Who needs to be Licensed?

ANY:

1. Commercial breeder,
2. Boarding kennel facility,
3. Dealer,
4. Pet Shop,
5. Animal control facility, and
6. Animal shelter.

Who qualifies as a Commercial Breeder?

1. Any person who owns or harbors four or more unaltered dogs or cats; who is engaged in the business of breeding dogs or cats; and who sells, exchanges or leases dogs or cats in return for consideration; or who offers to do so.

2. Any person who sells, exchanges or leases 31 or more dogs or cats in a 12-month period shall be considered a commercial breeder.

3. Any person knowingly selling, exchanging, or leasing ANY dogs or cats for later retail sales or brokered trading.

What qualifies as a Boarding Kennel?

Any facility that is used primarily to house dogs and cats for other people when they are unable to do so. A kennel is a facility that houses more than 31 dogs and cats during a 12-month period. Facilities that house dogs and cats for training, grooming, and other non-veterinary services are included.

Who qualifies as a Dealer?

Anyone who is engaged in the business of buying for resale or selling or exchanging 31 or more dogs or cats in a 12-month period.

What qualifies as a Pet Shop?

Pet Shop means a retail establishment which sells pet animals and related supplies.

What qualifies as an Animal Control Facility?

Any facility operated by the state or any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.

What qualifies as an Animal Shelter?

Any facility used to house or contain dogs and/or cats and owned, operated, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or any other nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of such animals.

Is any facility exempt from licensing?

Yes, all veterinary clinics are exempt from licensing.

How much is the license fee?

All license applicants, except initial license applicants and licensees not housing dogs or cats, shall pay a fee based upon the average daily number of dogs or cats housed by the licensee over the previous annual licensure period as follows:

• Ten or fewer dogs or cats, $150;
• Eleven to fifty dogs or cats, $200;
• More than fifty dogs or cats, $250;
• Initial license applicants, $125; and
• Licensee not housing dogs or cats, $150.

The license fee is non-refundable. There is a $20 late fee charge for each late application. Each license is due by March 31st of each year for commercial breeders, dealers, boarding kennel facilities, and pet shops. Each license is due by September 30th of each year for animal control facilities and animal shelters.

Is an inspection required to obtain a license?

• A qualifying inspection is required for all initial license applicants prior to a license being issued.
• All licensees shall be inspected at least once in a 24-month period.
• The Department may conduct an inspection to ensure that the licensee continues to meet State requirements for licensing.
• The Department has established, by regulations, a priority order for conducting inspections.

Who do I contact for questions, applications and other information?

The Legislature has determined that the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, shall establish an inspection program for applicants and licensees to determine whether the standards of care of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act are being met.

When an inspection produces evidence of a violation of the Act or regulations, a copy of the written report of the inspection and violations shown thereon, prepared by the inspector, shall be given to the applicant or licensee, together with a written Notice to Comply within the time limit established by the Department and set out in such notice.

The premises of the applicant shall be open for inspection. The Department and any officer, agent, employee, or appointee of the Department shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any person who has, or is suspected of having, any dog and cat thereon, or any sanitation, housing, or other condition or practice that is in violation of the Act and regulations.