Madison County fiscal court holds first reading of updated animal control ordinance

Madison County Fiscal Court held the first reading of Ordinance 2025-005 on May 13, a proposed replacement of the county’s existing animal-control code that would update running-at-large rules, licensing, microchipping, impoundment, adoption procedures and fees.

County staff member Susie summarized the ordinance, saying it would repeal ordinance 19‑09 and establish definitions, animal-control officer duties, seizure and impoundment policy, licensing and microchipping options, rabies vaccination requirements, stray livestock provisions and rules for commercial animal facilities. The summary also outlined a fee schedule and penalties: "Any person failing to comply with the requirements set forth in this ordinance may be fined in an amount not less than $25 nor more than $250 for each violation," Susie said, citing the ordinance text and referencing applicable KRS language.

Court members asked about substantive differences from the 2019 ordinance and requested a version that shows redline changes or a superimposed comparison to make it easier to see edits. Susie said the major substantive changes are clearer authority to enforce running-at-large rules, a microchipping alternative to licensing, and an escalated fee schedule for repeat violations; she said many other changes are structural or wording clarifications to align language with KRS and improve enforcement procedures.

Judge Taylor confirmed this was the ordinance’s first reading; the court did not vote on adoption and scheduled a second reading at the next court meeting. Court staff instructed citizens how to submit comments by email and where to find a draft of the ordinance online.

No formal action was taken on the ordinance at the meeting; court members indicated they were comfortable advancing past first reading but asked for clearer comparative documents before final consideration.