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Romeo's
Law Has Passed the Kentucky Legislature!
April 16, 2008: The Kentucky
legislature has passed Romeo's Law, KY S.B. 58 which
makes it a Class D felony to torture a dog or cat unless
it is a first offense and there is only physical injury
that is not serious.
The bill is on Governor Steve Beshear's desk.
There was one major amendment to the bill that was
approved by both the House and Senate. The torture of a
dog or cat would still be a misdemeanor on the first
offense if the animal sustained physical injury and a
Class D felony on second and subsequent offenses. If the
animal suffered serious physical injury or death, the
abuser could be charged with a Class D felony on the first
and subsequent offenses.
The bill passed both the House and Senate and then each
concurred in this amendment in very short order on April
15.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday,
February 1, 2008
For
more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502)
564-4696
LOW-INCOME
CITIZENS CAN GET VOUCHERS
TO HAVE THEIR PETS SPAYED OR NEUTERED
FRANKFORT,
Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has
announced that low-income Kentuckians again may apply for
vouchers to help offset the cost of having their pets
spayed or neutered.
The
Kentucky Animal Control Advisory Board voted recently to
spend $100,000 on the program.
“The
voucher program is very popular, and I thank the board for
providing more funding,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie
Farmer said. “I also want to express my appreciation to
participating veterinarians. They’re helping the state
deal with a real public safety issue and reduce the number
of unwanted animals in the state. They’re also helping
pet owners who want to do the right thing.”
Previous
rounds of funding for vouchers were exhausted in a few
weeks.
Pet owners
with annual household incomes of $30,000 or less may get a
voucher application from the Department’s Web site, www.kyagr.com;
from participating veterinarians, or by calling the
Department toll-free at 1-888-297-9093. Applicants must
return the completed application with proof of low income
to the KDA.
The
participant will be responsible for a $20 co-pay per
procedure, to be paid to the veterinarian. Vouchers must
be redeemed no later than 60 days after the date they are
issued.
Each
approved household will be eligible for up to two
vouchers. Pets to be spayed or neutered must be 6 months
old or older.
The
voucher program is funded primarily with proceeds from the
sale of spay and neuter license plates. The plates are
available for an initial fee of $25 and an annual renewal
fee of $20. Vehicle owners can get the spay and neuter
license plate by applying at their county clerk’s
office.
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