For 14 years, Bandit the miniature horse has been a beloved part of the Germantown neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. Known affectionately as “the pony lady,” Bandit’s owner has cared for him since he was just six months old, providing him with a safe, clean, and loving home where he has thrived for more than a decade.

Bandit is more than a pet — he is a community treasure. He has attended a neighbor’s backyard wedding, brings daily joy to children and families who stop by to feed and pet him, and has become a source of happiness, connection, and comfort for people of all ages. Bandit loves the attention, and the neighborhood loves him right back.

Despite years of exemplary care and repeated inspections confirming that Bandit is healthy, well-fed, and properly housed, a new ordinance passed on October 20, 2025 now requires miniature horses to be kept on at least one acre of land. This ordinance includes no grandfather clause, meaning long-time, responsible owners like Bandit’s are suddenly at risk of losing animals they have cared for responsibly for years.

Prior to this change, Bandit’s home was fully up to code. Animal control has visited multiple times in response to complaints, and each case was closed immediately after inspections confirmed Bandit’s excellent care and living conditions. There is no question about Bandit’s welfare — the only issue is a blanket rule that does not take individual circumstances into account.

Bandit’s owner is scheduled to appear in court on January 7 to ask a judge to allow Bandit to remain in the only home he has ever known. This petition is a show of community support, compassion, and reason. It demonstrates that Bandit’s presence is not a problem — it is a benefit.

We respectfully ask the court and city officials to:

• Allow Bandit to remain in his current home
• Recognize the exceptional care he has received for 14 years
• Consider community impact and animal welfare when applying the ordinance
• Support a reasonable exception or grandfathering for responsible, long-term owners
  
  

Let Bandit stay home. Please sign this petition to show your support for Bandit, his owner, and the Germantown community. If Bandit has brought joy to your family, your children, or your neighborhood, now is the time to speak up.