LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After public outcry, Louisville leaders will recommend a change to a new city ordinance that will allow a beloved miniature horse to stay at his home near Germantown.
Bandit has been a part of the Meriwether neighborhood's community for 14 years, since he was a foal. But because of a recent change to city law, he was about to be forced out of his home.
In October, Metro Council passed an ordinance primarily aimed at requiring cats and dogs to be microchipped.
However, further into the legislation, ponies and miniature horses were added to the list of animals required to be kept on at least one acre of land or more — the same requirement as full-sized horses in Louisville. Bandit currently lives on about 0.2 acres.
Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell, D-15, who sponsored the ordinance, said she was not aware of how the provision involving miniature horses was added.
Susan Bruner, who owns Bandit, said neighbors stop by to see him all the time, and he is especially beloved by the neighborhood kids. Bruner's yard, where Bandit has lived for his entire life, backs up to Preston Park, which makes Bandit highly visible to people passing by.
When neighbors learned Bandit might be forced to leave, they quickly organized. A petition gathered more than 500 signatures in a single day, along with messages of support.
Now, Bruner said Metro Council members are working to get that law updated and get Bandit grandfathered in so he can stay.
In a news release Monday, Chappell said she has received guidance from Metro Animal Services as she works to add grandfathering language into the chapter of the ordinance pertaining to ponies, miniature horses, goats, kids, sheep and porcine.
"I want to be clear that I support Bandit and his owner, and I appreciate the compassion this community has shown in keeping Bandit at home," Chappell said.
Chappell said she had spoken LMAS and the Jefferson County Attorney's Office and learned ponies and miniature horses were added to the ordinance because "they were inadvertently omitted from earlier animal control language," and was meant to add clarification, "not to target a specific animal or community member."
LMAS will recommend Bandit be grandfathered into the ordinance, a process Chappell said she's already initiated.
"Bandit has not caused issues with Metro Animal Services in the past, and my goal is to ensure the law is applied thoughtfully and fairly while protecting both animals and neighbors," she said.
Bruner said it's been a long process.
"At first it was just tear-jerking, frustrating. It was right at Christmastime, and then I've got a health scare too, so it was just a lot," she said Monday. "But now I'm breathing, because I do believe we aren't going to lose my baby."
Bruner said she still has to go to court next week, but is expecting a positive outcome.
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