{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-258.085","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 258.085","heading":"Quarantine of animals suspected of having rabies -- Destruction of animal","body":"in lieu of quarantine -- Exceptions -- Head of animal suspected of being rabid\nto be sent to laboratory.\n(1) (a) A health officer or his agent shall have the authority to quaran tine for a period\nnot to exceed:\n1. One hundred eighty (180) days any animal bitten by another animal\nknown or suspected to have rabies;\n2. Ten (10) days any dog, cat, or ferret which has bitten a human being; or\n3. Ten (10) days any dog, cat, or ferret which exhibits symptoms of rabies.\n(b) In lieu of the quarantines provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection, a health\nofficer or his agent may order an animal to be destroyed and tested for rabies.\n(c) If a wild or exotic animal bites a human being or exh ibits symptoms of rabies,\nthat animal shall be destroyed and tested for rabies.\n(d) Service animals, as defined in KRS 525.010, and service animals in training,\nthat are vaccinated in accordance with KRS 258.015, are under the control of\na law enforcement agency, and are acting in the line of duty, shall be exempt\nfrom the quarantine described in paragraph (a)2. of this subsection.\n(2) If an animal dies with rabies, is suspected of having died with rabies, or is destroyed\nbecause of having been suspected of  being rabid, the owner, if known, whether the\nanimal had been previously quarantined or not, shall send the head of the animal to\na laboratory approved by the secretary for health and family services to be tested for\nrabies.\n(3) (a) The owner of any anima l quarantined or tested under this section shall be\nliable for any expenses incurred as a result of the quarantine or testing.\n(b) Any owner who destroys or disposes of an animal that has bitten a human\nbeing shall be liable for any rabies postexposure tre atment if the animal is\ndestroyed or disposed of in a manner that does not allow for rabies testing or\nquarantine.","path":["KRS Chapter 258"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=12426","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:53:07Z","sha256":"7443ab336d49082aa49296c861e665e81986349c860633ae294be0c44c1d9b14","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-258.080","next":"us-ky/krs-258.087"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}