelter; to require the confinement of a vicious dog; to prohibit a dog from violating local nuisance ordinances; and to require the owner of any dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person to be responsible for any damages resulting from the bite; amend KRS 436.605 to require agents of humane societies to be employed by or have a contract with a governing body before the agent can have the power of a peace officer in enforcing statutes relating to cruelty to animals; amend KRS 67.592, 212.625, 257.100, 321.181, 436.605, and 436.610 to conform; make technical corrections; repeal KRS 258.025, 258.105, 258.115, 258.125, 258.145, 258.155, 258.165, 258.175, 258.185, 258.205, 258.275, 258.285, 258.295, 258.305, 258.325, 258.345, 258.355; provide that funds remaining in the Livestock Fund be deposited in the Animal Control and Care Fund.

     Feb 11-introduced in House
     Feb 12-to Agriculture and Small Business (H)
     Feb 18-posted in committee
     Feb 20-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with committee amendment (1)
     Feb 21-2nd reading, to Rules
     Feb 25-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 26, 2003
     Feb 26-3rd reading, passed 76-19 with committee amendment (1)
     Feb 27-received in Senate
     Feb 28-to State and Local Government (S)
     Mar 4-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute
     Mar 5-2nd reading, to Rules; floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute