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According to Kentucky State Law:
258.215 Seizure, impounding, and destruction of dog lacking rabies tag
or other identification; holding period before destruction; notice to
owner; reclamation of dog, cat, or ferret; fees; quarantine; exemption
of hunting dog
(1)
Peace officers or animal control officers shall seize and impound any
dog which does not bear a valid rabies tag or other legible
identification which is found running at large. Any dog which an
officer or animal control officer seizes shall be impounded in the
designated animal shelter of the county and confined in a humane
manner. If, after a reasonable effort, the seizure of an unrestrained
dog cannot be made, or the dog presents a hazard to public safety or
property or has an injury or physical condition which causes the dog
to suffer, the animal control officer or peace officer may immediately
destroy the dog by the most reasonable and humane means then
available.
(2)
(a) Impounded dogs shall be kept for not less than five (5) days,
unless reclaimed by their owners. Dogs not reclaimed and those not
placed in suitable new homes may be humanely euthanized after the five
(5) day holding period, unless the dog has an injury or physical
condition which causes it to suffer. In those cases the animal shelter
may immediately euthanize the dog, and if a human being has been
bitten by the dog, the dog shall be tested for rabies.
(b)
If an owner is identified, the impounding agency shall immediately
notify the owner of the impoundment by the most expedient means
available.
(c)
Any animal shelter, public or private, which takes in stray animals
and does not have regular hours for public access, shall post
semimonthly either in a local newspaper or the newspaper with the
highest circulation in the county, the shelter location, hours of
operation, the period that impounded animals shall be held, and a
contact number.
(3)
Upon reclaiming an impounded dog, cat, or ferret, the owner shall show
proof of a valid rabies vaccination. If proof of the vaccination
cannot be provided, the owner shall purchase a vaccination voucher
from the animal shelter. The voucher shall be valid for ten (10) days
from the date of issuance and shall be used in the prescribed time
period. The animal shelter shall reimburse the veterinarian for the
amount of the voucher upon presentation to the shelter by the
administering veterinarian.
(4)
The owner of an impounded animal is responsible for all fees
associated with the impoundment of the animal. If the owner can be
identified, the fees are due even if the owner does not reclaim the
animal.
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