Who’s minding the store? By KAREN KENNEDY The very first time Who’s Minding the Store? ran in the Messenger it featured a photograph of a dead horse named “Star” who lived on 1.574 acres and was provided so little food and water that she literally starved to death. While the article featuring Star may have elicited reader response and raised awareness, it has done little to stop horse abuse and neglect in our community. Since then, there have been several more instances of abuse and neglect here in Meade County. Some cases have already gone to court and others are still mucking their way through the legal system. If I’m not mistaken, all of these cases involve horses kept on less than five acres, which is what Kentucky Revised Statutes (100.111) states is the appropriate acreage for keeping horses. All of these people with horses on less than five acres are in violation unless they fall under grandfathering by KRS. The Meade County zoning ordinance also states an individual must have five acres for one or more horses. The funny thing is that Meade County’s response to horse neglect and abuse has been to support the lowering of standards. Yes, you heard that right. Instead of religiously enforcing the five-acre rule, Meade County elected officials and appointed officials as well as certain citizens would like to figure out a way around the five-acre law and require less acreage for horses. Word on the street is that we’re looking at requiring three acres for the first horse and then perhaps a half-acre (or maybe a full acre if they’re feeling generous that day) for each additional horse. Now keep in mind this isn’t pasture we’re talking about. We’re talking about the piece of property that has the house, outbuildings, swimming pool, garden, and whatever else already on it. Many of us fully realize that an individual can keep a horse – and do it extremely well – on less than five acres. For argument’s sake, I suppose you could keep one in your living room, ensuring it is well fed and permitted outside every day for plenty of sunlight and exercise. We also know there are a lot of people out there who don’t do the right thing, and those are the ones for whom we must write our laws. How many people do you know who are good-hearted, intelligent people, yet you’d be the first to say the “Common Sense Fairy” didn’t sprinkle enough of her pixie dust when she was making her rounds? How many people do you know who know the difference between right and wrong yet consistently do the wrong thing anyway? Or, worse still, they have trouble differentiating between the two? This is why we have laws – because people don’t always exercise common sense nor do they always do the right thing. It’s the way of the world in which we live. We should all find it very sad that the county’s response to the neglect and abuse of horses is to loosen the laws. What’s even sadder is that not once have I heard one of our public officials talk about what is best for the animal. Not once! The health and well-being of the horses appears to be secondary. We seem more concerned about the desires of the people and to heck with the repercussions their desires may have on the horses. For at least some of our elected officials, this acreage movement is about capturing votes. It’s about helping out his or her relative or buddy who has horses and is perhaps already in violation of Meade County’s zoning ordinance. It’s become a game of “Let’s see how we can get around this five-acre law and appease the people.” Hey, ever think about telling your friend or relative, “I’m sorry, but this is the law and if the state recommends it, maybe it’s a good thing”? I don’t know about you, but I wish they wouldn’t even touch this ordinance during an election year. Seems to me a better decision might be made during a nonelection year? My next beef. Has anyone actually taken the time to research what amount of acreage is appropriate for a horse? Certainly there are several credible organizations and authorities that can be consulted. Let’s not make a decision by the seat of our pants. Remember – this is supposed to be about what’s best for the horses. Isn’t it? We’ve got another problem and that is with some real estate agencies and land companies. I’m not naming names, although one name in particular keeps popping up as a major offender. Seems this company will sell a couple/few acres to people – often folks from Louisville – and tell them they can have horses and their “own little mini-farm right here in the country.” When the truth of the matter is, doing so violates the law. Are the people who work for this company simply trying to make a sale or are they just plain ignorant? You be the judge. Next concern. Our laws here in Meade County have been enforced sporadically, selectively, and slowly, if at all. Case in point is our abandoned property ordinance. It’s been over a year now that we’ve had an abandoned property ordinance on the books yet no one appointed to enforce it. If we can’t enforce an abandoned property ordinance – can’t even do the right thing for the people – do you really have much faith in the right thing being done for the horses? I don’t. The beat goes on. Because Meade County is “thinking” about changing its acreage ordinance for horses, we’ve slacked off on enforcing it. The law is the law, and until if and when it is changed, it should be enforced. Let’s say, for example, the Brandenburg City Council is thinking about increasing the speed limit to 45 m.p.h. on Broadway in Brandenburg. Would city council ask Brandenburg Chief of Police Jason Amburgey not to enforce the current law since the city is “thinking about” changing it? Geez, I hope not. When Pets in Need Society hit the ground running in 2000, there were a number of people who felt this group was barking up the wrong tree. Animal welfare in Meade County was still back in the 1970s and most people held little faith that was ever going to change. Most of the dogs that left that shelter did so in black, plastic garbage bags and from there were tossed into a landfill. Thank God for those PINS’ members who forged blindly ahead – knowing their mission was pure and true – and refused to take “no” for an answer. While no animal control program is ever perfect and there’s always room for improvement, animal welfare in Meade County is now firmly planted in year 2006. Making a poor decision for our horses will turn back the hands of time. In the area of animal welfare, we’ve made and continue to make such amazing progress in Meade County. Why the heck would we want to screw it up now? One last thought for you, and you need to think long and hard about this one because it affects both your lifestyle and your pocketbook. If the county takes the acreage down to three acres, the only way horses will be kept out of subdivisions is through subdivision deed restrictions. However – and please pay close attention here – if you want your deed restrictions enforced, you are going to have to hire an attorney to do it. Have you priced the hourly rate of an attorney lately? These attorney’s fees will be on your personal dime! Is your subdivision safe? Do you want horses in your subdivision? Could you sell your property with horses next door? If your neighbor doesn’t do a good job taking care of his horses – if these horses begin to present problems for you and your family – how much is it going to cost you to pay a lawyer to get the horses out of your subdivision? If you even can… Sometimes the job of “minding the store” falls to YOU. Got a topic you’d like to see discussed? Contact Karen Kennedy at 422-2155 or send an e-mail to messenger@bbtel.com. The Messenger will consider all topics and select those that best lend themselves to the column’s format. All comments in response to the column should be sent to the Messenger in the form of a Letter to the Editor.
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