|
API is
a plaintiff in a lawsuit that may have inspired new legislation in
Kentucky.
On
February 4, 2002, Representatives Roger Thomas and Stephen Nunn
introduced House Bill 576, which requires the Commissioner of
Agriculture to set animal shelter standards.
Under
HB 576, animal shelters must keep detailed records on impounded dogs.
Persons claiming impounded dogs, cats, or ferrets will have to show
proof of rabies vaccination or to purchase a rabies voucher, and
caregivers of dogs must show proof of state license or to purchase a
license. Dogs, cats, or ferrets that have bitten someone must be
quarantined for 10 days. Keeping a vicious dog is prohibited,
and dogs must not violate local nuisance ordinances.
Animal
control officers have enlarged powers for investigating possible
animal cruelty and arresting the perpetrator.
To
encourage shelter compliance, license and other fees have been
increased, with the counties keeping the lion's share of the funds.
Failure of counties to comply with the standards will be prosecuted by
the Attorney General's Office.
|
HB 576 is a major step
forward for animal shelters and dog pounds in Kentucky. In July
2000, The Trixie Foundation, along with API, In Defense of Animals,
and 19 other Kentucky plaintiffs, sued the Kentucky Commissioner of
Agriculture and 70 counties for failure to protect and regulate dogs
throughout the state. The case was best summarized in the
plaintiffs' pleadings: "Kentucky dog pounds come in two forms:
(1) non-existent or (2) so pitifully inhumane as to be worse than
non-existent."
The suit charges that
Kentucky officials in virtually every county had blatantly ignored for
nearly half a century their obligations to maintain a dog pound,
employ a dog warden, and humanely euthanize dogs. Evidence
showed that several counties permitted various forms of euthanasia
which were not only inhumane but barbaric.
HB 576, which changes much
of that, is welcomed by animal activists throughout the country.
Go to Article
|
