2023 New York Laws › PBH - Public Health › Article 21 - Control of Acute Communicable Diseases › Title 4 - Rabies. › 2141 - Compulsory Vaccination.

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