Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 258.265 – Care and control of dog -- Destruction of dog running at large at night -- Exemption for working or hunting activities. (Effective July 15, 2026)

(1) An owner shall exercise proper care and control of his or her dog to prevent the dog from violating any local government nuisance ordinance.
(2) Any peace officer or animal control officer may seize or destroy any dog found running at large between the hours of sunset and sunrise, unaccompanied, and not under the control of its owner or handler. A peace officer or animal control officer shall be under a duty to make a fair and reasonable effort to determine whether any dog found at large between sunset and sunrise is a working livestock dog, hound, or other hunting dog which has become lost temporarily from a pack or wandered from immediate control of its owner or handler, and if he or she is reasonably sure that the dog is a working livestock dog or hunting dog, then he or she shall not destroy the dog unless it is found in the act of pursuing or wounding livestock, wounding or killing poultry, or attacking human beings.
(3) A working livestock dog, hound, or hunting dog may be unrestrained when engaged in lawful working or hunting activities while on private or public property designated or authorized for that purpose.

Effective: July 15, 2026

History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 52, sec. 4, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 189, sec. 21, effective July 13, 2004. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 440, sec. 7, effective July 15, 1998. -- Created 1954 Ky. Acts ch. 119, sec. 29, effective June 17, 1954.