Livestock owners in Louisville are raising concerns over a recent Metro Council ordinance initially aimed at updating pet microchipping rules but which also introduced new minimum space requirements for animals like horses, ponies, goats, and sheep kept on private property. At a town hall meeting, community members, including Brandon Feusner of Butterfly Valley Rescue & Sanctuary, warned that stricter land requirements could force vulnerable animals to be relocated to less suitable environments, potentially compromising their care and safety.

Residents and officials expressed confusion and concern about how the space requirement language was added to the ordinance, as previous regulations had exempted these animals from such rules. Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell, a sponsor of the ordinance, admitted uncertainty about who inserted the new language and emphasized the need for community input to guide revisions. She acknowledged the process was unconventional—changing laws before seeking feedback—and committed to addressing the issues raised by affected livestock owners.