Petition Update: KY Cracks Down on Chaining Dogs & Animal Torture With New Law

Good news for dogs and cats in Kentucky: the state’s animal cruelty laws just received a massive update! Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 258 into law to better protect dogs and cats from torture. The legislation is also called Ethan’s Law — in honor of a dog who reportedly survived being beaten, starved, and abandoned.

The new law strengthens Kentucky’s definition of torture and abysmal animal cruelty laws, which have been noted as offering some of the worst animal protections in the country. Ethan was present when the bill passed.

While the previous laws used vague language as to what constituted torture, the amended law uses clear definitions that prohibit chaining dogs, tossing dogs or cats in dumpsters, sealing dogs or cats in boxes, tying dogs and cats up with tape or rope, and other forms of cruelty.

“The way this law is written now, it gives us the tools that we need when we make a case against someone that’s abusing animals by way of neglect or other means,” Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden told local news. “It makes it a lot easier for the prosecution to be successful.”

A significant change is that those accused of animal cruelty will also be charged with a felony instead of a misdemeanor. This means that instead of just a slap on the wrist, those prosecuted can face up to five years in prison. The new law also allows law enforcement to charge perpetrators for each offense instead of lumping them together.

Many Kentucky citizens are relieved that the new law will provide harsher sentencing — Sheriff Hayden recalled a case of 38 dogs starving to death where the person responsible only received probation and three days in jail.

Dogs, cats, and all animals deserve a home where they feel safe, loved, and free from harm. This change will bring justice to the victims and hopefully serve as a solid deterrent to potential offenders.

More than 38,000 people signed our petition urging Kentucky’s legislature to pass this Bill and strengthen animal protection laws in the state. Thank you to all who signed! This overwhelming support from the public is a testament to the power our voices have in advocating for change.

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10 months ago

Pup who Went Viral Chasing After Doggy Daycare Bus Has Found His Forever Home

Home » Animals » By Jen Mashuga | August 28, 2024

Courtesy of Keller Creek Boarding and Grooming

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Waylon, a stray dog who was recorded chasing a doggy daycare bus, has found his forever home. He also gets to ride the same bus he was once so determined to board, according to The Washington Post.

No one knew where he came from, but Carnesville residents provided food and shelter for the friendly Labrador retriever when he began showing up in the neighborhood.

One day, Tyson Cash, co-owner of Keller Creek Boarding and Grooming, stopped to let a dog get onto his daycare bus and Waylon tried to climb aboard, too. Unfortunately, without knowing his health history, Cash was forced to drive off without him.

Waylon didn’t give up so quickly, though — he chased the bus for as long as possible, while Cash recorded a video of his steadfast pursuit.

Keller Creek Boarding and Grooming/Facebook

Cash uploaded the video to Facebook and also asked his wife to post Waylon’s photo, hoping someone would recognize him and come forward with information about his guardian. No one did, but Waylon immediately caught the eye of Keller Creek customer Sadie Peace.

“To see a dog so desperate to catch a ride was very heartbreaking,” Peace told The Washington Post. “I thought, I’ve got to reach out and see if anybody has a home for this dog. If not, I want him.”

After Cash told Peace where to find Waylon, she went to adopt him. Waylon was underweight and had fleas and ticks, so their next stop was the vet. Surprisingly, Waylon had a microchip. His former guardian agreed to release Waylon to Peace, but Peace could not get any additional information about the guardian from the microchip company.

Peace believes Waylon may have been abused due to neck scars and displays of fearfulness. She’s working hard to make him feel safe with her family, which includes 2-year-old Labrador sibling Nellie.

“We’ve been showing him that we’re not going to hurt him in any way and that he doesn’t have to be scared around us,” Peace said.

After his vaccinations were up to date and the fleas and ticks were gone, Keller Creek posted a Facebook video of Waylon’s first day at the daycare with Nellie. Spoiled with treats and pool time, Waylon is finally living his best life.

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10 months ago

LFT Helps ‘Break The Chain’ for Dogs In Sweltering Summer Heat

Home » Animals » By Jen Mashuga | August 20, 2024

Dog Freed From The Chain (Jessica Brooke Arnold/Lady Freethinker)

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Lady Freethinker’s (LFT) “Break the Chain” campaign is helping free dogs from their tethers and keep companion animals safe as temperatures soar.

LFT has teamed up with ChainFree Knoxville (soon to be ChainFree USA) to sponsor backyard builds for chained and tethered dogs, allowing them to run, play, and seek shelter from the sweltering heat.

The builds feature a fenced-in enclosure with an insulated doghouse, canopy, elevated bed, water bucket, flea and tick collars, fly traps, yard spray, and fly repellent. The dogs are also neutered or spayed when needed. Each build provides at least 800 square feet of room for a single dog, but that amount is adjusted for households with multiple dogs, depending on the space allowed.

Diamond — Before & After (Jessica Brooke Arnold/Lady Freethinker)

These improved spaces have been transformative for the dogs who receive them. For Diamond, whose space was once littered with debris, it meant finally being free to run to her heart’s content. This transformation inspires us to continue our efforts in improving the lives of tethered dogs.

For Bear, who came from a household of five dogs, this not only meant that he and his siblings could play without chains, but also that he could live more comfortably in the heat. ChainFree Knoxville additionally provided a grooming service to remove his unkempt, matted fur. Bear’s vision was finally unobstructed, and the painful tangles were gone.

Lady Freethinker is also putting up a new billboard in Houston, urging guardians to free their dogs from the tether and bring them inside during the scorching temperatures. In a state number one in the U.S. for heat-related pet deaths, people must take notice.

With summer temperatures in Houston regularly soaring to 92 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, the situation is urgent. In June 2023, the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reported an alarming 243 heat-related calls in just the first three weeks, as well as three tragic deaths. One dog found dead chained to a fence had no access to water or shade, according to a local news report. The dog was thought to have been dead at least a week before authorities came.

Dogs are sentient beings who are happiest when they can run, play, and spend time with their families. They feel stress and loneliness, especially when they’re forced to spend their lives outside at the end of a rope.

LFT asks all dog guardians to keep their companions safe, bring them inside, and sign our pledge, promising never to chain or tether your dog. If you see a dog tethered outside, lacking food, water, or shelter, we urge you to report it to the authorities.

SIGN: I Pledge to Never Chain or Tether My Dog!

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10 months ago

Dogs in RI Shelter Have a New Way to Meet Prospective Adopters Thanks to Scout Project

Home » Animals » By Jen Mashuga | August 9, 2024

Courtesy of Michelle Decelles

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Dogs at a Rhode Island animal shelter will now get the chance to connect with their future guardians in an outdoor play area, thanks to the ingenuity and compassion of a local troop of Boy Scouts.

This initiative, led by 17-year-old Norman Decelles, is a shining example of the positive impact just a single person can have on animal welfare.

“When it came for him to do his Eagle Project, I knew it would revolve around animals,” Michele Decelles, the Scout’s mother, told Lady Freethinker. “We go once a year to St. Marteen and while on vacation, he volunteers at the animal shelter.” After visiting Cumberland Animal Control and brainstorming with the officers, he realized the shelter needed an outdoor play area — and quickly set to work on making the idea a reality.

This initiative provides a safe and enjoyable space for meet and greets between the pups and people.

“The dog will always act differently if they’re in a cage and you’re behind a wall, and you don’t really get to have that much hands-on experience with the animals,” Norman Decelles said.

Providing time for dogs to play outside is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. Extended periods of living in a shelter can lead to increased anxiety and stress for any animal. With shelters across the country reaching capacity, any initiative that can help the dogs feel calmer and more relaxed — thereby facilitating their connection and bonding with future families — is a great idea.

Some might wonder about the community’s cats. Following the success of the dog’s play area, the shelter is now considering the addition of a “catio.” If built, the cat-friendly space could inspire similar initiatives in other shelters.

Lady Freethinker commends the Scouts’ compassionate plan and resourcefulness in providing a space for dogs to show their true personalities and find their forever families sooner.

What’s New…

10 months ago

Kidnapped Dog Rescued 2000 Miles From Home & Reunited With Family

Home » Animals » Kidnapped Dog Rescued 2000 Miles From Home & Reunited With FamilyBy Jen Mashuga | August 27, 2024

Teddy and Riverton Police Officers (Riverton Police Department/Facebook)

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A 4-month-old miniature poodle named Teddy, who was stolen from his home in Ontario nearly a year ago, has finally been reunited with his family.

According to his guardian, Alaina Tripp, a man named Paul Sheehan frequented her neighborhood and often asked if he could watch Teddy while she was at work. She declined. A month after Teddy joined her family, she returned home to discover that the dog was gone, local news reported. Tripp’s heart was shattered, but her determination to find Teddy was unwavering.

Ten months later, Tripp was surprised to receive a call from Riverton, Wyoming, with extraordinary news: Teddy had been found.

When Riverton Police Officer Don Nethicumara pulled Sheehan over for running a red light, Teddy was discovered sitting on his lap. Sheehan was cited for drug possession, but he was not arrested at that time. The officer later took Teddy when he discovered Sheehan had a warrant in Canada for stealing the dog.

Nethicumara noted Teddy’s matted fur, but when he brought him to the police station, he seemed in good spirits. He stayed at the station for a few days, keeping himself entertained with a ball, before the Paws for Life animal shelter took him in.

“It seemed like Teddy had been cooped up in the car for so long,” Nethicumara said. “He was running wild … playing fetch by himself.”

The joy was palpable as Teddy wiggled his way into the hearts of all the officers. They couldn’t resist his playful antics, so they posted heartwarming videos of him on Facebook, spreading joy to the entire community.

Riverton Police Department/Facebook

Unfortunately, Nethicumara learned that the warrant for stealing Teddy wasn’t extraditable, so they needed another way to get him home. After a brief stay at Paws for Life Animal Shelter while arrangements were made for transport, Teddy’s family raised enough funds through the help of a GoFundMe started by a friend and safely brought Teddy back home across international borders. Tripp reported that he is happy and enjoying getting to know his new canine brother, Milo.

Lady Freethinker commends the Riverton Police Department and Officer Don Nethicumara for getting Teddy back home.