2021 animal WELFARE BILLS

Amend KRS 525.135, relating to torture of a dog or cat, to add specific acts to definition of torture; make all violations a Class D felony; make each act of torture prosecutable as a separate offense; make the exemptions applicable only where there is no intent to cause, increase, or prolong the pain and suffering of the dog or cat. . 

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to provide civil immunity for damaging a vehicle if a person enters the vehicle with the reasonable, good-faith belief that a dog or cat is in immediate danger of death if not removed. 

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 525 to define terms; require peace officers and animal control officers to serve notice of seizure of an animal subjected to cruelty; create procedure for seizing agencies to petition a court to order payment of animal care costs by owner; establish penalties; prohibit the destruction of seized animals, except for humane reasons determined by veterinarian. 

Repeal and reenact KRS 525.135 to define terms; create new crimes of animal abuse in the first degree, animal abuse in the second degree, and aggravated animal abuse; create exceptions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to authorize law enforcement and animal control officers to seize and hold animals who are victims of cruelty or abuse; create a civil cause of action for a seizing agency to seek forfeiture and reimbursement for reasonable costs of caring for seized animals from the owner of the animal during the pendency of the criminal case against the owner; create rules related to the custody of the seized animal; grant liability to an organization caring for the animal; create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to grant civil immunity to a person who enters a car containing a dog or cat believed in good faith to be in danger of death, subject to certain parameters. 

Amend KRS 512.010 to include "livestock" as defined in KRS 150.010 in the definition of "property" for the purposes of criminal damage to property offenses. 

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to provide civil immunity for damaging a vehicle if a person enters the vehicle with the reasonable, good-faith belief that a dog or cat is in immediate danger of death if not removed. 

Amend KRS 258.500 to prohibit the misrepresentation of assistance dogs; allow peace officers to investigate; amend KRS 258.991 to remove jail penalty and to conform. 

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 258 to define "animal shelter," "breeder," "broker," and "retail pet shop"; prohibit retail pet shops from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits; allow retail pet shops to collaborate with animal shelters to showcase dogs, cats, or rabbits; require retail pet shops to maintain records documenting the source of each dog, cat, or rabbit it sells for at least one year; amend KRS 258.990 to include a penalty for retail pet shop operators who violate this Act. 

Create a new section of KRS 258.095 to 258.500 to enable local governments to legislate enforcement action for dog and welfare safety, so long as that the ordinance, regulation, or policy does not regulate ownership of a dog based on its breed or perceived breed and is consistent with state law. 

 Amend KRS 246.120 to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to appoint members of the State Board of Agriculture; amend KRS 257.230 to establish the duties of the state veterinarian. 

Amend KRS 403.720 to include violence against an animal when used as coercive conduct in the definition of "domestic violence and abuse"; amend KRS 403.740 to allow a judge to award possession of a shared domestic animal to the petitioner; amend KRS 456.010 to include violence against an animal when used as coercive conduct in the definition of "dating violence and abuse"; amend KRS 456.060 to allow a judge to award possession of a shared domestic animal to the petitioner.