Petition to Reform Kentucky Wildlife Rehabilitation Policies To: Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Commission From: Concerned citizens of Kentucky and beyond We, the undersigned, call upon the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources to immediately review and reform current wildlife rehabilitation policies in order to prevent the unnecessary euthanasia of orphaned, injured and displaced animals. Twenty two orphaned baby fawns were recently euthanized unnecessarily. 
They had been taken into the care of  a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center and were being treated with kindness and compassion. The decision to kill them was not based on the health of the fawns or their ability to survive, but rather on outdated, barbaric  regulations. Such actions undermine the very mission of conservation, compassion, and stewardship that Kentuckians expect from those entrusted with protecting our wildlife. We believe this is unacceptable. Wildlife deserves every opportunity for survival, especially when trained and licensed rehabilitators are willing and able to provide care. Policies that prioritize rigid jurisdictional lines over the welfare of living beings fail both the animals and the public’s trust. We respectfully request that KDFWR and the Commission: Amend rehabilitation policies to prioritize the welfare and survival of orphaned or injured wildlife above administrative boundaries. Establish a statewide wildlife rehabilitation coordination system that ensures animals can be transferred to any available licensed rehabilitator, regardless of county of origin. Develop humane alternatives to euthanasia when rehabilitation placement is available, including inter-county agreements and emergency placement protocols. Increase transparency by publicly reporting all cases where healthy wildlife is euthanized for non-medical reasons, along with the justification and decision-making process. Kentuckians believe in compassion, stewardship, and responsible care for our natural heritage. The unnecessary euthanasia of healthy orphaned animals is not reflective of those values.  By updating outdated  policies, Kentucky can set a precedent for ethical wildlife management that balances conservation with compassion. We urge you to act swiftly to ensure that what happened to these 22 fawns never happens again.