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WE NEED ALL WESTERN KENTUCKY SIGNATURES ON PAPER SO PLEASE VISIT THE LINK ABOVE, PRINT A COPY OF THE PETITION, SIGN IT AND COLLECT AS MANY SIGNATURES AS YOU CAN, AND RETURN IT BY MAIL TO 

NURTURE TO NATURE

P.O. BOX 9527 

OWENSBORO, KY 42302

 

 

On August 27, 2013, Daviess County Fiscal Court held a public hearing to discuss the Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance change. There were approximately 75 people present at this public hearing, and there were comments made from people that want this ordinance changed for various reasons and there were comments made from true animal lovers who were concerned of how this ordinance change is going to affect their lives with their pets or their animal rescue efforts.

     

        There were several people at the hearing from the Owensboro Humane Society that were concerned about how this ordinance change would affect many animals lives. In the Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2012), the definition of a kennel is, “Any premises where any person or entity engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee, selling or adopting cats and dogs.” In the Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2013) draft, the definition of a kennel is, “Any premises where any person or entity engages in boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for fee, selling, providing temporary sanctuary, rescuing or adopting dogs or cats, except a kennel shall not include boarding at a facility owned and operated by a licensed veterinarian.” As you can see, “providing temporary sanctuary” and “rescuing” have been added to this proposed ordinance change’s draft. In Section VII of the current animal control ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2012), it states that a kennel license may be issued to facilities that meet the terms and provisions of the ordinance, so it is not likely that the Owensboro Humane Society is not at all concerned about their facility being eligible for a license. What they are concerned about is Judge Executive Al Mattingly’s comments in the Messenger-Inquirer that the ordinance being considered would “ban animal rescue organizations from housing a large number of dogs and cats in residential neighborhoods” and “some of these organizations have 12 dogs or 10 cats on hand at a time. That's too many for a residential neighborhood”. Judge Executive Mattingly also said that “there would be no charge for the license” (although at the hearing and in the draft presented, it said that there would be a fee of $25.00) “but we wouldn’t license them in a residential neighborhood.” At the public hearing, someone asked if each "foster home" would also have to be inspected and licensed and the Fiscal Court said that each foster home would require annual inspections and licensing as well as the main facility, although each location may not be charged the license fee. So if they don't think that a residential neighborhood is an appropriate place for cats and dogs to be housed until they are adopted, where will these poor animals go when the Owensboro Humane Society has no room left to house stray animals? This is a major concern for many people, and there is good reason for that. 

 

        Daviess County Animal Shelter legally has to take in any animals in Daviess and McLean County, and when they run out of room, there are animals euthanized. Their current euthanasia rate is 30%, one of the best in the country for a “kill shelter” but what is going to happen when their number of intakes rises because people cannot run animal rescues or foster a “large” number of animals from their residential neighborhood homes? Sadly these animals willl die.

 

        Also present at the hearing was a local family, that has pet sheep, that lives in a subdivision on the east side of Daviess County. Earlier this year, the family had filed an appeal with Planning and Zoning, and the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Board of Adjustment declared that these sheep were this family’s pets and that they were allowed to keep them. At this time, the definition of a pet in the Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2012) was stated as, “Any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility; under no circumstances shall a non-domestic animal as defined in this Ordinance be considered a pet unless specifically provided herein.” The proposed Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2013) draft declares a pet as, “Any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility; under no circumstances  shall a non-domestic animal or livestock, as defined in this Ordinance be considered a pet unless specifically provided by this ordinance.” So just by adding “or livestock”, this ordinance change counters what the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Board of Adjustment has already declared “okay” for this family. Now you may or may not agree with having sheep as pets, but it is obvious that this is just not right for Daviess County Fiscal Court to change this part of the ordinance after another section of the county has already stated that they can continue enjoying their pet sheep on their property.      

 

        Also considered livestock would be poultry, or backyard chickens. As a lot of people know, backyard chickens are becoming a big hit in many cities, but not in Owensboro if this ordinance changes! Mr. Mattingly told the Messenger-Inquirer that they “are not contemplating allowing chickens in suburbs.” So everyone that has backyard chickens right now, enjoy them,because if this ordinance passes, you will not be able to have them anymore.    

 

        Also to be affected by this ordinance change will be wildlife rehabilitators. Wildlife rehabilitators care for injured and orphaned wildlife. All wildlife rehabilitators in Daviess County currently work out of their homes, in residential neighborhoods. Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed through the state of Kentucky and are inspected annually by the game warden. They have successfully rehabilitated wildlife at their current locations for several years, and then released these animals at safe locations away from neighborhoods. There is a widlife rehabilitator in Daviess County that actually takes animals into schools in the area to educate children on each animal and how they can help. Opportunities like this should not be taken away from our community.

 

        The way the Daviess County Animal Control Ordinance KOC 1010.6 (2012) is written, it is doing its job very well. Why change it when it's working so beautifully? Both Daviess County Animal Control and Green River District Health Department have provisions in place in the current ordinance to handle any situation accordingly. If the ordinance is not being followed, the well being of an animal is on the line, or an intrusion of other peoples rights is occurring, they can step in and take care of the issue. A lot of times, neighbors get upset and make a call to Animal Control or the Health Department and expect them to get rid of the problem when there are absolutely no laws being broken. This is what is happening here. The naysayers always have the louder voice. It is time for us to step up and be heard, not only for us but for these animals who have no voice! 

 

Please sign the petition to give these poor, innocent animals the voice that they need.