LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington woman has been charged with sexually abusing her dog after animal control cited video evidence showing her engaging in a sexual act with the animal on Sept. 18. In Kentucky, sexually abusing an animal is a Class D felony.
For longtime animal advocate Anita Spreitzer, the case was both heartbreaking and familiar.
“I’m sorry, I’m emotional about this because 45 years of doing rescue, this is about the worst we’ve seen it,” Spreitzer said.
Spreitzer, vice president and general manager of Paws 4 the Cause, said Kentucky’s laws aren’t strong enough to deter abuse.
“I think a lot of things are just going to the wayside because the animal rights laws here in Kentucky are not strong enough to hold up, and it’s basically people get a slap on the hand and they move on,” she said.
She added that abuse and neglect are at an all-time high. Recently, her rescue took in “Pedro,” a six-month-old puppy with a deep cut across his neck after another shelter failed to notice his collar had gotten too tight.
“Animals are constantly paying the price, and we need stricter laws for sure,” Spreitzer said. “Things need to change, and we need shelter reform, and we need to have somebody that’s going to oversee it and actually watch what’s going on.”
Spreitzer said the problem goes beyond Pedro’s case. Hundreds of animals across Kentucky are suffering, and many shelters are so full they must turn away new intakes.
“To look in their eyes to see how hurt they are and how much love they have to give, it just saddens me because animals have unconditional love for the people that they love,” she said.
She believes one of the most critical steps is passing a statewide spay and neuter law.
“The numbers that we’re seeing are never going to change unless animals are spayed and neutered,” she said. “The most important thing right now for us is that if we can find more foster homes, we can help more animals. There are a lot of animals suffering right now.”
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