Lexington pet owners could face fines for leaving pets out in extreme weather
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fines of $100 to $500 apply to pets left outside over 95°F or under 32°F.
- Cattle, horses and fowl are explicitly excluded from the new outdoor exposure ordinance.
- Judges may require impounded pet owners to pay food and board or forfeit ownership.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council on Thursday approved changes to city ordinances that allows animal control to fine pet owners who leave animals outside and unattended in temperatures above 95 degrees and below 32 degrees.
Fines range from $100 to $500.
Cattle, horses and fowl are excluded from the ordinance.
The move comes after the city and council received complaints, particularly during last summer’s extreme heat about animals left outside, said Council member Emma Curtis, who represents the 4th Council District, which includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Tates Creek and Nicholasville Roads. Curtis is one of the sponsors of the ordinance.
A committee of the Urban County Council approved the changes to the ordinance June 9.
The ordinance also updates multiple ordinances related to animal care and control, including clarifying when owners accused of abuse and neglect can reclaim their animals.
Currently, animal control officers have the authority to take temporary custody of animals in unsafe environments and charge the owner with a criminal offense.
Negligent owners can reclaim their animal after it has been impounded, because the law is not clear.
Animal control can keep the pet while the court case against the owner proceeds.
But once the case is settled, the owner can still reclaim the pet — even if they are convicted in court of the alleged crime.
Changes made to the ordinance now make it clear when an owner accused of abuse and neglect can get their animal back.
Under the new rules, when animal control impounds a pet, a judge will schedule a hearing to determine if there is probable cause of a crime committed by the owner.
If the judge rules there is probable cause, the judge may require the owner pay a fee to animal control to cover food and board for the pet while the case proceeds.
If the owner cannot or refuses to pay the fee, they will be forced to forfeit ownership of the pet, which will then be given to the Lexington Humane Society for adoption by a new owner.
The ordinance takes effect immediately.
