Great News for Kentucky's Homeless Animals!

Posted by Matthew Liebman, ALDF Staff Attorney on March 6th, 2012

The Clay County (Kentucky) Circuit Court entered an agreed order of judgment today resolving a lawsuit against the county to stop systematic abuses at the local animal shelter. Represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, plaintiff and lifelong Clay County resident Tori Smith alleged that the Clay County Animal Shelter failed to meet the minimum standards of care mandated by Kentucky’s Humane Shelter Law. Thanks to this legal victory, Clay County will now send its dogs and cats to the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter in Rockholds, Kentucky for the provision of sheltering and animal control services that comply with the state’s required standards of care.

Homeless animals may still be kept at the Clay County shelter until they are transported to the Knox-Whitley shelter, but Clay County will now fully comply with all state standards at its facility.

ALDF credits the new Clay County government and the leadership of Judge Executive Joe Asher for working with ALDF to improve the lives of Clay County’s dogs and cats.

These improvements are a far cry from the deplorable conditions that existed when Ms. Smith filed her lawsuit against the county in 2010. These photos were taken at the Clay County shelter just before the lawsuit was filed:

Males and females were housed together and fed on the ground, not in bowls.

Sick kittens with eye discharge.

Celebrated actress Ashley Judd has joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s campaign to urge Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to protect Kentucky’s homeless animals through tough enforcement of the state’s Humane Shelter Law. Join her in our fight to help all of Kentucky’s homeless animals by signing the online petition today!