Section 2140. Definitions

For the purpose of this title:
    1.  "Actively  immunized" shall mean that the animal has been injected
  with a rabies vaccine suitable  to  the  species  and  which  meets  the
  standards  prescribed by the United States department of agriculture for
  interstate  sale  and  which   was   administered   according   to   the
  manufacturer's  instructions  under  the  direction  of  a duly licensed
  veterinarian not later than the expiration date on the  package.  Active
  immunization  shall begin fourteen days following primary vaccination or
  immediately following a booster vaccination, and continue for the period
  stated in the manufacturer's instructions.
    2. "County" shall mean a county of the state other than those  in  the
  city of New York.
    3. "County health authority" shall mean the county health agency.
    4.  "Domestic  livestock"  includes  cattle,  goats,  horses, donkeys,
  mules, sheep, and swine.
    5. "Certificate of immunization" shall mean a signed statement  issued
  by  the  veterinarian  containing  the  following  information: name and
  address of the owner, date or dates  of  vaccination,  type  of  vaccine
  administered   and   duration   of   immunity,   amount  and  manner  of
  administration, name of manufacturer of the vaccine, and the lot  number
  and  expiration date of the vaccine. The certificate of immunization for
  domestic  livestock  may  include  multiple  animals.  The   system   of
  identification applicable to the livestock is to be used.
    6.  "Owner" shall mean any person keeping, harboring, or having charge
  or control of, or permitting any dog,  cat  or  domesticated  ferret  to
  remain  on  or  be  lodged  or  fed within such person's house, yard, or
  premises.    This  term  shall  not  apply  to  veterinarians  or  other
  facilities  temporarily  maintaining  on  their  premises  dogs, cats or
  domesticated ferrets owned by others for periods of no  more  than  four
  months  or  to  the  owner  or occupant of property inhabited by a feral
  animal.
    7. "Confinement and observation" refers to the conditions under  which
  apparently  healthy  dogs,  cats,  domesticated  ferrets,  and  domestic
  livestock,  which  are  not  exhibiting  symptoms  of  rabies,  must  be
  maintained if such an animal has potentially exposed a person to rabies,
  and  the  owner  wishes to avoid euthanizing and testing the animal. The
  ten day confinement and observation period must take place,  at  owner's
  expense,   at  an  appropriate  facility  such  as  an  animal  shelter,
  veterinarian's office,  kennel  or  farm  for  an  animal  not  actively
  immunized  against  rabies  at  the  time  of  the  bite.  County health
  departments may allow home  confinements  and  observation  for  animals
  actively immunized. Confinement and observation includes verification by
  the county health authority or their designee both during and at the end
  of  the ten day period that the animal cannot or has not escaped and has
  remained healthy.
    8. "Quarantine" refers to  a  six  month  period  of  restriction  for
  animals  which  are  not actively immunized against rabies and have been
  exposed to a potentially rabid animal,  in  accordance  with  applicable
  regulations of the department. The quarantine must include provisions to
  prevent  escape  of  the  animal  during  the  quarantine  period and to
  minimize contacts with humans and other animals,  and  these  provisions
  must be verified by the county health authority during and at the end of
  the six month period.
    9.  "Local  residence",  under  the  conditions hereinafter specified,
  shall mean any person who has his or her  primary  residence,  secondary
  residence,  vacation  home or school within a county of the state of New
  York shall be deemed to have local residence in such county.

    10. "Qualification on residence." Local residence  shall  not  include
  residence:
    (a) as an inmate of any state or federal prison, or
    (b) on a military reservation.
    11.  "Initial  treatment  after  human  exposure to rabies" shall mean
  administration of the first postexposure dose  of  rabies  vaccine  and,
  when necessary, administration of rabies immune globulin.
    12. "Animal control officer" shall mean one or more persons designated
  by  the  county  health  authority  as  having responsibility for animal
  control issues in the county. This responsibility may  be  delegated  to
  others  such  as  cities  and  towns,  law  enforcement agencies, animal
  shelters, or private nuisance control officers.
    13. "Feral animal" shall mean any cat, dog or ferret that is  born  in
  the  wild  and  is not socialized, is the offspring of an owned or feral
  cat, dog or ferret and is not socialized, or is a  formerly  owned  cat,
  dog or ferret that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized.