ORDINANCE NO. _______________, SERIES 2019
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 91 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES ("LMCO") TO CREATE AN ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENDER REGISTRY (AS AMENDED).
body
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER BRANDON COAN
WHEREAS, Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government ("Louisville Metro") finds that animal abuse is a serious problem in our city, state and country;
WHEREAS, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund Annual Study, the Commonwealth of Kentucky consistently ranks among the worst, and most recently as the worst among the 50 states with respect to animal protection laws;
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has criminalized the cruel treatment of animals, and yet the problem persists;
WHEREAS, studies have shown that people who have abused animals are likely to abuse animals again, and there is a recidivism rate near 100% for certain types of animal abuse;
WHEREAS, decades of research have shown a strong correlation linking people who abuse animals with incidents of interpersonal abuse such as domestic violence and child abuse;
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro recognizes that Jefferson County residents and their animals need protection, and that an online registry identifying animal abuse offenders is necessary for that purpose;
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro has determined that an online animal abuse offender registry will help prevent individuals convicted of criminal animal abuse from adopting, fostering, purchasing, possessing, or otherwise obtaining control over animals by any means; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro finds that creating this Animal Abuse Offender Registry Jefferson County will serve the public health, safety, and welfare of Jefferson County residents and their animals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Council hereby amends LMCO ? 91.001 to include the foll...
Click here for full text