In August 2025, 22 orphaned fawns at Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary in Meade County, Kentucky, were taken from care and euthanized — not because they were sick, but because state law prohibited them from being saved.

Under current Kentucky regulations, wildlife rehabilitation centers in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zones are banned from holding or rehabbing deer — even healthy, orphaned fawns. These zones include Meade, Breckinridge, and Hardin counties, where no CWD cases were found during the most recent testing season.

Because of this outdated, one-size-fits-all policy, a state-mandated seizure ended the lives of 22 animals that could have been rehomed, rescued, or rehabilitated.

This tragedy isn’t just heartbreaking — it’s preventable.

We call on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Kentucky General Assembly to:

• Immediately review and revise the laws prohibiting deer rehabilitation in CWD zones
• Create an exemption system that allows licensed sanctuaries to care for deer using proper safety protocols and veterinary testing
• Work with wildlife advocates, veterinarians, and rehabilitation centers to ensure laws reflect modern science and compassion.

We understand the risk that Chronic Wasting Disease poses to wild deer and elk herds. But fear cannot drive policy that results in killing healthy animals without case-by-case review, testing, or options for sanctuaries to comply with public health protections.

Kentucky has a proud wildlife heritage — and that should include how we protect the most vulnerable.

Sign this petition to demand that Kentucky update its wildlife laws so that no more orphaned animals are euthanized simply because of where they were found. Let’s ensure the death of these 22 fawns leads to meaningful reform.