Link to Service/Assistance Animal Laws
Link to Anti-cruelty laws (Neb. Rev. St. § 28-1001 - 1020)
POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES TO REGULATE DOGS:
CHAPTER 14. CITIES OF THE METROPOLITAN CLASS. ARTICLE 1. GENERAL POWERS
§ 14-102 . Additional powers.
CHAPTER 15. CITIES OF THE PRIMARY CLASS. ARTICLE 2. GENERAL POWERS
§ 15-218 . Animals at large; regulation; penalty.
§ 15-219 Pounds; power to establish; operation.
§ 15-220 . Dogs and other animals; licensing; regulation.
§ 16-206 . Dogs and other animals; regulation; license tax; enforcement.
§ 16-235 . Animals and fowl; running at large; regulation.
CHAPTER 17. CITIES OF THE SECOND CLASS AND VILLAGES. ARTICLE 5. GENERAL GRANT OF POWER
§ 17-526 . Dogs and other animals; license tax; enforcement.
§ 17-547 . Animals running at large; regulation.
CHAPTER 25. COURTS; CIVIL PROCEDURE. ARTICLE 21. ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS IN PARTICULAR CASES. (X) RELEASE OF ANIMALS
§ 25-21,236 . Release of animal; liability to owner.
FISH AND GAME PROVISIONS AFFECTING DOGS:
CHAPTER 37. GAME AND PARKS. ARTICLE 5. REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITED ACTS. (B) GAME AND BIRDS.
§ 37-525 . Training or running of bird dogs or hunting dogs; regulation; violation; penalty .
ARTICLE 7. RECREATIONAL LANDS RESERVES AND SANCTUARIES.
§ 37-705 . Reserves, sanctuaries, and closed waters; prohibited acts; penalty; exceptions.
CHAPTER 54. LIVESTOCK. ARTICLE 6. DOGS AND CATS. (A) DOGS.
DOGS AS PERSONALTY; LICENSE AND TAX PROVISIONS:
54-601 . Dogs; personal property; owner liable for damages; exceptions
54-603 . Dogs; license tax; amount; service animal; license; county, city, or village; collect fee; disposition
KILLING OF DOGS; COLLARS & RUNNING AT LARGE:
(A) DOGS
§ 54-604 . Dogs; killing; when permitted.
§ 54-605 . Dogs; collar required.
§ 54-606 . Dogs; collarless; who deemed owner.
§ 54-607 . Dogs; running at large; penalty.
§ 54-608 . Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; responsibilities of owners.
54-609. Repealed by Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 24, eff. April 22, 2008
§ 54-610 . Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; poundmaster; duties; filing complaint.
54-611 . Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; convictions; disposition of offending dog; costs
54-612. Repealed by Laws 1969, ch. 445, § 13
54-613 . Violations; penalties
54-614 . County; license tax; regulate dogs running at large; appeal process
54-615 . County; impound dog; costs and penalties
54-616 . County; pounds; erection; keepers; compensation; rules and regulations
(B) DANGEROUS DOGS.
§ 54-617 . Dangerous dogs; terms, defined.
§ 54-618 . Dangerous dogs; actions required; costs; limitations on transport; permanent relocation; procedure
§ 54-619 . Dangerous dogs; confinement required; warning signs
§ 54-620 . Dangerous dogs; confiscation; when; costs.
§ 54-621 . Dangerous dogs; disposal by court order.
§ 54-622 . Dangerous dogs; violation; penalty.
§ 54-622.01 . Dangerous dogs; serious bodily injury; penalty; defense
§ 54-623 . Dangerous dogs; violation; prior conviction; effect.
§ 54-623.01 County; designate animal control authority.
§ 54-624 . Dangerous dogs; local laws or ordinances.
(C) COMMERCIAL DOG AND CAT OPERATOR INSPECTION ACT.
§ 54-625 . Act, how cited.
§ 54-626 . Terms, defined.
§ 54-627 . License requirements; fees; renewal
54-627.01 . Licensees; maintain written veterinary care plan or written emergency veterinary care plan
§ 54-628 . Inspection program; department; powers
54-628.01 . Department; stop-movement order; issuance; contents; hearing; department; powers; costs; reinspection; hearing
54-628.02. Violation of act, rule or regulation, or order of director; proceedings authorized
§ 54-629 . Rules and regulations.
§ 54-630 . Application; denial; appeal.
§ 54-631 . Licensee; duties; disciplinary actions.
§ 54-632 . Notice or order; service requirements; hearing; appeal.
§ 54-633 . Enforcement powers; administrative fine
54-633.01. Special investigator; powers; referral to another law enforcement officer
§ 54-634 . Violation; penalty.
54-634.01 . Prohibited acts
§ 54-635 . Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund; created; use; investment.
§ 54-636 . Department; enforcement powers.
§ 54-637 . Information on spaying and neutering; requirements
§ 54-638 . Provision for spaying or neutering; when
§ 54-639 . Adopter or purchaser; agreement; requirements.
§ 54-640 . Commercial breeder; duties.
§ 54-641 . Licensees; primary enclosures; requirements .
54-641.01. Commercial dog breeder; dogs; opportunity for exercise
54-641.02. Commercial dog breeder; veterinary care; review of health records; duties of breeder
54-641.03. Breeding dog; microchip; identification
§ 54-642 . Department; submit report of costs and revenue
§ 54-643 . Administrative fines; disposition; lien; collection
(D) DOG AND CAT PURCHASE PROTECTION ACT
54-644 . Act, how cited
54-645 . Terms, defined
54-646 . Seller; written disclosure statement; contents; receipt; notice of purchaser's rights and responsibilities; health certificate; retention of records
54-647 . Recourse to remedies; purchaser; duties; notice to seller; remedies
54-648 . Denial of refund, reimbursement of fees, or replacement; conditions
54-649 . Purchaser; file action; seller's rights; limit of recovery
54-650 . Other rights and remedies not limited; act; how construed
CHAPTER 71. PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE. ARTICLE 44. RABIES.
71-4401 . Terms, defined
71-4402 . Vaccination against rabies; required; vaccine; sales
71-4402.01 . Rules and regulations - 71-4402.01. Repealed by Laws 2019, LB 61, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2019
71-4402.02 . Hybrid animal; vaccination against rabies; required; vaccine; sales
71-4402.03 . Control and prevention of rabies; rules and regulations
71-4403 . Veterinarian; vaccination for rabies; certificate; contents
71-4404 . Vaccination for rabies; cost; payment
71-4405 . Vaccination; domestic animals exempt
71-4406 . Post-incident management
71-4407 . Domestic or hybrid animal or livestock; postexposure management
71-4408 . Rabies control authority; pounds; authorized; impoundment; notice; release; fee
71-4409 . Rabies control authority; enforcement of sections; duties
71-4410 . Violation; penalty; order for seizure
71-4411 . Impoundment fees; payment
71-4412 . Control of rabies; vaccination; enforcement; political subdivisions
CHAPTER 37. GAME AND PARKS. ARTICLE 3. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES. (A) GENERAL PROVISIONS .
§ 37-307 . Rules and regulations; animals; violation; penalty.
CHAPTER 14. CITIES OF THE METROPOLITAN CLASS. ARTICLE 1. GENERAL POWERS
§ 14-102. Additional powers. (For dog-related powers see Secs. 9 - 11)
In addition to the powers granted in section 14-101, cities of the metropolitan class shall have power by ordinance:
* * *
(10) To provide for the prevention of cruelty to children and animals;
(11) To regulate, license, or prohibit the running at large of dogs and other animals within the city as well as in areas within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the city; to guard against injuries or annoyance from such dogs and other animals; and to authorize the destruction of such dogs and other animals when running at large contrary to the provisions of any ordinance. Any licensing provision shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals;
* * *
Credits
Laws 1921, ch. 116, art. I, § 2, p. 398; Laws 1963, ch. 314, § 1, p. 945; Laws 1971, LB 237, § 1; Laws 1972, LB 1274, § 1; Laws 1974, LB 768, § 1; Laws 1981, LB 501, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 1027, § 186; Laws 1991, LB 356, § 1; Laws 1991, LB 849, § 59; Laws 1992, LB 1257, § 63; Laws 1993, LB 138, § 61; Laws 1993, LB 623, § 1; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 2; Laws 1999, LB 87, § 59; Laws 2008, LB 806, § 1, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 430, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2009, LB 503, § 11, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2015, LB 266, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 2015; Laws 2022, LB 800, § 9, eff. July 21, 2022; Laws 2023, LB 77, § 2, eff. Sept. 2, 2023.
Codifications: C.S. 1922, § 3489; C.S. 1929, § 14-102; R.S. 1943, § 14-102.
CHAPTER 15. CITIES OF THE PRIMARY CLASS. ARTICLE 2. GENERAL POWERS
§ 15-218. Animals at large; regulation; penalty.
A city of the primary class shall have the power, by ordinance, to regulate or prohibit the running at large of cattle, hogs, horses, mules, sheep, goats, dogs, and other animals and to cause such animals running at large to be impounded and sold to discharge the cost and penalties provided for violation of such prohibitions, and the fees and expenses of impounding and keeping such animals and of such sale.
Credits
Laws 1901, ch. 16, § 129, XXII, p. 133; Laws 2020, LB 1003, § 35, eff. Nov. 14, 2020.
§ 15-219 Pounds; power to establish; operation.
A city of the primary class shall have the power to provide for the erection of all needful pens, pounds, and buildings for the use of the city, within or without such city limits, to appoint and compensate keepers thereof, and to establish and enforce rules governing such pens, pounds, and buildings.
Credits
Laws 1901, ch. 16, § 129, XXIII, p. 133; Laws 2020, LB 1003, § 36, eff. Nov. 14, 2020.
§ 15-220. Dogs and other animals; licensing; regulation.
A city of the primary class shall have the power to regulate, license, or prohibit the running at large of dogs and other animals and guard against injuries or annoyances from such animals and to authorize the destruction of such animals when running at large contrary to the provisions of any ordinance. Any licensing provision shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals.
Credits
Laws 1901, ch. 16, § 129, XXIV, p. 133; Laws 1981, LB 501, § 2; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 3; Laws 2008, LB 806, § 2, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2020, LB 1003, § 37, eff. Nov. 14, 2020.
§ 16-206. Dogs and other animals; regulation; license tax; enforcement.
A city of the first class may collect a license tax from the owners and harborers of dogs and other animals in an amount which shall be determined by the city council and enforce the license tax by appropriate penalties. Any licensing provision shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals. The city may cause the destruction of any dog or other animal for which the owner or harborer shall refuse or neglect to pay such license tax. The city may regulate, license, or prohibit the running at large of dogs and other animals and guard against injuries or annoyances therefrom and authorize the destruction of such dogs and other animals when running at large contrary to any ordinance.
Credits
Laws 1901, ch. 18, § 48, X, p. 247; Laws 1959, ch. 59, § 1, p. 253; Laws 1971, LB 478, § 1; Laws 1981, LB 501, § 3; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 4; Laws 2008, LB 806, § 3, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2016, LB 704, § 18, eff. July 21, 2016.
§ 16-235. Animals and fowl; running at large; regulation.
A city of the first class may regulate or prohibit the running at large of cattle, hogs, horses, mules, sheep, goats, dogs and other animals, chickens, ducks, geese and other fowls, and cause such as may be running at large to be impounded and sold to discharge the costs and penalties provided for the violation of such prohibitions, and the fees and expenses of impounding and keeping the same, and of such sale.
Source: Laws 1901, c. 18, § 48, XLI, p. 257; Laws 1907, c. 13, § 1, p. 111; R.S.1913, § 4851; C.S.1922, § 4019; C.S.1929, § 16-236.
CHAPTER 17. CITIES OF THE SECOND CLASS AND VILLAGES. ARTICLE 5. GENERAL GRANT OF POWER
§ 17-526. Dogs and other animals; license tax; enforcement.
Cities of the second class and villages may, by ordinance, impose a license tax in an amount which shall be determined by the governing body of such city of the second class or village for each dog or other animal, on the owners and harborers of dogs and other animals, and enforce such license tax by appropriate penalties, and cause the destruction of any dog or other animal, for which the owner or harborer shall refuse or neglect to pay such license tax. Any licensing provision shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals. Such municipality may regulate, license, or prohibit the running at large of dogs and other animals and guard against injuries or annoyances from such animals and authorize the destruction of such animals when running at large contrary to the provisions of any ordinance.
CREDITS
Laws 1879, § 69, X, p. 213; Laws 1881, ch. 23, § 8, X, p. 175; Laws 1885, ch. 20, § 1, X, p. 165; Laws 1887, ch. 12, § 1, X, p. 294; Laws 1899, ch. 14, § 1, p. 79; Laws 1959, ch. 59, § 2, p. 253; Laws 1976, LB 515, § 1; Laws 1981, LB 501, § 4; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 5; Laws 2008, LB 806, § 4, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2017, LB 133, § 143, eff. Aug. 24, 2017.
§ 17-547. Animals running at large; regulation.
Cities of the second class and villages shall have power to regulate the running at large of cattle, hogs, horses, mules, sheep, goats, dogs, and other animals and to cause such animals as may be running at large to be impounded and sold to discharge the cost and penalties provided for the violation of such regulations and the expense of impounding and keeping such animals and of such sales.
Credits
Laws 1879, § 69, XVI, p. 214; Laws 1881, ch. 23, § 8, XVI, p. 182; Laws 1885, ch. 20, § 1, XVI, p. 173; Laws 1887, ch. 12, § 1, XVI, p. 301; Laws 2017, LB 133, § 172, eff. Aug. 24, 2017.
CHAPTER 25. COURTS; CIVIL PROCEDURE. ARTICLE 21. ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS IN PARTICULAR CASES. (X) RELEASE OF ANIMALS
§ 25-21,236. Release of animal; liability to owner.
(1) A person who intentionally, willfully, and without permission releases an animal lawfully confined for science, research, commerce, agriculture, or education is liable to the owner of the animal for damages, including the costs of restoring the animal to confinement and to its health condition prior to release and the costs for damage to real property caused by the released animal. If the release causes the failure of an experiment, the person shall also be liable for all costs of repeating the experiment, including replacement of the animals, labor, and materials.
(2) For purposes of this section, animal shall mean any warmblooded or coldblooded animal used in food, fur, or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, or education and shall include dogs, cats, poultry, fish, and invertebrates.
(3) This section shall not apply to lawful activities of any governmental agency or employees or agents of such agency carrying out their duties prescribed by law.
Source: Laws 1992, LB 312, § 1.
CHAPTER 37. GAME AND PARKS. ARTICLE 5. REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITED ACTS
(B) GAME AND BIRDS
§ 37-525. Training or running of bird dogs or hunting dogs; regulation; violation; penalty.
(1) Except as provided in section 37-483 and rules and regulations established by the commission, it shall be unlawful for any person to take game birds or game animals during any closed season while training or running a dog.
(2) The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations which regulate taking game birds or game animals for the purpose of training bird or hunting dogs on public and private land, the licensing of dog training areas, and the administration of novice hunter education activities in which game birds or game animals may be taken. Such rules and regulations may limit dog training to noncommercial activities and shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Administration of a novice hunter education program and the issuance of a permit to conduct such a program, limitations on dog training activities, requirements for dog training areas, possession requirements, open areas, seasons, methods, time periods in which taking is authorized, species to be taken, and requirements for dog trials as specified in section 37-412.
(3) No dog shall be run upon private property under this section at any time without the express permission of the landowner or tenant.
(4) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor and shall be fined at least fifty dollars.
Source: Laws 1929, c. 112, V, § 13, p. 430; C.S.1929, § 37-513; Laws 1937, c. 89, § 14, p. 298; C.S.Supp.,1941, § 37-513; R.S.1943, § 37-513; Laws 1945, c. 78, § 7, p. 292; Laws 1955, c. 135, § 1, p. 386; Laws 1969, c. 295, § 1, p. 1068; Laws 1972, LB 1447, § 3; R.S.1943, (1993), § 37-513; Laws 1998, LB 922, § 245; Laws 1999, LB 176, § 71; Laws 2002, LB 1003, § 27.
CHAPTER 37. GAME AND PARKS. ARTICLE 7. RECREATIONAL LANDS RESERVES AND SANCTUARIES.
§ 37-705. Reserves, sanctuaries, and closed waters; prohibited acts; penalty; exceptions.
(1) Anyone who takes any fish from waters closed by the commission as provided in the Game Law, who takes any game upon any reserve or sanctuary, who goes thereon with a gun or dog, who permits a dog to run thereon, who otherwise intentionally disturbs game or birds thereon and causes them to depart from such reserve or sanctuary, who goes upon any wild fowl sanctuary to fish or for any other purpose during the open season on wild fowl, or who violates any provision of sections 37-701 to 37-704 or any rule or regulation of the commission relating to game reserves or sanctuaries adopted and promulgated by authority of law shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor.
(2) Nothing in this section shall (a) render unlawful the keeping at farm homes, located on the reserves or sanctuaries provided for in the Game Law, such dogs as ordinarily are kept on farms, (b) render unlawful the possession of firearms by residents on such reserves or sanctuaries when such firearms are not used to disturb or molest wild fowl or game thereon or prevent such residents from destroying predators as provided in section 37-559 thereon, (c) prevent members, officers, or employees of the commission from going upon sanctuaries at any time to enforce the Game Law, to obtain evidence to enforce it, or otherwise to protect game and fish thereon, or (d) make it unlawful to retrieve lawfully killed game birds from any such reserve or sanctuary.
Source: Laws 1929, c. 112, IV, § 10, p. 425; C.S.1929, § 37-410; Laws 1943, c. 94, § 9, p. 328; R.S.1943, § 37-410; Laws 1977, LB 40, § 185; Laws 1989, LB 34, § 23; Laws 1989, LB 168, § 1; R.S.1943, (1993), § 37-410; Laws 1998, LB 922, § 319.
CHAPTER 54. LIVESTOCK. ARTICLE 6. DOGS AND CATS
(A) DOGS
§ 54-601. Dogs; personal property; owner liable for damages.
(1) Dogs are hereby declared to be personal property for all intents and purposes, and, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the owner or owners of any dog or dogs shall be liable for any and all damages that may accrue (a) to any person, other than a trespasser, by reason of having been bitten by any such dog or dogs and (b) to any person, firm, or corporation by reason of such dog or dogs killing, wounding, injuring, worrying, or chasing any person or persons or any sheep or other domestic animals belonging to such person, firm, or corporation. Such damage may be recovered in any court having jurisdiction of the amount claimed.
(2)
(a) A governmental agency or its employees using a dog in military or police work shall not be liable under subsection (1) of this section to a party to, participant in, or person reasonably suspected to be a party to or participant in the act that prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work if the officers of the governmental agency were complying with a written policy on the necessary and appropriate use of a dog for military or police work adopted by the governmental agency and if the damage occurred while the dog was responding to a harassing or provoking act or the damage was the result of a reasonable use of force while the dog or dogs were assisting an employee of the agency in any of the following:
(i) The apprehension or holding of a suspect if the employee has a reasonable suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal activity;
(ii) The investigation of a crime or possible crime;
(iii) The execution of a warrant; or
(iv) The defense of a peace officer or another person other than the suspect.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, harassing or provoking act means knowingly and intentionally attempting to interfere with, interfering with, teasing or harassing such dog in order to distract, or agitating or harming such dog.
Laws 1877, § 1, p. 156; Laws 1899, ch. 4, § 1, p. 54; Laws 1947, ch. 192, § 1, p. 629; Laws 1961, ch. 268, § 1, p. 786; Laws 1992, LB 1011, § 1; Laws 2009, LB 347, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
54-602. Dogs owned by different persons; joint liability
If two or more dogs owned by different persons shall kill, wound, chase or worry any sheep or other domestic animal, such persons shall be jointly and severally liable for all damage done by such dogs.
Laws 1877, § 2, p. 156.
§ 54-603. Dogs; license tax; amount; service animal; license; county, city, or village; collect fee; disposition.
(1) Any county, city, or village shall have authority by ordinance or resolution to impose a license tax, in an amount which shall be determined by the appropriate governing body, on the owner or harborer of any dog or dogs, to be paid under such regulations as shall be provided by such ordinance or resolutions.
(2) Every service animal shall be licensed as required by local ordinances or resolutions, but no license tax shall be charged. Upon the retirement or discontinuance of the animal as a service animal, the owner of the animal shall be liable for the payment of a license tax as prescribed by local ordinances or resolutions.
(3) Any county, city, or village that imposes a license tax on the owner or harborer of any cat or cats or any dog or dogs under this section shall, in addition to the license tax imposed by the licensing jurisdiction, collect from the licensee a fee of one dollar and twenty-five cents. The person designated by the licensing jurisdiction to collect and administer the license tax shall act as agent for the State of Nebraska in the collection of the fee. From each fee of one dollar and twenty-five cents collected, such person shall retain three cents and remit the balance to the Department of Agriculture. The department shall then remit such balance to the State Treasurer for credit to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund. If the person collecting the fee is the licensing jurisdiction, the three cents shall be credited to the licensing jurisdiction's general fund. If the person collecting the fee is a private contractor, the three cents shall be credited to an account of the private contractor. The remittance to the Department of Agriculture shall be made at least annually at the conclusion of the licensing jurisdiction's fiscal year, except that any licensing jurisdiction or private contractor that collects fifty dollars or less of such fees during the fiscal year may remit the fees when the cumulative amount of fees collected reaches fifty dollars.
Credits
Laws 1877, § 3, p. 156; Laws 1976, LB 515, § 2; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 7; Laws 2008, LB 806, § 13, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 3, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 12, eff. Dec. 1, 2015; Laws 2021, LB 509, § 4, eff. Aug. 28, 2021.
§ 54-604. Dogs; killing; when permitted.
Any person shall have the right to kill any dog found doing any damage as mentioned in sections 54-601 and 54-602 to any sheep or domestic animal, or if he shall have just and reasonable ground to believe that such dog has been killing, wounding, chasing or worrying such sheep or animal; and no action shall be maintained for such killing.
Source: Laws 1877, § 4, p. 156; R.S.1913, § 175; C.S.1922, § 172; C.S.1929, § 54-604.
§ 54-605. Dogs; collar required.
It shall be the duty of every owner or owners of any dog or dogs to securely place upon the neck of such dog or dogs a good and sufficient collar with a metallic plate thereon. The plate shall be plainly inscribed with the name of such owner.
Source: Laws 1877, § 5, p. 157; R.S.1913, § 176; C.S.1922, § 173; C.S.1929, § 54-605; R.S.1943, § 54-605; Laws 1990, LB 50, § 12.
§ 54-606. Dogs; collarless; who deemed owner.
Every person who shall harbor about his or her premises a collarless dog for the space of ten days shall be taken and held as the owner, and shall be liable for all damages which such dog shall commit.
Source: Laws 1877, § 6, p. 157; R.S.1913, § 177; C.S.1922, § 174; C.S.1929, § 54-606.
§ 54-607. Dogs; running at large; penalty.
The owner of any dog running at large for ten days without a collar as required in section 54-605 shall be fined an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars.
Source: Laws 1877, § 7, p. 157; R.S.1913, § 178; C.S.1922, § 175; C.S.1929, § 54-607; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 8. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 9.
§ 54-608. Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; responsibilities of owners.
In counties having a population of eighty thousand or more inhabitants and cities of the first class contained in such counties, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation to have any dog which is owned, kept, harbored, or allowed to be habitually in or upon premises occupied by him, her, or it or under his, her, or its control to be at large.
Source: Laws 1961, c. 268, § 2, p. 787; Laws 1988, LB 630, § 1; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 9. Effective date April 22, 2008
§ 54-609 Repealed. Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 24, eff. April 22, 2008
§ 54-610. Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; poundmaster; duties; filing complaint.
In counties having a population of eighty thousand or more inhabitants and cities of the first class contained in such counties, whenever complaints are made to the poundmaster or the person or corporation performing the duties of poundmaster that a dog is at large, it shall be the duty of such poundmaster, person, or corporation to investigate such complaint. If upon such investigation it appears that the complaint is founded upon facts, it shall be the duty of such poundmaster, person, or corporation to take such dog into custody and he, she, or it may file or cause to be filed a complaint in the county court against such person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation owning, keeping, or harboring such dog charging a violation of section 54-601 or 54-608.
Source: Laws 1961, c. 268, § 4, p. 787; Laws 1988, LB 801, § 1; Laws 1988, LB 630, § 3; Laws 1993, LB 121, § 338; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 10. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 11.
§ 54-611. Dogs in counties having a population of 80,000 inhabitants or more; convictions; disposition of offending dog; costs.
In counties having a population of eighty thousand or more inhabitants and cities of the first class contained in such counties, if upon final hearing the defendant is adjudged guilty of any violation of section 54-601 or 54-608, the court may, in addition to the penalty provided in section 54-613, order such disposition of the offending dog as may seem reasonable and proper. Disposition includes sterilization, seizure, permanent assignment of the dog to a court-approved animal shelter or animal rescue as such terms are defined in section 28-1018, or destruction of the dog in an expeditious and humane manner. Reasonable costs for such disposition are the responsibility of the defendant.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 1961, ch. 268, § 5, p. 787; Laws 1988, LB 801, § 2; Laws 1988, LB 630, § 4; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 11, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 4, eff. July 15, 2010.
§ 54-612. Repealed. Laws 1969, c. 445, § 13.
§ 54-613. Violations; penalties.
Any person in violation of section 54-601 or 54-608 shall be deemed guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor.
Source: Laws 1961, c. 268, § 7, p. 788; Laws 1977, LB 39, § 20; Laws 1988, LB 801, § 3; Laws 1988, LB 630, § 5; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 12. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 13.
§ 54-614. County; license tax; regulate dogs running at large; appeal process.
(1) A county may collect a license tax in an amount which shall be determined by the appropriate governing body from the owners and harborers of dogs and may enforce such tax by appropriate penalties. A county may impound any dog if the owner or harborer shall refuse or neglect to pay such license tax. Any licensing provision shall comply with subsection (2) of section 54-603 for service animals.
(2) A county may regulate or prohibit the running at large of dogs, adopt regulations to guard against injuries or annoyances therefrom, and authorize the destruction, adoption, or other disposition of such dogs when running at large contrary to the provisions of this subsection or any regulations adopted in accordance with this subsection. A county adopting regulations in accordance with this subsection shall provide for an appeal process with respect to such regulations.
Source: Laws 1963, c. 104, § 1, p. 429; Laws 1986, LB 1063, § 1; Laws 1997, LB 814, § 8; Laws 2008, LB806, § 14; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 13.
Note: The Revisor of Statutes has pursuant to section 49-769 correlated LB806, section 14, with LB1055, section 13, to reflect all amendments.
Note: Changes made by LB1055 became effective April 22, 2008. Changes made by LB806 became effective July 18, 2008.
§ 54-615. County; impound dog; cost and penalties.
A county may impound any dog deemed to be running at large. The owner of such dog shall pay the reasonable cost and penalties provided for the violation of such prohibition, including the expense of impounding and keeping the dog.
Source: Laws 1963, c. 104, § 2, p. 429; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 14. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 15.
§ 54-616. County; pounds; erection; keepers; compensation; rules and regulations.
A county may provide for the erection of any pounds needed within the county, appoint and compensate keepers thereof, and establish and enforce rules governing such pounds.
Source: Laws 1963, c. 104, § 3, p. 430; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 15. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 16.
CHAPTER 54. LIVESTOCK. ARTICLE 6. DOGS AND CATS
(B) DANGEROUS DOGS
§ 54-617. Dangerous dogs; terms, defined.
For purposes of sections 54-617 to 54-624:
(1) Animal control authority means an entity authorized to enforce the animal control laws of a county, city, or village or this state and includes any local law enforcement agency or other agency designated by a county, city, or village to enforce the animal control laws of such county, city, or village;
(2) Animal control officer means any individual employed, appointed, or authorized by an animal control authority for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of sections 54-617 to 54-624 or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals and includes any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal;
(3)
(a) Dangerous dog means a dog that, according to the records of an animal control authority: (i) Has killed a human being; (ii) has inflicted injury on a human being that requires medical treatment; (iii) has killed a domestic animal without provocation; or (iv) has been previously determined to be a potentially dangerous dog by an animal control authority, the owner has received notice from an animal control authority or an animal control officer of such determination, and the dog inflicts an injury on a human being that does not require medical treatment, injures a domestic animal, or threatens the safety of humans or domestic animals.
(b)
(i) A dog shall not be defined as a dangerous dog under subdivision (3)(a)(ii) of this section, and the owner shall not be guilty under section 54- 622.01, if the individual was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog at the time of the injury or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog.
(ii) A dog shall not be defined as a dangerous dog under subdivision (3)(a)(iv) of this section, and the owner shall not be guilty under section 54-622.01, if the injury, damage, or threat was sustained by an individual who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass as defined in section 20-203, 28-520, or 28-521, was committing any other tort upon the property of the owner of the dog, was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog, or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
(iii) A dog shall not be defined as a dangerous dog under subdivision (3)(a) of this section if the dog is a police animal as defined in section 28-1008;
(4) Domestic animal means a cat, a dog, or livestock. Livestock includes buffalo, deer, antelope, fowl, and any other animal in any zoo, wildlife park, refuge, wildlife area, or nature center intended to be on exhibit;
(5) Medical treatment means treatment administered by a physician or other licensed health care professional that results in sutures or surgery or treatment for one or more broken bones;
(6) Owner means any person, firm, corporation, organization, political subdivision, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, or having control or custody of a dog; and
(7) Potentially dangerous dog means (a) any dog that when unprovoked (i) inflicts an injury on a human being that does not require medical treatment, (ii) injures a domestic animal, or (iii) chases or approaches a person upon streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack or (b) any specific dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack when unprovoked, to cause injury, or to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.
Laws 1989, LB 208, § 1; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 16, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 8, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-618. Dangerous dogs; actions required; costs; limitations on transport; permanent relocation; procedure.
(1) A dangerous dog that has been declared as such shall be spayed or neutered and implanted with a microchip identification number by a licensed veterinarian within thirty days after such declaration. The cost of both procedures is the responsibility of the owner of the dangerous dog. Written proof of both procedures and the microchip identification number shall be provided to the animal control authority after the procedures are completed.
(2) No owner of a dangerous dog shall permit the dog to go beyond the property of the owner unless the dog is restrained securely by a chain or leash
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section or for a reasonable veterinary purpose, no owner of a dangerous dog shall transport such dog or permit such dog to be transported to another county, city, or village in this state.
(4) An owner of a dangerous dog may transport such dog or permit such dog to be transported to another county, city, or village in this state for the purpose of permanent relocation of the owner if the owner has obtained written permission prior to such relocation from the animal control authority of the county, city, or village in which the owner resides and from the county, city, or village in which the owner will reside. Each animal control authority may grant such permission based upon a reasonable evaluation of both the owner and the dog, including if the owner has complied with the laws of this state and of the county, city, or village in which he or she resides with regard to dangerous dogs after the dog was declared dangerous. An animal control authority shall not grant permission under this subsection if the county, city, or village has an ordinance or resolution prohibiting the relocation of dangerous dogs. After the permanent relocation, the animal control authority of the county, city, or village in which the owner resides shall monitor the owner and such dog for a period of at least thirty days but not to exceed ninety days to ensure the owner's compliance with the laws of this state and of such county, city, or village with regard to dangerous dogs. Nothing in this subsection shall permit the rescindment of the declaration of dangerous dog.
Source: Laws 1989, LB 208, § 2; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 17. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 18.
§ 54-619. Dangerous dogs; confinement required; warning sign.
(1) No person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation shall own, keep, or harbor or allow to be in or on any premises occupied by him, her, or it or under his, her, or its charge or control any dangerous dog without such dog being confined so as to protect the public from injury.
(2) While unattended on the owner's property, a dangerous dog shall be securely confined, in a humane manner, indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure suitably designed to prevent the entry of young children and to prevent the dog from escaping. The pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides shall be embedded into the ground at a depth of at least one foot. The pen or structure shall also protect the dog from the elements. The pen or structure shall be at least ten feet from any property line of the owner. The owner of a dangerous dog shall post warning signs on the property where the dog is kept that are clearly visible from all areas of public access and that inform persons that a dangerous dog is on the property. Each warning sign shall be no less than ten inches by twelve inches and shall containthe words warning and dangerous animal in high-contrast lettering at least three inches high on a black background.
Source: Laws 1989, LB 208, § 3; Laws 2008, LB1055, § 18. Effective date April 22, 2008 Sec. 19.
§ 54-620. Dangerous dogs; confiscation; when; costs.
Any dangerous dog may be immediately confiscated by an animal control officer if the owner is in violation of sections 54-617 to 54-624. The owner shall be responsible for the reasonable costs incurred by the animal control authority for the care of a dangerous dog confiscated by an animal control officer or for the destruction of any dangerous dog if the action by the animal control authority is pursuant to law and if the owner violated sections 54- 617 to 54-624.
Laws 1989, LB 208, § 4; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 19, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 9, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-621. Dangerous dogs; disposal by court order.
In addition to any other penalty, a court may order the animal control authority to dispose of a dangerous dog in an expeditious and humane manner.
Source: Laws 1989, LB 208, § 5.
§ 54-622. Dangerous dogs; violation; penalty.
Except as provided in section 54-622.01, any owner who violates sections 54- 617 to 54-621 shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor.
Laws 1989, LB 208, § 6; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 10, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-622.01. Dangerous dogs; serious bodily injury; penalty; defense
(1) Any owner whose dangerous dog inflicts on a human being a serious bodily injury as defined in section 28-109 is guilty of a Class I misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class IV felony for a second or subsequent offense, whether or not the same dangerous dog is involved.
(2) It is a defense to a violation of subsection (1) of this section that the dangerous dog was, at the time of the infliction of the serious bodily injury, in the custody of or under the direct control of a person other than the owner or the owner's immediate family.
Laws 2009, LB 494, § 13, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-623.Dangerous dogs; violation; conviction; effect.
(1) Any owner convicted of a violation of sections 54-617 to 54-624 shall not own a dangerous dog within ten years after such conviction. Any owner violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class IIIA misdemeanor, and the dog shall be treated as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Except as provided in section 54-622.01, if a dangerous dog of an owner with a prior conviction under sections 54-617 to 54-624 attacks or bites a human being or domestic animal, the owner shall be guilty of a Class IIIA misdemeanor. In addition, the dangerous dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority, placed in quarantine for the proper length of time, and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner.
Laws 1989, LB 208, § 7; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 20, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 11, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-623.01 County; designate animal control authority.
Each county shall designate an animal control authority that shall be responsible for enforcing sections 54-617 to 54-624 and the laws of such county regarding dangerous dogs.
Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 22, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 12, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-624. Dangerous dogs; local laws or ordinances.
Nothing in sections 54-617 to 54-623.01 shall be construed to restrict or prohibit any governing board of any county, city, or village from establishing and enforcing laws or ordinances at least as stringent as the provisions of sections 54-617 to 54-623.01.
Laws 1989, LB 208, § 8; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 21, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 14, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
CHAPTER 54. LIVESTOCK. ARTICLE 6. DOGS AND CATS
(C) COMMERCIAL DOG AND CAT OPERATOR INSPECTION ACT
Sections 54-625 to 54-643 shall be known and may be cited as the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 1; Laws 2003, LB 274, § 1; Laws 2006, LB 856, § 13; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 1; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 13, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
For purposes of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act:
(1) Animal control facility means a facility operated by or under contract with the state or any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals;
(2) Animal rescue means a person or group of persons who hold themselves out as an animal rescue, accept or solicit for dogs or cats with the intention of finding permanent adoptive homes or providing lifelong care for such dogs or cats, or who use foster homes as the primary means of housing dogs or cats;
(3) Animal shelter means a facility used to house or contain dogs or cats and owned, operated, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, an animal welfare society, a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or another nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of such animals;
(4) Boarding kennel means a facility which is primarily used to house or contain dogs or cats owned by persons other than the operator of such facility. The primary function of a boarding kennel is to temporarily harbor dogs or cats when the owner of the dogs or cats is unable to do so or to provide training, grooming, or other nonveterinary service for consideration before returning the dogs or cats to the owner. A facility which provides such training, grooming, or other nonveterinary service is not a boarding kennel for the purposes of the act unless dogs or cats owned by persons other than the operator of such facility are housed at such facility overnight. Veterinary clinics, animal control facilities, animal rescues, and nonprofit animal shelters are not boarding kennels for the purposes of the act;
(5) Breeding dog means any sexually intact male or female dog six months of age or older owned or harbored by a commercial dog breeder;
(6) Cat means any animal which is wholly or in part of the species Felis domesticus;
(7) Commercial cat breeder means a person engaged in the business of breeding cats:
(a) Who sells, exchanges, leases, or in any way transfers or offers to sell, exchange, lease, or transfer thirty-one or more cats in a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year;
(b) Who owns or harbors four or more cats, intended for breeding, in a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year;
(c) Whose cats produce a total of four or more litters within a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year; or
(d) Who knowingly sells, exchanges, or leases cats for later retail sale or brokered trading;
(8) Commercial dog breeder means a person engaged in the business of breeding dogs:
(a) Who sells, exchanges, leases, or in any way transfers or offers to sell, exchange, lease, or transfer thirty-one or more dogs in a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year;
(b) Who owns or harbors four or more dogs, intended for breeding, in a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year;
(c) Whose dogs produce a total of four or more litters within a twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each year; or
(d) Who knowingly sells, exchanges, or leases dogs for later retail sale or brokered trading;
(9) Dealer means any person who is not a commercial dog or cat breeder or a pet shop but is engaged in the business of buying for resale or selling or exchanging dogs or cats as a principal or agent or who claims to be so engaged. A person who purchases, sells, exchanges, or leases thirty or fewer dogs or cats in a twelve-month period is not a dealer;
(10) Department means the Department of Agriculture with the State Veterinarian in charge, subordinate only to the director;
(11) Director means the Director of Agriculture or his or her designated employee;
(12) Dog means any animal which is wholly or in part of the species Canis familiaris;
(13) Foster home means any person who provides temporary housing for twenty or fewer dogs or cats that are six months of age or older in any twelve-month period and is affiliated with a person operating as an animal rescue that uses foster homes as its primary housing of dogs or cats. To be considered a foster home, a person shall not participate in the acquisition of the dogs or cats for which temporary care is provided. Any foster home which houses more than twenty dogs or cats that are six months of age or older in any twelve-month period or who participates in the acquisition of dogs or cats shall be licensed as an animal rescue;
(14) Harbor means:
(a) Providing shelter or housing for a dog or cat regulated under the act; or
(b) Maintaining the care, supervision, or control of a dog or cat regulated under the act;
(15) Housing facility means any room, building, or areas used to contain a primary enclosure;
(16) Inspector means any person who is employed by the department and who is authorized to perform inspections pursuant to the act;
(17) Licensee means a person who has qualified for and received a license from the department pursuant to the act;
(18) Normal business hours means daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless an applicant, a licensee, or any other person the department has reasonable cause to believe is required by the act to be licensed provides in writing to the department a description of his or her own normal business hours which reasonably allows the department to make inspections;
(19) Operator means a person performing the activities of an animal control facility, an animal rescue, an animal shelter, a boarding kennel, a commercial cat breeder, a commercial dog breeder, a dealer, or a pet shop;
(20) Pet animal means an animal kept as a household pet for the purpose of companionship, which includes, but is not limited to, dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, rodents, amphibians, and reptiles;
(21) Pet shop means a retail establishment which sells pet animals and related supplies;
(22) Premises means all public or private buildings, vehicles, equipment, containers, kennels, pens, and cages used by an operator and the public or private ground upon which an operator's facility is located if such buildings, vehicles, equipment, containers, kennels, pens, cages, or ground are used by the owner or operator in the usual course of business;
(23) Primary enclosure means any structure used to immediately restrict a dog or cat to a limited amount of space, such as a room, pen, cage, or compartment;
(24) Secretary of Agriculture means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture;
(25) Significant threat to the health or safety of dogs or cats means:
(a) Not providing shelter or protection from extreme weather resulting in life-threatening conditions predisposing to hyperthermia or hypothermia in dogs or cats that are not acclimated to the temperature;
(b) Acute injuries involving potentially life-threatening medical emergencies in which the owner refuses to seek immediate veterinary care;
(c) Not providing food or water resulting in conditions of potential starvation or severe dehydration;
(d) Egregious human abuse such as trauma from beating, torturing, mutilating, burning, or scalding; or
(e) Failing to maintain sanitation resulting in egregious situations where a dog or cat cannot avoid walking, lying, or standing in feces;
(26) Stop-movement order means a directive preventing the movement of any dog or cat onto or from the premises; and
(27) Unaltered means any male or female dog or cat which has not been neutered or spayed or otherwise rendered incapable of reproduction.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 2; Laws 2003, LB 233, § 1; Laws 2003, LB 274, § 2; Laws 2004, LB 1002, § 1; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 2, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 5, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 14, eff. Dec. 1, 2015; Laws 2020, LB 344, § 64, eff. Nov. 14, 2020.
§ 54-627. License requirements; fees; renewal.
(1) A person shall not operate as a commercial dog or cat breeder, a dealer, a boarding kennel, an animal control facility, an animal shelter, an animal rescue, or a pet shop unless the person obtains the appropriate license. A pet shop shall only be subject to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant thereto in any area or areas of the establishment used for the keeping and selling of pet animals. If a facility listed in this subsection is not located at the owner's residence, the name and address of the owner shall be posted on the premises.
(2) An applicant for a license shall submit an application for the appropriate license to the department, on a form prescribed by the department, together with a one-time license fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars. Such fee is nonreturnable. Any license issued on or before November 30, 2015, shall remain valid after expiration unless it lapses pursuant to this section, is revoked pursuant to section 54-631, or is voluntarily surrendered. Upon receipt of an application and the license fee and upon completion of a qualifying inspection, the appropriate license may be issued by the department. The department may enter the premises of any applicant for a license to determine if the applicant meets the requirements for licensure under the act. If an applicant does not at the time of inspection harbor any dogs or cats, the inspection shall be of the applicant's records and the planned housing facilities. Such license shall not be transferable to another person or location and shall lapse automatically upon a change of ownership or location.
(3)(a) In addition to the license fee required in subsection (2) of this section, an annual fee shall also be charged. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the annual fee shall be determined according to the following fee schedule based upon the daily average number of dogs or cats harbored by the licensee over the previous twelve-month period:
(i) Ten or fewer dogs or cats, one hundred seventy-five dollars;
(ii) Eleven to fifty dogs or cats, two hundred twenty-five dollars;
(iii) Fifty-one to one hundred dogs or cats, two hundred seventy-five dollars;
(iv) One hundred one to one hundred fifty dogs or cats, three hundred twenty-five dollars;
(v) One hundred fifty-one to two hundred dogs or cats, three hundred seventy-five dollars;
(vi) Two hundred one to two hundred fifty dogs or cats, four hundred twenty-five dollars;
(vii) Two hundred fifty-one to three hundred dogs or cats, four hundred seventy-five dollars;
(viii) Three hundred one to three hundred fifty dogs or cats, five hundred twenty-five dollars;
(ix) Three hundred fifty-one to four hundred dogs or cats, five hundred seventy-five dollars;
(x) Four hundred one to four hundred fifty dogs or cats, six hundred twenty-five dollars;
(xi) Four hundred fifty-one to five hundred dogs or cats, six hundred seventy-five dollars; and
(xii) More than five hundred dogs or cats, two thousand one hundred dollars.
(b) If a person operates with more than one type of license at the same location, the person shall pay only one annual fee based on the primary licensed activity occurring at that location as determined by the number of dogs or cats affected by the licensed activity.
(c) The annual fee for a licensee that does not own or harbor dogs or cats shall be one hundred fifty dollars.
(d) The annual fee for an animal rescue shall be one hundred fifty dollars.
(e) The annual fee for a commercial dog or cat breeder shall be determined according to the fee schedule set forth in subdivision (a) of this subsection based upon the total number of breeding dogs or cats owned or harbored by the commercial breeder over the previous twelve-month period.
(f) In addition to the fee as prescribed in the fee schedule set forth in subdivision (a) of this subsection, the annual fee for a commercial dog or cat breeder, pet shop, dealer, or boarding kennel shall include a fee of two dollars times the daily average number of dogs or cats owned or harbored by the licensee over the previous twelve-month period numbering more than ten dogs or cats subject to subdivision (g) of this subsection.
(g) The fees charged under subdivision (a) of this subsection may be increased or decreased by rule and regulation as adopted and promulgated by the department, but the maximum fee that may be charged shall not result in a fee for any license category that exceeds the annual fee set forth in subdivision (a) of this subsection by more than one hundred dollars. The fee charged under subdivision (f) of this subsection may be increased or decreased by rule and regulation as adopted and promulgated by the department, but such fee shall not exceed three dollars times the number of dogs or cats harbored by the licensee over the previous twelve-month period numbering more than ten dogs or cats.
(4) A commercial dog or cat breeder, dealer, boarding kennel, or pet shop shall pay the annual fee to the department on or before April 1 of each year. An animal control facility, animal rescue, or animal shelter shall pay the annual fee to the department on or before October 1 of each year. Failure to pay the annual fee by the due date shall result in a late fee equal to twenty percent of the annual fee due and payable each month, not to exceed one hundred percent of such fee, in addition to the annual fee. The purpose of the late fee is to pay for the administrative costs associated with the collection of fees under this section. The assessment of the late fee shall not prohibit the director from taking any other action as provided in the act.
(5) An applicant, a licensee, or a person the department has reason to believe is an operator and required to obtain a license under this section shall make any applicable premises available for inspection pursuant to section 54-628 during normal business hours.
(6) The state or any political subdivision of the state which contracts out its animal control duties to a facility not operated by the state or any political subdivision of the state may be exempted from the licensing requirements of this section if such facility is licensed as an animal control facility, animal rescue, or animal shelter for the full term of the contract with the state or its political subdivision.
(7) Any fees collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 3; Laws 2003, LB 233, § 2; Laws 2003, LB 274, § 3; Laws 2004, LB 1002, § 2; Laws 2006, LB 856, § 14; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 2; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 3, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 6, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 15, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
54-627.01. Licensees; maintain written veterinary care plan or written emergency veterinary care plan
A dealer or pet shop licensed under section 54-627 shall maintain a written veterinary care plan developed in conjunction with the attending veterinarian for the dealer or pet shop. An animal control facility, an animal rescue, an animal shelter, or a boarding kennel licensed under section 54-627 shall maintain a written emergency veterinary care plan.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 4, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 7, eff. July 15, 2010.
(1) The department shall inspect all licensees at least once in a twenty-four-month period to determine whether the licensee is in compliance with the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act.
(2) Any additional inspector or other field personnel employed by the department to carry out inspections pursuant to the act that are funded through General Fund appropriations to the department shall be available for temporary reassignment as needed to other activities and functions of the department in the event of a livestock disease emergency or any other threat to livestock or public health.
(3) When an inspection produces evidence of a violation of the act or the rules and regulations of the department, a copy of a written report of the inspection and violations shown thereon, prepared by the inspector, shall be given to the applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator, together with written notice to comply within the time limit established by the department and set out in such notice. If the department performs a reinspection for the purpose of determining if an operator has complied within the time limit for compliance established pursuant to this subsection or has complied with section 54-628.01 or if the inspector must return to the operator's location because the operator was not available within a reasonable time as required by subsection (4) of this section, the applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall pay a reinspection fee of one hundred fifty dollars together with the mileage of the inspector at the rate provided in section 81-1176. The purpose of the reinspection fee is to pay for the administrative costs associated with the additional inspection. Any fees collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund. The assessment of the reinspection fee shall not prohibit the director from taking any other action as provided in the act.
(4) The department, at its discretion, may make unannounced inspections of any applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator during normal business hours. An applicant, a licensee, and any person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall provide the department, in writing, and keep updated if there is any change, a telephone number where the operator can be reached during normal business hours. The applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall provide a person over the age of nineteen to be available at the operation for the purpose of allowing the department to perform an inspection.
(5) If deemed necessary under the act or any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act, the department may, for purposes of inspection, enter, without being subject to any action for trespass or damages, the premises of any applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator, during normal business hours and in a reasonable manner, including all premises in or upon which dogs or cats are housed, harbored, sold, exchanged, or leased or are suspected of being housed, harbored, sold, exchanged, or leased.
(6) Pursuant to an inspection under the act, the department may:
(a) Enter and have full access to all premises where dogs or cats regulated under the act are harbored or housed or are suspected of being harbored or housed;
(b) Access all records pertaining to dogs or cats regulated under the act or suspected of pertaining to such dogs or cats and examine and copy all records pertaining to compliance with the act and the rules or regulations adopted and promulgated under the act. The department shall have authority to gather evidence, including, but not limited to, photographs;
(c) Inspect or reinspect any vehicle or carrier transporting or holding dogs or cats that is in the state to determine compliance with the act or any rules or regulations adopted and promulgated under the act;
(d) Obtain an inspection warrant in the manner prescribed in sections 29-830 to 29-835 if any person refuses to allow the department to conduct an inspection pursuant to the act; or
(e) Issue and enforce a written stop-movement order pursuant to section 54-628.01.
(7) For purposes of this section, the private residence of any applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall be available for purposes of inspection only if dogs or cats are housed in a primary enclosure within the residence, including a room in such residence, and only such portion of the residence that is used as a primary enclosure shall be open to an inspection pursuant to this section.
(8) An applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall not seek to avoid inspection by hiding dogs or cats regulated under the act in a private residence, on someone else's property, or at any other location. An applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator shall provide full and accurate information to the department regarding the location of all dogs or cats harbored by the operator.
(9) Any applicant, licensee, or person the department has reason to believe is an operator who intentionally refuses to answer the door, fails to be available as provided in subsection (4) of this section, fails to comply with subsection (8) of this section, or otherwise obstructs the department's attempt to perform an inspection shall be in violation of section 54-634 and subject to an administrative fine or other proceedings as provided in section 54-633 or 54-634.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 4; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 3; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 5, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 16, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
54-628.01. Department; stop-movement order; issuance; contents; hearing; department; powers; costs; reinspection; hearing
(1) The director may issue a stop-movement order if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that there exists (a) noncompliance with the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act or any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act, including, but not limited to, unreasonable sanitation or housing conditions, failure to comply with standards for handling, care, treatment, or transportation for dogs or cats, operating without a license, or interfering with the department in the performance of its duties, or (b) any condition that, without medical attention, provision of shelter, facility maintenance or improvement, relocation of animals, or other management intervention, poses a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats owned or harbored by a violator.
(2) Such stop-movement order may require the violator to maintain the dogs or cats subject to the order at the existing location or other department-approved premises until such time as the director has issued a written release from the stop-movement order. The stop-movement order shall clearly advise the violator that he or she may request in writing a hearing before the director pursuant to section 54-632. The order issued pursuant to this section shall be final unless modified or rescinded by the director pursuant to section 54-632 at a hearing requested under this subsection.
(3) Pursuant to the stop-movement order, the department shall have the authority to enter the premises to inspect and determine if the dogs or cats subject to the order or the facilities used to house or transport such dogs or cats are kept and maintained in compliance with the requirements of the act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act or if any management intervention imposed by the stop-movement order is being implemented to mitigate conditions posing a significant threat to the health or safety of dogs or cats harbored or owned by a violator. The department shall not be liable for any costs incurred by the violator or any personnel of the violator due to such departmental action or in enforcing the stop-movement order. The department shall be reimbursed by the violator for the actual costs incurred by the department in issuing and enforcing any stop-movement order.
(4) A stop-movement order shall include:
(a) A description of the nature of the violations of the act or any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act;
(b) If applicable, a description of conditions that pose a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats owned or harbored by the violator;
(c) The action necessary to bring the violator into compliance with the act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act or, if applicable, to mitigate conditions posing a significant threat to the health and safety of the dogs or cats harbored or owned by the violator;
(d) Notice that if violations of the act or any rule or regulation or any conditions that pose a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats owned or harbored by the violator persist, the department may refer the matter to appropriate law enforcement for investigation and potential prosecution pursuant to Chapter 28, article 10; and
(e) The name, address, and telephone number of the violator who owns or harbors the dogs or cats subject to the order.
(5) Before receipt of a written release, the person to whom the stop-movement order was issued shall:
(a) Provide the department with an inventory of all dogs or cats on the premises at the time of the issuance of the order;
(b) Provide the department with the identification tag number, the tattoo number, the microchip number, or any other approved method of identification for each individual dog or cat;
(c) Notify the department within forty-eight hours of the death or euthanasia of any dog or cat subject to the order. Such notification shall include the dog's or cat's individual identification tag number, tattoo number, microchip number, or other approved identification;
(d) Notify the department within forty-eight hours of any dog or cat giving birth after the issuance of the order, including the size of the litter; and
(e) Maintain on the premises any dog or cat subject to the order, except that a dog or cat under one year of age under contract to an individual prior to the issuance of the order may be delivered to the individual pursuant to the contractual obligation. The violator shall provide to the department information identifying the dog or cat and the name, address, and telephone number of the individual purchasing the dog or cat. The department may contact the purchaser to ascertain the date of the purchase agreement to ensure that the dog or cat was sold prior to the stop-movement order and to determine that he or she did purchase such dog or cat. No additional dogs or cats shall be transferred onto the premises without written approval of the department.
(6) The department shall reinspect the premises to determine compliance within ten business days after the initial inspection that resulted in the stop-movement order. At the time of reinspection pursuant to this subsection, if conditions that pose a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats harbored or owned by the violator or noncompliant conditions continue to exist, further reinspections shall be at the discretion of the department. The violator may request an immediate hearing with the director pursuant to any findings under this subsection.
Credits
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 6, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 17, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
54-628.02. Violation of act, rule or regulation, or order of director; proceedings authorized
Whenever the director has reason to believe that any person has violated any provision of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act, any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act, or any order of the director, the director may issue a notice of hearing as provided in section 54-632 requiring the person to appear before the director to (1) show cause why an order should not be entered requiring such person to cease and desist from the violation charged, (2) determine whether an administrative fine should be imposed or levied against the person pursuant to subsection (2) of section 54-633, or (3) determine whether the person fails to qualify for a license pursuant to section 54-630. Proceedings initiated pursuant to this section shall not preclude the department from pursuing other administrative, civil, or criminal actions according to law.
Credits
Laws 2015, LB 360, § 18, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
§ 54-629. Rules and regulations.
The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act. The rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, factors to be considered when the department imposes an administrative fine, provisions governing record-keeping, veterinary care plans, emergency veterinary care plans, and other requirements for persons required to have a license, and any other matter deemed necessary by the department to carry out the act. The department shall use as a guideline for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of dogs and cats the standards of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture as set out in 9 C.F.R. 3.1 to 3.19.
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 5; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 4; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 7, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-630. Application; denial; appeal.
(1) Before the department approves an application for a license, an inspector of the department shall inspect the operation of the applicant to determine whether the applicant qualifies to hold a license pursuant to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, an applicant who qualifies shall be issued a license.
(2) The department may deny an application for a license as a commercial dog or cat breeder, a dealer, a boarding kennel, an animal control facility, an animal shelter, an animal rescue, or a pet shop upon a finding that the applicant is unsuited to perform the obligations of a licensee. The applicant shall be determined unsuited to perform the obligations of a licensee if the department finds that the applicant has deliberately misrepresented or concealed any information provided on or with the application or any other information provided to the department under this section or that within the previous five years the applicant:
(a) Has been convicted of any law regarding the disposition or treatment of dogs or cats in any jurisdiction; or
(b) Has operated a breeder facility under a license or permit issued by any jurisdiction that has been revoked, suspended, or otherwise subject to a disciplinary proceeding brought by the licensing authority in that jurisdiction if such proceeding resulted in the applicant having voluntarily surrendered a license or permit to avoid disciplinary sanctions.
(3) In addition to the application, the department may require the applicant to provide additional documentation pertinent to the department's determination of the applicant's suitability to perform the duties of a licensee under the act.
(4) An applicant who is denied a license under this section shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the director or the director's designee to present evidence that the applicant is qualified to hold a license pursuant to the act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department and should be issued a license. All such hearings shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 6; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 5; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 4, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 19, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
§ 54-631. Licensee; duties; disciplinary actions.
(1) A licensee under the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act shall comply with the act, the rules and regulations, and any order of the director issued pursuant thereto. The licensee shall not interfere with the department in the performance of its duties.
(2) A licensee may be put on probation requiring such licensee to comply with the conditions set out in an order of probation issued by the director, may be ordered to cease and desist due to a failure to comply, or may be ordered to pay an administrative fine pursuant to section 54-633 after:
(a) The director determines the licensee has not complied with subsection (1) of this section;
(b) The licensee is given written notice to comply and written notice of the right to a hearing to show cause why an order should not be issued; and
(c) The director finds that issuing an order is appropriate based on the hearing record or on the available information if the hearing is waived by the licensee.
(3) A license may be suspended after:
(a) The director determines the licensee has not complied with subsection (1) of this section;
(b) The licensee is given written notice to comply and written notice of the right to a hearing to show cause why the license should not be suspended; and
(c) The director finds that issuing an order suspending the license is appropriate based on the hearing record or on the available information if the hearing is waived by the licensee.
(4) A license may be immediately suspended and the director may order the operation of the licensee closed prior to hearing when:
(a) The director determines that there is a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats harbored or owned by the licensee; and
(b) The licensee receives written notice to comply and written notice of the right to a hearing to show cause why the suspension should not be sustained. Within fifteen days after the suspension, the licensee may request in writing a date for a hearing, and the director shall consider the interests of the licensee when the director establishes the date and time of the hearing, except that no hearing shall be held sooner than is reasonable under the circumstances. When a licensee does not request a hearing date within the fifteen-day period, the director shall establish a hearing date and notify the licensee of the date and time of such hearing.
(5) A license may be revoked after:
(a) The director determines the licensee has committed serious, repeated, or multiple violations of any of the requirements of subsection (1) of this section;
(b) The licensee is given written notice to comply and written notice of the right to a hearing to show cause why the license should not be revoked; and
(c) The director finds that issuing an order revoking the license is appropriate based on the hearing record or on the available information if the hearing is waived by the licensee.
(6) The operation of any licensee which has been suspended shall close and remain closed until the license is reinstated. Any operation for which the license has been revoked shall close and remain closed until a new license is issued.
(7) The director may terminate proceedings undertaken pursuant to this section at any time if the reasons for such proceedings no longer exist. A license which has been suspended may be reinstated, a person with a revoked license may be issued a new license, or a licensee may no longer be subject to an order of probation if the director determines the conditions which prompted the suspension, revocation, or probation no longer exist.
(8) Proceedings undertaken pursuant to this section shall not preclude the department from seeking other civil or criminal actions.
Source: Laws 2000, LB 825, § 7; Laws 2007, LB12, § 6. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 54-632. Notice or order; service requirements; hearing; appeal.
(1) Any notice or order provided for in the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act shall be properly served when it is personally served on the applicant, licensee, or violator or on the person authorized by the applicant or licensee to receive notices and orders of the department or when it is sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the last-known address of the applicant, licensee, or violator or the person authorized to receive such notices and orders. A copy of the notice and the order shall be filed in the records of the department.
(2) A notice to comply with the act or the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act shall set forth the acts or omissions with which the applicant, licensee, or violator is charged.
(3) A notice of the right to a hearing shall set forth the time and place of the hearing except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section and section 54-631. A notice of the right to such hearing shall include notice that such right to a hearing may be waived pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. A notice of the licensee's right to a hearing shall include notice to the licensee that the license may be subject to sanctions as provided in section 54-631.
(4) A request for a hearing under subsection (2) of section 54-628.01 shall request that the director set forth the time and place of the hearing. The director shall consider the interests of the violator in establishing the time and place of the hearing. Within three business days after receipt by the director of the hearing request, the director shall set forth the time and place of the hearing on the stop-movement order. A notice of the violator's right to such hearing shall include notice that such right to a hearing may be waived pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.
(5) The hearings provided for in the act shall be conducted by the director at the time and place he or she designates. The director shall make a final finding based on the complete hearing record and issue an order. If the director has suspended a license pursuant to subsection (4) of section 54-631, the director shall sustain, modify, or rescind the order after the hearing. If the department has issued a stop-movement order under section 54-628.01, the director may sustain, modify, or rescind the order after the hearing. All hearings shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
(6) An applicant, a licensee, or a violator waives the right to a hearing if such applicant, licensee, or violator does not attend the hearing at the time and place set forth in the notice described in subsection (3) or (4) of this section, without requesting that the director, at least two days before the designated time, change the time and place for the hearing, except that before an order of the director becomes final, the director may designate a different time and place for the hearing if the applicant, licensee, or violator shows the director that the applicant, licensee, or violator had a justifiable reason for not attending the hearing and not timely requesting a change of the time and place for such hearing. If the applicant, licensee, or violator waives the right to a hearing, the director shall make a final finding based upon the available information and issue an order. If the director has suspended a license pursuant to subsection (4) of section 54-631, the director may sustain, modify, or rescind the order after the hearing. If the department has issued a stop-movement order under section 54-628.01, the director may sustain, modify, or rescind the order after the hearing.
(7) Any person aggrieved by the finding of the director has ten days after the entry of the director's order to request a new hearing if such person can show that a mistake of fact has been made which affected the director's determination. Any order of the director becomes final upon the expiration of ten days after its entry if no request for a new hearing is made.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 8; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 7; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 8, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 20, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
§ 54-633. Enforcement powers; administrative fine
(1) In order to ensure compliance with the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act, the department may apply for a restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction, or mandatory injunction against any person violating or threatening to violate the act, the rules and regulations, or any order of the director issued pursuant thereto. The district court of the county where the violation is occurring or is about to occur shall have jurisdiction to grant relief upon good cause shown. Relief may be granted notwithstanding the existence of any other remedy at law and shall be granted without bond.
The county attorney of the county in which such violations are occurring or about to occur shall, when notified of such violation or threatened violation, cause appropriate proceedings under this section to be instituted and pursued without delay.
(2) The department may impose an administrative fine of not more than five thousand dollars for any violation of the act or the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated under the act. Each violation of the act or such rules and regulations shall constitute a separate offense for purposes of this subsection.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 9; Laws 2006, LB 856, § 15; Laws 2007, LB 12, § 8; Laws 2015, LB 360, § 21, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
54-633.01. Special investigator; powers; referral to another law enforcement officer
If the director has reason to believe that any alleged violation of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act, any alleged violation of the rules and regulations of the department, any alleged violation of an order of the director, or any other existing condition posing a significant threat to the health or safety of the dogs or cats harbored or owned by an applicant or a licensee constitutes cruel neglect, abandonment, or cruel mistreatment pursuant to section 28-1009, the director may direct a special investigator employed by the department as authorized pursuant to section 81-201 to exercise the authorities of a law enforcement officer pursuant to sections 28-1011 and 28-1012 with respect to the dogs or cats or may request any other law enforcement officer as defined in section 28-1008 to inspect, care for, or impound the dogs or cats pursuant to sections 28-1011 and 28-1012. Any assignment of a special investigator by the director or referral to another law enforcement officer pursuant to this section shall be in cooperation and coordination with appropriate law enforcement agencies, political subdivisions, animal shelters, humane societies, and other appropriate entities, public or private, to provide for the care, shelter, and disposition of animals impounded pursuant to this section.
Credits
Laws 2015, LB 360, § 22, eff. Dec. 1, 2015.
(1) It is unlawful for a person to operate without a valid license or operate while a license is revoked or suspended if a license is required by the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act. A licensee shall not operate in any manner which is not in conformity with the act or the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant thereto or interfere with the duties of the department or any final order of the director pursuant to the act.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of the act is guilty of a Class I misdemeanor.
Source: Laws 2000, LB 825, § 10.
It shall be a violation of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act for any person to (1) deny access to any officer, agent, employee, or appointee of the department or offer any resistance to, thwart, or hinder such persons by misrepresentation or concealment, (2) violate a stop-movement order issued under section 54-628.01, (3) fail to disclose all locations housing dogs or cats owned or controlled by such person, or (4) fail to pay any administrative fine levied pursuant to section 54-633.
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 9, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 54-635. Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund; created; use; investment.
The Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund is created and shall consist of money appropriated by the Legislature, gifts, grants, costs, fees, or charges from any source, including federal, state, public, and private sources. The money shall be used to carry out the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.
Credits
Laws 2000, LB 825, § 11; Laws 2016, LB 909, § 3, eff. July 21, 2016.
§ 54-636. Department; enforcement powers.
The department may cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture in carrying out applicable federal law and the regulations issued by the Secretary of Agriculture under such law. The department may enter into contracts with any person to implement any or all of the provisions of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act.
Source: Laws 2000, LB 825, § 12.
§ 54-637. Information on spaying and neutering; requirements.
(1) Every dealer, commercial dog or cat breeder, animal shelter, animal rescue, animal control facility, or pet shop or any other retailer, who transfers ownership of a dog or cat to an ultimate consumer, shall deliver to the ultimate consumer of each dog or cat at the time of sale, written material, in a form determined by such seller, containing information on the benefits of spaying and neutering. The written material shall include recommendations on establishing a relationship with a veterinarian, information on early-age spaying and neutering, the health benefits associated with spaying and neutering pets, the importance of minimizing the risk of homeless or unwanted animals, and the need to comply with applicable license laws.
(2) The delivering of any model materials prepared by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council or the Nebraska Humane Society shall satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
Credits
Laws 2003, LB 274, § 4; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 8, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 5, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
§ 54-638. Provision for spaying or neutering; when.
Provision shall be made for spaying or neutering all dogs and cats released for adoption or purchase from any public or private animal shelter, animal rescue, or animal control facility operated by a humane society, a county, a city, or another political subdivision. Such provision may be made by:
(1) Causing the dog or cat to be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian before releasing the dog or cat for adoption or purchase; or
(2) Entering into a written agreement with the adopter or purchaser of the dog or cat, guaranteeing that spaying or neutering will be performed by a licensed veterinarian in compliance with an agreement which shall contain the following information:
(a) The date of the agreement;
(b) The name, address, and signature of the releasing entity and the adopter or purchaser;
(c) A description of the dog or cat to be adopted or purchased;
(d) A statement, in conspicuous bold print, that spaying or neutering of the dog or cat is required pursuant to this section; and
(e) The date by which the spaying or neutering will be completed, which date shall be (i) in the case of an adult dog or cat, the thirtieth day after the date of adoption or purchase or (ii) in the case of a pup or kitten, either (A) the thirtieth day after a specified date estimated to be the date the pup or kitten will reach six months of age or (B) if the releasing entity has a written policy recommending spaying or neutering of certain pups or kittens at an earlier date, the thirtieth day after such date.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2003, LB 274, § 5; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 9, eff. July 15, 2010.
§ 54-639. Adopter or purchaser; agreement; requirements.
An adopter or purchaser who signs an agreement under section 54-638 shall cause the adopted or purchased dog or cat to be spayed or neutered on or before the date stated in the agreement. If such date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the date may be extended to the first business day following such date. The releasing entity may extend the date for thirty days upon presentation of a letter or telephone report from a licensed veterinarian, stating that the life or health of the adopted or purchased dog or cat would be jeopardized by spaying or neutering, and such extensions may continue to be granted until such veterinarian determines that spaying or neutering would no longer jeopardize the life or health of the adopted or purchased dog or cat.
Source: Laws 2003, LB 274, § 6.
§ 54-640. Commercial breeder; duties.
A commercial dog or cat breeder shall:
(1) Maintain housing facilities and primary enclosures in a sanitary condition;
(2) Enable all dogs and cats to remain dry and clean;
(3) Provide shelter and protection from extreme temperatures and weather conditions that may be uncomfortable or hazardous to the dogs and cats;
(4) Provide sufficient shade to shelter all the dogs and cats housed in the primary enclosure at one time;
(5) Provide dogs and cats with easy and convenient access to adequate amounts of clean food and water;
(6) Provide dogs with adequate socialization. For purposes of this subdivision, adequate socialization means physical contact with other dogs and with human beings, other than being fed;
(7) Assure that a handler's hands are washed before and after handling each infectious or contagious cat;
(8) Maintain a written veterinary care plan developed in conjunction with an attending veterinarian; and
(9) Provide veterinary care without delay when necessary.
Credits
Laws 2003, LB 274, § 7; Laws 2009, LB 241, § 10, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
§ 54-641. Licensees; primary enclosures; requirements.
The primary enclosures of all licensees shall meet the following requirements:
(1) A primary enclosure shall provide adequate space appropriate to the age, size, weight, and breed of each dog or cat. For purposes of this subdivision, adequate space means sufficient room to allow each dog or cat to turn around without touching another animal, to stand, sit, and lie in a comfortable, normal position, and to walk in a normal manner without the head of such animal touching the top of the enclosure, which shall be at least six inches above the head of the tallest animal when the animal is standing;
(2) A primary enclosure shall have solid surface flooring or a flooring material that protects the dogs' and cats' feet and legs from injury and that, if of mesh or slatted construction, do not allow the dogs' and cats' feet to pass through any openings in the floor;
(3) If a primary enclosure has a suspended floor constructed of metal strands, the strands shall either be greater than one-eighth of an inch in diameter (nine gauge) or coated with a material such as plastic or fiberglass; and
(4) The suspended floor of any primary enclosure shall be strong enough so that the floor does not sag or bend between the structural supports.
Credits
Laws 2003, LB 274, § 8; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 7, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
54-641.01. Commercial dog breeder; dogs; opportunity for exercise
(1) A commercial dog breeder shall provide dogs with the opportunity for exercise as follows:
(a) A primary enclosure shall have an entry that allows each dog unfettered access to an exercise area that is at least three times the size of the requirements for a primary enclosure. The entry may be closed during cleaning, under direction of a licensed veterinarian, or in the case of inclement weather. The exercise area shall have solid surface flooring or a flooring material that if of mesh or slatted construction does not allow the dog's feet to pass through any openings in the floor. Any exercise area suspended floor constructed of metal strands shall be required to have strands that are greater than one-eighth of an inch in diameter (nine gauge) or coated with a material such as plastic or fiberglass. All suspended flooring shall be strong enough so as not to sag or bend between any structural supports and be of a surface that is easily cleaned and disinfected. The exercise area shall have protection available from wind, rain, and snow if access to the primary enclosure is unavailable; and
(b) Any dog not housed in a primary enclosure that meets the exercise area requirements of subdivision (a) of this subsection shall be provided with the opportunity for exercise according to a plan approved by the attending veterinarian, in writing. The opportunity for exercise shall be accomplished by:
(i) Providing access to a run or open area at a frequency and duration prescribed by the attending veterinarian; or
(ii) Removal of the dogs from the primary enclosure at least twice daily to be walked, allowed to move about freely in an open area, or placed in an exercise area that meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of this subsection.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to:
(a) Any dog that is less than six months of age;
(b) The primary enclosure of a nursing facility that houses any female dog that is due to give birth within the following two weeks or a nursing dog and her puppies;
(c) Any dog that is injured or displays any clinical signs of disease. In such case, any injury or clinical signs of disease shall be noted in the dog's health records and the dog shall be returned to exercise upon recovery from such injury or disease; or
(d) Any dog that is excluded from the exercise requirements of subsection (1) of this section pursuant to a written directive of a licensed veterinarian.
(3) Any primary enclosure newly constructed after October 1, 2012, shall comply with subdivision (1)(a) of this section. A primary enclosure in existence on October 1, 2012 shall not be required to comply with subdivision (1)(a) of this section for the life of such facility.
Credits
Laws 2012, LB 427, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
54-641.02. Commercial dog breeder; veterinary care; review of health records; duties of breeder
(1) A commercial dog breeder shall ensure that each dog under his or her care, supervision, or control receives adequate veterinary care. A commercial dog breeder's written veterinary care plan shall provide for, in addition to requirements prescribed by rule and regulation of the department:
(a) The maintenance of individual health records for each dog bought, raised, or otherwise obtained, held, kept, maintained, sold, donated, or otherwise disposed of, including by death or euthanasia, except that litter health records may be kept on litters when litter mates are treated with the same medication or procedure;
(b) Establishment of a program of disease control and prevention, pest and parasite control, before and after procedure care, nutrition, and euthanasia supervised by the attending veterinarian. Such program shall provide for regularly scheduled onsite visits to the facility by the veterinarian and shall be annually reviewed and updated by the veterinarian at the time of an onsite visit that includes the veterinarian's walk-through of the facility and observation by the veterinarian of dogs under the commercial dog breeder's care, supervision, or control; and
(c) A wellness examination by a licensed veterinarian of each breeding dog at least once every three years, to include a basic physical and dental examination and corresponding notations entered into the dog's health records. Such examination shall not require laboratory analysis unless directed by the veterinarian.
(2) During regularly scheduled inspections of a commercial dog breeder's facility conducted by the department, the health records of a random sample of at least five percent of the breeding dogs shall be reviewed to verify that such records correspond to the dog's permanent identification and verify that the health records are properly maintained.
(3) For each dog under the commercial dog breeder's care, supervision, or control, the breeder shall:
(a) Ensure that all breeding dogs receive regular grooming. Coat matting shall not exceed ten percent, and nails shall be trimmed short enough to ensure the comfort of the dog;
(b) Contact a licensed veterinarian without delay after an occurrence of a serious or life-threatening injury or medical condition of such dog. The dog shall be treated as prescribed by the veterinarian;
(c) Ensure that all surgical births or other surgical procedures shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian using anesthesia. Commercial dog breeders may remove dew claws and perform tail docking under sterile conditions within the first seven days of the dog's life. Wounds shall be treated and monitored by the breeder; and
(d) Ensure that, if euthanasia is necessary, it shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with recommendations for the humane euthanization of dogs as published by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Credits
Laws 2012, LB 427, § 9, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
54-641.03. Breeding dog; microchip; identification
Each breeding dog shall be identified by the implantation of a microchip, and each dog's health records shall accurately record the appropriate identification. The department may by rule or regulation require identification of any dog by tag, tattoo, or other method if the microchip system is determined to be ineffective. A commercial dog breeder licensed prior to October 1, 2012 who utilizes a method or methods of identification other than microchipping as authorized by rule and regulation of the department prior to October 1, 2012 may continue to utilize such method or methods.
Credits
Laws 2012, LB 427, § 10, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
§ 54-642. Department; submit report of costs and revenue.
On or before November 1 of each year, the department shall submit electronically a report to the Legislature in sufficient detail to document all costs incurred in the previous fiscal year in carrying out the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act. The report shall identify costs incurred by the department to administer the act and shall detail costs incurred by primary activity. The department shall also provide a breakdown by category of all revenue credited to the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Program Cash Fund in the previous fiscal year. The Agriculture Committee and Appropriations Committee of the Legislature shall review the report to ascertain program activity levels and to determine funding requirements of the program.
Credits
Laws 2006, LB 856, § 16; Laws 2012, LB 782, § 82, eff. July 19, 2012.
§ 54-643. Administrative fines; disposition; lien; collection.
(1) All money collected by the department pursuant to section 54-633 shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for distribution in accordance with Article VII, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska.
(2) Any administrative fine levied pursuant to section 54-633 which remains unpaid for more than sixty days shall constitute a debt to the State of Nebraska which may be collected in the manner of a lien foreclosure or sued for and recovered in a proper form of action in the name of the state in the district court of the county in which the violator resides or owns property.
Source: Laws 2007, LB12, § 9. Effective date September 1, 2007.
Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act
Sections 54-644 to 54-650 shall be known and may be cited as the Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
For purposes of the Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act:
(1) Casual breeder means any person, other than a commercial dog or cat breeder as such terms are defined in section 54-626, who offers for sale, sells, trades, or receives consideration for one or more pet animals from a litter produced by a female dog or cat owned by such casual breeder;
(2) Clinical symptom means indication of an illness or dysfunction that is apparent to a veterinarian based on the veterinarian's observation, examination, or testing of an animal or on a review of the animal's medical records;
(3) Health certificate means the official small animal certificate of veterinary inspection of the Department of Agriculture;
(4) Pet animal means a dog, wholly or in part of the species Canis familiaris, or a cat, wholly or in part of the species Felis domesticus, that is under fifteen months of age;
(5) Purchaser means the final owner of a pet animal purchased from a seller. Purchaser does not include a person who purchases a pet animal for resale;
(6) Seller means a casual breeder or any commercial establishment, including a commercial dog or cat breeder, dealer, or pet shop as such terms are defined in section 54-626, that engages in a business of selling pet animals to a purchaser. A seller does not include an animal control facility, animal rescue, or animal shelter as defined in section 54-626 or any animal adoption activity that an animal control facility, animal rescue, or animal shelter conducts offsite at any pet store or other commercial establishment; and
(7)(a) Serious health problem means a congenital or hereditary defect or contagious disease that causes severe illness or death of the pet animal.
(b) Serious health problem does not include (i) parvovirus if the diagnosis of parvovirus is made after the seven-business-day requirement in subsection (1) of section 54-647 or (ii) any other contagious disease that causes severe illness or death after ten calendar days after delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser.
Credits
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 10, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 11, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Laws 2020, LB 344, § 65, eff. Nov. 14, 2020.
54-646. Seller; written disclosure statement; contents; receipt; notice of purchaser's rights and responsibilities; health certificate; retention of records
(1) A seller shall deliver to the purchaser at the time of sale of a pet animal a written disclosure statement containing the following information regarding the pet animal:
(a) The name, address, and license number of any commercial dog or cat breeder or dealer as such terms are defined in section 54-626 or, if applicable, the United States Department of Agriculture license number of the breeder or any broker who has had possession of the animal prior to the seller's possession;
(b) The date of the pet animal's birth, if known, the state in which the pet animal was born, if known, and the date the seller received the pet animal;
(c) The sex and color of the pet animal, any other identifying marks apparent upon the pet animal, and the breed of the pet animal, if known, or a statement that the breed of the pet animal is unknown or the pet animal is of mixed breed;
(d) The pet animal's individual identifying tag, tattoo, microchip number, or collar number;
(e) The names and registration numbers of the sire and dam and the litter number, if applicable and if known;
(f) A record of any vaccination, worming treatment, or medication administered to the pet animal while in the possession of the seller and, if known, any such vaccination, treatment, or medication administered to the pet animal prior to the date the seller received the pet animal; and
(g) The date or dates of any examination of the pet animal by a licensed veterinarian while in the possession of the seller.
(2) The seller may include any of the following with the written disclosure statement required by subsection (1) of this section:
(a) A statement that a veterinarian examined the pet animal and, at the time of the examination, the pet animal had no apparent or clinical symptoms of a serious health problem that would adversely affect the health of the pet animal at the time of sale or that is likely to adversely affect the health of the pet animal in the future; and
(b) A record of any serious health problem that adversely affects the pet animal at the time of sale or that is likely to adversely affect the health of the pet animal in the future.
(3) The written disclosure statement made pursuant to this section shall be signed by the seller certifying the accuracy of the written disclosure statement and by the purchaser acknowledging receipt of the written disclosure statement. In addition to information required to be given to a purchaser under this section, at the time of sale the seller shall provide the purchaser with written notice of the existence of the purchaser's rights and responsibilities under the Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act or a legible copy of the act.
(4) If the pet animal is sold to a purchaser who resides outside of the state or intends that the pet animal will be relocated or permanently domiciled outside of the state, the seller shall provide the purchaser with a health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian who has examined the pet animal and is authorized to certify such certificate.
(5) The seller shall maintain a copy of any written disclosure statements made and any other records on the health, status, or disposition of each pet animal for at least one year after the date of sale to a purchaser.
Credits
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 13, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 427, § 12, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.
54-647. Recourse to remedies; purchaser; duties; notice to seller; remedies
(1) In order to have recourse to the remedies available to purchasers under this section, a purchaser shall have the pet animal examined by a licensed veterinarian within seven business days after delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser. The pet animal shall be declared unfit for sale and the purchaser may obtain one of the remedies listed in subsection (2) or (3) of this section if (a) during such examination, the veterinarian diagnoses the pet animal with a serious health problem that the veterinarian believes existed at the time of delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser or (b) within fifteen months after the date of birth of the pet animal, a veterinarian diagnoses the pet animal with a serious health problem or states in writing that the pet animal has died from a serious health problem that the veterinarian believes existed at the time of delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser.
(2) If a pet animal is diagnosed with a serious health problem under subsection (1) of this section, the purchaser shall notify the seller within two business days after the diagnosis and provide the seller with the name and telephone number of the veterinarian or a copy of the veterinarian's report. After such notification, the purchaser may obtain one of the following remedies from the seller:
(a) A refund of the full purchase price of the pet animal upon return of such pet animal to the seller;
(b) An exchange for a pet animal of the purchaser's choice of equivalent value, if such pet animal is available, upon return of the pet animal, if alive, to the seller; or
(c) Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees, not to exceed the full purchase price of the pet animal.
(3) If a pet animal dies from a serious health problem as determined under subsection (1) of this section, the purchaser shall notify the seller within two business days after receipt of the written statement of the veterinarian by the purchaser and shall provide the seller with a copy of such written statement. After receipt of the written statement by the seller, the purchaser may obtain one of the following remedies from the seller:
(a) A refund of the full purchase price of the pet animal; or
(b) A pet animal of the purchaser's choice of equivalent value, if such pet animal is available, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees not to exceed one-half of the full purchase price of the pet animal.
(4) For purposes of this section, veterinary fees shall be deemed reasonable if the service is appropriate for the diagnosis and treatment of the serious health problem and the cost of the service is comparable to similar services provided by licensed veterinarians in close proximity to the treating veterinarian.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 14, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
54-648. Denial of refund, reimbursement of fees, or replacement; conditions
No refund or reimbursement of fees or replacement of a pet animal under section 54-647 shall be required if one or more of the following conditions exist:
(1) The serious health problem or death of the pet animal resulted from maltreatment, neglect, or injury occurring after delivery of the pet animal to the purchaser;
(2) Any written disclosure statements provided by a seller pursuant to subsection (2) of section 54-646 disclosed the serious health problem for which the purchaser is seeking a remedy; or
(3) The purchaser failed to follow through with preventative care, including, but not limited to, vaccinations, deworming treatment, or medication, recommended by a licensed veterinarian examining the pet animal.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
54-649. Purchaser; file action; seller's rights; limit of recovery
(1) If a seller does not comply with a demand for remedy by a purchaser under section 54-647, the purchaser may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) If a seller contests a demand for remedy by a purchaser under section 54-647, the seller may require the purchaser to produce the pet animal for examination or autopsy by a licensed veterinarian designated by the seller. The seller shall pay for all costs associated with such examination or autopsy. The seller shall have a right of recovery against the purchaser if the seller is not obligated to provide the remedy sought.
(3) The prevailing party in a proceeding under this section shall be limited to a recovery of actual costs and no more than five hundred dollars in reasonable attorney's fees.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 16, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
54-650. Other rights and remedies not limited; act; how construed
Nothing in the Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act shall limit any rights and remedies otherwise available under the laws of this state. Any agreement or contract entered into by a seller and a purchaser waiving any rights under the act is void. Nothing in the Dog and Cat Purchase Protection Act shall be construed to limit a seller to offering only those warranties, express or implied, required by the act.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 2009, LB 241, § 17, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
CHAPTER 71. PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE. ARTICLE 44. RABIES
For purposes of sections 71-4401 to 71-4412, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Compendium means the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control as published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians;
(2) Department means the Department of Health and Human Services;
(3) Domestic animal means any dog of the species Canis familiaris, cat of the species Felis domesticus, or ferret of the species Mustela putorius furo, and cat means a cat which is a household pet;
(4) Hybrid animal means any animal which is the product of the breeding of a domestic dog with a nondomestic canine species;
(5) Own, unless otherwise specified, means to possess, keep, harbor, or have control of, charge of, or custody of a domestic or hybrid animal. This term does not apply to domestic or hybrid animals owned by other persons which are temporarily maintained on the premises of a veterinarian or kennel operator for a period of not more than thirty days;
(6) Owner means any person possessing, keeping, harboring, or having charge or control of any domestic or hybrid animal or permitting any domestic or hybrid animal to habitually be or remain on or be lodged or fed within such person's house, yard, or premises. This term does not apply to veterinarians or kennel operators temporarily maintaining on their premises domestic or hybrid animals owned by other persons for a period of not more than thirty days;
(7) Rabies control authority means county, township, city, or village health and law enforcement officials who shall enforce sections 71-4401 to 71-4412 relating to the vaccination and impoundment of domestic or hybrid animals. Such public officials are not responsible for any accident or disease of a domestic or hybrid animal resulting from the enforcement of such sections; and
(8) Vaccination against rabies means the inoculation of a domestic or hybrid animal with a United States Department of Agriculture-licensed rabies vaccine administered consistent with its labeling. Such vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Nebraska or licensed in the state where the vaccination was administered.
Credits
Laws 1969, ch. 445, § 1, p. 1484; Laws 1987, LB 104, § 1; Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 674; Laws 2000, LB 1115, § 75; Laws 2007, LB 25, § 1; Laws 2007, LB 296, § 585; Laws 2019, LB 61, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2019.
§ 71-4402. Vaccination against rabies; required; vaccine; sales.
(1) Every domestic animal in the State of Nebraska shall be vaccinated against rabies with a licensed vaccine and revaccinated at intervals specified by rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department. Young domestic animals shall be initially vaccinated at the age specified in such rules and regulations. Unvaccinated domestic animals acquired or moved into the State of Nebraska shall be vaccinated within thirty days after purchase or arrival unless under the age for initial vaccination.
(2) The rabies vaccine used to vaccinate domestic animals pursuant to this section shall be sold only to licensed veterinarians.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 2, p. 1485; 1987, LB 104, § 2; 1990, LB 888, § 1; 2007, LB25, § 2. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4402.01. Rules and regulations. - 71-4402.01. Repealed by Laws 2019, LB 61, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2019
Former Text:
The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to:
(1) Determine rabid species of animals;
(2) Determine rabid species of animals amenable to rabies protection by immunization; and
(3) Determine tests for identifying animals afflicted with rabies.
When adopting and promulgating such rules and regulations, the department shall consider the general knowledge of the medical profession and related scientific fields, the compendium, and the recommendations of the United States Public Health Service.
Source: Laws 1987, LB 104, § 12.
§ 71-4402.02. Hybrid animal; vaccination against rabies; required; vaccine; sales.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, every hybrid animal in the State of Nebraska shall be vaccinated against rabies and shall be revaccinated at intervals specified by rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department. A young hybrid animal shall be initially vaccinated at the age specified in such rules and regulations. An unvaccinated hybrid animal acquired or moved into the State of Nebraska shall be vaccinated within thirty days after purchase or arrival unless under the age for initial vaccination.
(2) The rabies vaccine used to vaccinate a hybrid animal pursuant to this section shall be sold only to licensed veterinarians.
(3) An owner of a hybrid animal in this state prior to the date of development of a licensed vaccine determined scientifically to be reliable in preventing rabies in a hybrid animal shall have one year after such date to comply with this section.
Source: Laws 2007, LB25, § 3. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4402.03. Control and prevention of rabies; rules and regulations.
To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, efficient and adequate practices, the department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the control and prevention of rabies. Such rules and regulations shall generally comply with the compendium and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The department may consider changes in the compendium and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services when adopting and promulgating such rules and regulations.
Credits
Laws 2007, LB 25, § 4; Laws 2019, LB 61, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2019.
§ 71-4403. Veterinarian; vaccination for rabies; certificate; contents.
It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating any domestic or hybrid animal, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination which shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) The owner's name and address;
(2) An adequate description of the domestic or hybrid animal, including, but not limited to, such items as the domestic or hybrid animal's breed, sex, age, name, and distinctive markings;
(3) The date of vaccination;
(4) The rabies vaccination tag number;
(5) The type of rabies vaccine administered by dosage and number of years of effectiveness;
(6) The manufacturer's serial number of the vaccine used; and
(7) The date by which the next vaccination is due.
Such veterinarian shall issue a tag with the certificate of vaccination.
Credits
Laws 1969, ch. 445, § 3, p. 1485; Laws 1987, LB 104, § 3; Laws 2007, LB 25, § 5; Laws 2019, LB 61, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2019.
§ 71-4404. Vaccination for rabies; cost; payment.
The cost of rabies vaccination shall be borne by the owner of the domestic or hybrid animal.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 4, p. 1486; 1987, LB 104, § 4; 2007, LB25, § 6. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4405. Vaccination; domestic animals exempt.
(1) The provisions of sections 71-4401 to 71-4412 with respect to vaccination shall not apply to any domestic or hybrid animal owned by a person temporarily remaining within the State of Nebraska for less than thirty days, to any domestic or hybrid animal brought into the State of Nebraska for field trial or show purposes, or to any domestic or hybrid animal brought into the state for hunting purposes for a period of less than thirty days. Such domestic or hybrid animals shall be kept under strict supervision of the owner. It shall be unlawful to bring any domestic or hybrid animal into the State of Nebraska which does not comply with the animal health laws and import rules and regulations of the State of Nebraska which are applicable to domestic or hybrid animals.
(2) Domestic or hybrid animals assigned to a research institution or a similar facility shall be exempt from sections 71-4401 to 71-4412.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 5, p. 1486; 1987, LB 104, § 5; 2007, LB25, § 7. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4406. Post-incident management
Any domestic animal which has bitten any person or caused an abrasion of the skin of any person shall be subjected to post-incident management as provided in rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department.
Credits
Laws 1969, ch. 445, § 6, p. 1486; Laws 1987, LB 104, § 6; Laws 1989, LB 51, § 1; Laws 2007, LB 25, § 8; Laws 2019, LB 61, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2019.
§ 71-4407. Domestic or hybrid animal or livestock; postexposure management.
Domestic or hybrid animals or livestock known to have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal shall be subjected to postexposure management as provided in rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department.
Credits
Laws 1969, ch. 445, § 7, p. 1487; Laws 1987, LB 104, § 7; Laws 2007, LB 25, § 9; Laws 2019, LB 61, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2019.
§ 71-4408. Rabies control authority; pounds; authorized; impoundment; notice; release; fee.
(1) The rabies control authority may authorize an animal pound or pounds or may enter into a cooperative agreement with a licensed veterinarian for the establishment and operation of a pound.
(2) Any dog or hybrid of the family Canidae found outside the owner's premises whose owner does not possess a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and valid rabies vaccination tag for such dog or hybrid of the family Canidae shall be impounded. The rabies control authority may require the impoundment of domestic or hybrid animals other than dogs or hybrids of the family Canidae. All impounded domestic or hybrid animals shall be given proper care, treatment, and maintenance. Each impounded domestic or hybrid animal shall be kept and maintained at the pound for a period of not less than seventy-two hours unless reclaimed earlier by the owner.
(3) Notice of impoundment of all animals, including any significant marks of identification, shall be posted at the pound as public notification of impoundment. Any unvaccinated domestic or hybrid animal may be reclaimed by its owner during the period of impoundment by payment of prescribed pound fees and by complying with the rabies vaccination requirement of sections 71-4401 to 71- 4412 within seventy-two hours of release. Any vaccinated domestic or hybrid animal impounded because its owner has not presented a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and a valid rabies vaccination tag for such domestic or hybrid animal may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
(4) At the expiration of impoundment, a domestic or hybrid animal may be claimed by payment of established pound fees and by compliance with the rabies vaccination requirement of sections 71-4401 to 71-4412 within seventy-two hours of release. If the domestic or hybrid animal is unclaimed at the end of five days, the authorities may dispose of the domestic or hybrid animal in accordance with applicable laws or rules and regulations.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 8, p. 1487; 1987, LB 104, § 8; 2007, LB25, § 10. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4409. Rabies control authority; enforcement of sections; duties.
The rabies control authority shall enforce sections 71-4401 to 71-4412.
In the event that the health and law enforcement officials of a county, township, city, or village fail to act with sufficient promptness in enforcing sections 71-4401 to 71-4412, the department may take all actions necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of such sections relating to vaccination and impoundment of domestic or hybrid animals. In such a case no authorized representatives of the department or any law enforcement officials enforcing such sections shall be responsible for any accident or disease of a domestic or hybrid animal resulting from the enforcement of such sections.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 9, p. 1488; 1987, LB 104, § 9; 2007, LB25, § 11. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4410. Violation; penalty; order for seizure.
The owner of any domestic or hybrid animal or any person who violates any of the provisions of sections 71-4401 to 71-4412 shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. When the owner of any domestic or hybrid animal or other animal fails or refuses to comply with section 71-4406 or 71-4407, the rabies control authority shall obtain an order for seizure of such animal pursuant to Chapter 29, article 8.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 10, p. 1488; 1978, LB 685, § 1; 1987, LB 104, § 10; 2007, LB25, § 12. Effective date September 1, 2007.
§ 71-4411. Impoundment fees; payment.
Impoundment fees shall be paid by the owner. Fees for impoundment at public facilities shall be established by the rabies control authority.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 11, p. 1488.
§ 71-4412. Control of rabies; vaccination; enforcement; political subdivisions.
In the State of Nebraska, all laws, ordinances, codes, or rules and regulations concerning the control of rabies or the vaccination of domestic or hybrid animals against rabies shall be enforced by the county, township, city, and village health and law enforcement officials or those other officers with regulatory authority as specified by the governing political subdivisions.
Whenever a county, township, city, or village requires the licensure of domestic or hybrid animals, it may require that, before a license is issued for the possession or maintenance of any domestic or hybrid animal in any such county, township, city, or village, the owner or keeper of the domestic or hybrid animal shall furnish to the clerk of such political subdivision a certification that the domestic or hybrid animal has been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with sections 71-4401 to 71-4412.
Source: Laws 1969, c. 445, § 12, p. 1489; 1987, LB 104, § 11; 2007, LB25, § 13. Effective date September 1, 2007.
CHAPTER 37. GAME AND PARKS. ARTICLE 3. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES. (A) GENERAL PROVISIONS.
§ 37-307. Rules and regulations; animals; violation; penalty.
The commission may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations permitting pets, domestic animals, and poultry to be brought upon or possessed, grazed, maintained, or run at large on any area or portion of any area under its ownership or control. Any person who brings, possesses, grazes, maintains, or permits to run at large his or her pets, domestic animals, or poultry on any area or portion of any area under the ownership or control of the commission, unless the commission has permitted such bringing, possession, grazing, maintaining, or running at large, shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor.
Source: Laws 1998, LB 922, § 65.