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Madison County holds first reading of updated animal control ordinance; microchipping option and running‑at‑large enforcement highlighted
Summary
County staff presented first reading of Ordinance 2025‑005 to replace the 2019 animal control ordinance. The update clarifies running‑at‑large enforcement, adds microchipping as a licensing alternative and revises fee schedules; the ordinance will return for second reading at the next court meeting.
County staff presented the first reading of Ordinance 2025‑005 on May 13, an update to Madison County’s animal control rules that would repeal the 2019 ordinance and revise definitions, running‑at‑large enforcement, licensing, microchipping, fees and penalties.
“KRS allows us the independence to dictate our running‑at‑large laws and our licensing laws,” the county presenter said, explaining the proposal would allow officers to intervene when animals repeatedly nuisance the community and would offer microchipping as an alternative to a traditional license.
The draft ordinance provides a fee schedule (to be set in Exhibit A and subject to fiscal‑court modification) and a penalty section that, in the text read to the court, referenced the applicable Kentucky Revised Statutes and set fines “not less than $25 nor more than $250 for each violation,” with each day constituting a separate offense. The presenter said the ordinance would also escalate return‑to‑owner fees for animals repeatedly picked up by animal control and add updates to adoption pricing and related shelter fees.
Magistrates asked for a redline or a superimposed comparison to the 2019 ordinance to make changes easier to review; staff said multiple draft versions exist from prior review rounds and offered to provide available materials. Several magistrates praised shelter staff and noted the ordinance aligns Madison County’s rules with neighboring counties.
This was the first reading; no vote was taken. The county will publish a draft on its website and accept written public comment by email; the ordinance will return for second reading at the next fiscal court meeting.
