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Hello! Welcome to the home page of Kentucky Animal Welfare Alliance (formerly 4kentuckypets), your animal protection connection! We are a statewide coalition of Kentuckians, including shelters, rescue groups, and individuals, working to improve the lives of animals. We usually post the latest animal welfare information on the home page. Below the latest news you'll find information on the listservs we maintain. We are currently taking submissions for for our Education and Additional Resources Page, so contact us if you have anything you'd like to add.

See our New Info in the Education Section on how a bill becomes a law.

HUMANE LOBBY DAY 2010
Capitol Rotunda - Frankfort
Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Rally and Press Conference
1pm in Capitol Rotunda
Agenda
10:00 a.m. - Noon Meet with your legislator
Noon - 12:45 p.m. Break for Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rally and press conference
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Follow-up

Legislative Priorities 2010

Progress in improving the state animal protection laws has been slow and Kentucky lags far behind its neighboring states such as West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee in progressive animal protection legislation. In fact, a recent study of all state statutes pertaining to animal cruelty has revealed that Kentucky ranks LAST in the nation because of inadequate or non-existent animal protection laws. Reasons for this low ranking include:

Inadequate range of prohibitions and definitions/standards of basic care
Principal protections apply only to select types of animals
Felony provision available only for offenses involving only select animals
No mental health evaluations or counseling following a conviction
No cost mitigation provisions for impounded animals (e.g. cost-of-care bonds, other reimbursement of costs, restitution provisions)
No forfeiture of abused animals
No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
No separate crime for the sexual assault of an animal
Inadequate animal fighting penalties. Dogfighting spectators are only charged with misdemeanor offense; cockfighting is a misdemeanor; possession of cockfighting birds, cockfighting implements and being a spectator at a cockfight are all legal.

Additional legislation needed:

Forfeiture and Bonding - requires defendant to post bond for reasonable costs of care, animal forfeited if bond not posted. Guilty finding, acknowledgment of guilt or Alford plea requires forfeiture of animal. Need to prohibit future ownership also (2 years).

Horse soring - current statutes on horse soring minimal and ineffective (current fine $10 and only at horse show).

Animal fighting - felony penalty for cockfighting. Neighboring states have increased penalties, causing cockfighters to relocate to Kentucky. Cockfighting is closely connected to other crimes such as drug dealing, illegal firearms sale, gambling and even homicide.

Shelter for a dog - current cruelty statutes do not require shelter - just food, water, space, health care. Need to add shelter to the statutes, at least for dogs.

Mandatory spay/neuter from shelters - shelters are adding to influx by releasing unaltered animals for adoption

Antifreeze - bittering agent needed. Many children and animals are poisoned - accidentally or intentionally - with antifreeze due its sweet taste. A bittering agent (cost 1 cent/gallon) would prevent this.

Review of animal care and control laws - modernize and codify (this would be a resolution)

Sexual abuse of animal - add penalties for sexual assault of an animal

Commercial animal breeding operations - require registration and inspection of dog/cat/bird breeders engaged in commercial operations. These operations are often in violation of cruelty statutes, pollute local water supplies, and avoid federal, state, and local tax

Shelter standards - add penalties for non-compliance with KRS 258.119. Currently no enforcement provision. Many shelters still not complying.

Thank you to the HSUS for this list.

Low-volume list designed to increase communication between animal rescue groups and individuals involved with animal rescue in the Kentucky and surrounding states area. This includes the discussion of animal-friendly legislation. This is a place where we can exchange information and ideas freely, keeping in mind that when we help each other, we help the animals.

Examples of the types of messages allowed and encouraged: conference info, legislative info, information on free stuff for shelters and rescues, grant-related messages, events, information on fundraising, helpful information on general shelter/ rescue operations, etc.

Currently we are trying to get the word out about the Spay/Neuter License Plate. The cost is $25.00 (with $10.00 going to the spay/neuter fund out of that $25.00).

Click here for information on the state spay/neuter fund

Attention Animal Welfare Groups!

Make sure you are listed in the Kentucky Animal Welfare Organization list on this website. If you need to be added or if your information has changed, contact vmmking@roadrunner.com

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