New York — rabies vaccination compulsory for all dogs, cats and ferrets (Public Health Law § 2141)

New York — rabies vaccination compulsory for all dogs, cats and ferrets (Public Health Law § 2141)

Source: New York State Senate — NY Public Health Law § 2141 (nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PBH/2141), extracted 2026-07-23. First-hand state-statute text; C1 substring-verified against pdf-raw/mandatory-vaccination/ny_pbh_2141.txt. This is the statutory mandate to vaccinate (the LAW), distinct from clinical vaccine-guidance topics and from local leash/licensing ordinances.

New York makes rabies vaccination compulsory by statute. Per Public Health Law § 2141, titled "Compulsory vaccination," sitting in "Public Health (PBH) CHAPTER 45, ARTICLE 21, TITLE 4," it provides: "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall be actively immunized against rabies in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner." The mandate is timed: "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have all initial vaccinations administered no later than four months after birth," and "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have a second vaccination within one year of the first." Subsequent dosing must follow USDA vaccine licenses.

The obligation is near-universal but has carve-outs. "Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to any feral animal or any dog, cat or domesticated ferret:" transported through the state ≤15 days, confined to a shelter/society premises, medically exempt (per licensed veterinarian), or confined for research. Medical exemptions must be certified and "Medical exemptions are to be renewed on an annual basis." Veterinarians must verify immunization status or exempt status and immunize when unverifiable.

Non-compliance is a violation: "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."

This covers the state-level "is rabies vaccination legally required?" question for NY at the statute level. It does not cover local licensing/leash ordinances or the clinical schedule/booster guidance (that is a separate clinical topic).

Verbatim C1 claims (each a substring of the source file + this body):

1. "Public Health (PBH) CHAPTER 45, ARTICLE 21, TITLE 4"
2. "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall be actively immunized against rabies in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner."
3. "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have all initial vaccinations administered no later than four months after birth."
4. "Every dog, cat and domesticated ferret shall have a second vaccination within one year of the first."
5. "Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to any feral animal or any dog, cat or domesticated ferret:"
6. "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."