For the ninth year in a row, Kentucky has been the wrong end of that report, finishing 50th.
The rankings are based on a comprehensive review of each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws involving over 4,000 pages of statutes.
“I'm not surprised. I see situations often concerning animal care and neglect,” said Jan Dacci, a volunteer for Saving the Animals of Rowan (STAR). “There is not one day that goes by in Kentucky without a terrible cruelty case. The laws are pretty vague and it’s difficult for authorities to enact penalties. Plus, there is the cost to prosecute and in some places hesitation to spend the money to house neglected animals when confiscated and to spend the money to take legal action.”
Dacci added that she feels Rowan County is leaps ahead of other Eastern Kentucky counties by using an effective animal control officer (ACO) and county attorney who advises and do what they can with the laws in place.
She said one reason the need for active animal rescue organizations is due to the lack of laws.
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| KENTUCKY - "Hey, Charlene! Get the stroller and bring Billy Bob over so's he can learn how to have fun torturing critters!" |
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| KENTUCKY - Authorities 'put down' horse in animal cruelty case |
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| KENTUCKY - POS who starved and shot "Lad" the collie in the face makes first court appearance |
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| KENTUCKY - Sheriff refuses to charge owner with animal cruelty; also refuses to say why |
“The law allows the ability for hoarders, and people letting their animals continue to procreate and then dumping the litters year after year,” said Dacci. “With the many unwanted animals it’s a slippery slope with neglect. A dog, cat or horse is potentially a 20-year commitment. It takes money, work and compassion to house animals in a humane manner. When people get overwhelmed, they often contact rescue organizations to help them.”
She said in one instance a woman from New Hampshire was hoarding animals and was eventually intervened and shut down by officials. Dacci said she then moved to Carter County where she picked back up on her old habits. She said the place is uninhabitable for animals as well as people but nothing has been done to fix the issue.
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| KENTUCKY - Judge Vanessa Mullins Dickson ordered abused horses to be returned to their abuser. Guess what? They were starved and abused again. Good job, Judge! |
Dacci mentioned another startling case in which neighbors called in a complaint that a dog had been severely injured and left to die. She said the owner nearly beat a chihuahua to death with the butt of a gun then threw it outside alive but unconscious. She even went as far as to say maggots had practically eaten the dog alive.
“I took her to the vet that night where she was humanely put to sleep,” Dacci said. “With the owner admitting to his actions and witnesses, the jury still let him off. Their response was 'he thought the dog might be sick and so he was just doing the right thing by killing her in that manner'. If a jury of 12 thinks this type of behavior is acceptable, then we have a long way to go as a community and state.”
As far as some of the more egregious lack of legislation, Dacci believes the lack of laws on dog and rooster fighting is the most blatant.
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| KENTUCKY - Puppy mill stays in business despite animal cruelty charge |
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| KENTUCKY - 16 dead horses found on Key Pike farm |
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| KENTUCKY - Tiny Pomeranian Shot To Death After Failed Drowning Attempt |
“Just don't let us catch you in the act of fighting is the case in Kentucky,” she said.
She also mentioned the state's definition of shelter.
“Essentially a board leaning against a tree is deemed acceptable for a shelter,” she said. “The bottom line is many people in this state view domesticated animals as objects, not companions or apart of the family circle. However, animals do feel love, emotions and the elements of harsh weather.”
Dacci said there are many out-of-state rescues dedicated to saving animals within Kentucky, simply because they know the state will not step up for them.
“Too many of the animals we rescue have been terribly abused and hurt by people yet those abusers, if we get them in court, they barely get a slap on the wrist. So many times we want to quit, but we can’t. If we quit, who steps up to help them? We certainly can’t put our faith in the elected officials.”
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| KENTUCKY - Deputies Searching For Johnson County, Ky. Animal Cruelty Suspect Amanda Adkins, 24 |
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| KENTUCKY - Jennifer Lynn Fowler Accused Of Throwing Bag Of Kittens Out Of Car |
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| KENTUCKY - Severely emaciated horses rescued in Mercer County, volunteers need assistance |
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| KENTUCKY - Thirty days of unsupervised probation is what you get in Kentucky for abusing dozens of animals |
Dacci said most of the time when a bill for animal protection rights is brought before committees concerning animal welfare they are shut down. She said if the citizens want to see change for the better they should cast their votes for those in Frankfort who also want to see humane treatment.
“There is a strong lobby of houndsmen who apparently have pull with legislators,” she said. “They allegedly fear the laws will prevent them from keeping their beagles in rabbit hutches or chained.”
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| KENTUCKY - Ricky Gee jailed after pleading guilty to animal cruelty |
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| KENTUCKY - Butler County Couple Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty |
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| KENTUCKY - Pendleton County KY Attorney Jeffrey Dean needs to be fired! |
She thinks both sides could work together but elected state officials need to be asked their opinion on reports such as these before they are elected.
“Local citizens also need to be repetitive with local officials to report animal neglect, starvation, abuse and hoarding.”
Dacci said Animal Control Officer Nick Brown or the sheriff’s department is usually the contact in these instances.
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| KENTUCKY - Charged in June 2015 with 36 counts of animal cruelty, twice convicted cocaine dealer Chris Pope somehow convinced a judge to return his Presa Canarios. Today, several of them mauled his neighbor. |
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| KENTUCKY - Brent Basham, 41, charged with cruelty after letting his horse's leg rot off |
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| KENTUCKY - Eugene Geno Floyd, says he "forgot" to feed dog |
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| KENTUCKY - Martin Co man, Arthur Leedy, charged with 27 counts of animal cruelty |
“In our national rescue circle, everyone knows Kentucky is the worst in the nation for animal protection,” Dacci said. “We are called 'Lawless Kentucky' by many activists and rescuers. It's probably one of the most shameful aspects of our state. We are known from coast to coast of our laws and care of animals, or lack thereof.”
For the eighth year in a row, Illinois takes first place—followed by Oregon (2), Maine (3), California (4), and Michigan (5). Iowa finished in 49th, Wyoming 48, Utah 47, and North Dakota 46, rounding out states with the weakest animal protection laws.
(The Morehead News - Dec 25, 2015)
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