Jessamine County, KY Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Section 90.09 of the Jessamine County Code is titled Adoptions and Mandatory Spay/Neuter. Subsection (C) is the operative rule: all canines and felines adopted from the animal shelter shall be surgically altered to prevent breeding. The Fiscal Court sets the adoption fee under subsection (D), and subsection (A) requires every prospective adopter to complete an application designed to determine the person's ability to care for the animal. A person convicted of a violation of KRS 525.125, KRS 525.130, KRS 525.135, or § 90.08 of the chapter is not qualified to adopt. Under subsection (B), Animal Care and Control is not obligated to sell or transfer possession of any animal in its custody.

The enforcement clause is § 90.99(T). A person who fails to meet the spay/neuter adoption requirement has two ways out of an even worse outcome: show the court proof from a licensed veterinarian that the surgical procedure has been performed, or be ordered by the court to surrender the animal to Animal Care and Control without a refund of adoption fees. Either way the person is fined a sum not less than $100 nor more than $150.

The canine license schedule in § 90.04(D) reinforces the mandate through price. Licensing applies to canines four months of age or older. An altered canine license costs $10.00 and renews every year, against $20.00 for an un-altered canine license. Owners of 4 or more canines pay $40.00 when all are altered and $50.00 when un-altered. A lifetime license costs $50.00 and requires a canine that is both microchipped and altered, with proof from a licensed veterinarian that surgical alteration has been performed. Not for profit humane societies and animal rescue groups are exempt from the fee. The code sets no fee for a transfer of ownership between canines current on licensing.

For dogs and cats that did not come from the shelter, § 90.09(C) does not apply, and the altered-versus-un-altered license fees are the only altered-status rule in Chapter 90.