What’s the difference between Anderson County Animal Control and Anderson Humane Society?
Anderson County Animal Control is the government agency responsible for reuniting lost pets with their owners and enforcing all laws pertaining to domestic animals in Anderson County. Anderson County Animal Control is funded by taxpayers and we encourage you to contact them if you find a stray pet, lost your pet, suspect neglect or abuse, have an encounter with an aggressive cat or dog, have your property destroyed by a loose pet, or if you need to surrender an unvetted cat or dog. All stray cats and dogs are held for a minimum of 7 days before they can be transferred to Anderson Humane Society. Animal Control does not process adoptions or find new homes for the pets in their care.
Anderson Humane Society (AHS) is responsible for finding new homes or reputable rescues for abandoned pets in Anderson County. AHS receives no government funding and as a non-profit 501(c)3 relies on donations and fundraisers to accomplish our mission of finding loving homes for the dogs and cats at AHS and Anderson County Animal Control. Once animals are transferred to AHS all costs and care associated with them becomes the responsibility of the Anderson Humane Society. All cats and dogs will see the vet, be spayed/neuter, and vaccinated before adoption.
Anderson County Animal Welfare Laws
These laws are enforced by Anderson County Animal Control.
- It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to permit any dog owned by him or under his control to run at large.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any dog which creates a nuisance by: (1) habitual barking or howling (2) habitual trespassing (3) habitual property damage or getting into garbage (4) habitual car chasing, or scaring, chasing, or molesting any person.
- It shall be unlawful for an owner to fail to provide his animal with proper food, water, shelter and medical attention. If an animal is restrained by a chain, it should be designed to give the animal freedom of movement (approximately 15 feet in length) and in a swivel to prevent the animal from choking, strangling, or getting tangled.
- No dog shall be restrained by a fixed point chain or tether for more than nine (9) hours in a twenty four period (CITY ONLY).
- No person shall beat, cruelly ill treat, torment, overload, or permit to fight any animal.
- All dogs or pups any age must have a Kentucky dog license and it must be renewed every year by July 1st.
- All dogs (and cats) must be given a rabies vaccination after 4 months of age by a licensed veterinarian.
- Owners of unaltered females are responsible for confining them when in heat in a way that no other animal can make contact with them, such as in a building or secure pen.
- No person shall abandon any animal. Abandonment consists of leaving an animal for a period in excess of 24 hours without providing for someone to feed, water, and check on the animal’s well being.
Penalties for violations of dog laws: a fine of $5.00 to $100.00 and/or imprisonments in the County Jail from 5 to 60 days.
