Tennessee § 68-8-104 - Registration of cats and dogs — Fees — Rabies control program — Vaccination required for registration.

§ 68-8-104. Registration of cats and dogs — Fees — Rabies control program — Vaccination required for registration.

In addition to, but not as a substitute for or in any way detracting from the vaccination requirements of this chapter, authorization is granted for the adoption of local laws or ordinances to require the registration of dogs or cats in counties or municipalities. Any local laws or ordinances implementing animal registration shall include methods for the collection of registration fees and shall require the expenditure of these funds to establish and maintain a rabies control program, also commonly known as an animal control program. In addition to various animal control activities, the rabies control program shall ensure that dogs and cats are properly vaccinated in accordance with this chapter and that biting animals or rabies suspects are observed or confined in accordance with this chapter and rules of the department. No dog or cat registration certificate shall be issued unless an unexpired certificate of rabies vaccination is exhibited. All fees collected for registration shall become part of the county or municipality rabies control fund and shall be disbursed by the appropriate trustee in a manner prescribed by the local legislative body for the sole purpose of the payment of salaries, for the establishment and operation of an animal shelter, for the establishment and operation of an animal control program, or for other expenses incidental to the enforcement of this chapter in the jurisdiction to which the registration requirement applies. Any funds remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried over to the next fiscal year, and its expenditure authorized by the local legislative body only for the purpose of rabies and animal control. Acts 2004, ch. 765, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Former chapter 8, §§ 68-8-101 — 68-8-115 (Acts 1953, ch. 252, §§ 1-14 (Williams, § 5109.20-5109.33); 1955, ch. 211, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 277, §§ 1, 2; impl. am. Acts 1959, ch. 9, § 4; impl. am. Acts 1961, ch. 97, § 4; 1961, ch. 205, § 1; 1971, ch. 290, § 1-4; 1972, ch. 732, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 7, 16, 36; T.C.A. (orig. ed.) § 53-901 — 53-914; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1995, ch. 439, § 1; 1999, ch. 387, § 1; 2002, ch. 767, § 5), concerning the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law, were repealed by Acts 2004, ch. 765, § 1, effective July 1, 2005. For provisions concerning the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law, effective July 1, 2005, see §§ 68-8-101 — 68-8-113 . Attorney General Opinions. T.C.A. § 68-8-104 allows counties to require the owners of animals to register or license their pets and to collect a fee, as long as the fee is dedicated for an animal control program, OAG 06-161 (10/11/06). Wilson County domestic animal tax and Tennessee anti-rabies law. OAG 13-40, 2013 Tenn. AG LEXIS 41 (5/23/13).