Alongside other concerned advocates active in animal rescue here in Louisville, I’ve been checking on dogs who are kept outdoors 24/7 — often without adequate shelter and with no protection from extreme heat, freezing temperatures, or storms. We have filmed violations, reported cases of neglect, and found new homes for dogs who would otherwise still be chained or penned in a backyard day after day.

Dogs forced to live this way can suffer from exposure, untreated medical conditions, and the profound psychological toll of spending their entire lives chained at the end of a 10-foot tether or confined to a small pen. These billboards are designed to prompt action — encouraging residents to recognize the signs of neglect and report it when they see it.

I'm also dedicated to advocating for stronger laws to protect Kentucky's animals, as our current laws are lacking, to say the least. As of 2025, Kentucky still sits in the bottom tier -47th in our ranking for animal protection laws, and from 2007-2018, Kentucky was ranked DEAD LAST at 50th.

But laws alone aren’t enough. We need to change hearts and minds, encourage the public to report animal cruelty, and ideally inspire a spark of compassion in those who do this to their dogs. With your help, I can place billboards in strategic locations in the Louisville area where "backyard dogs" are most often seen.

The new billboards feature the image of a chained dog hunched outdoors in cold conditions beside the words “THIS IS NOT OKAY.” A phone number for reporting neglect appears prominently on every board. The campaign directs residents to Louisville Metro Animal Services, where suspected neglect can be reported, and welfare checks can be requested.

The billboards also incorporate the hashtag #SnipChipTagContain, an initiative led by Tara Bassett and Dogs On The Run 502 promoting spay/neuter, microchipping, visible ID tags, and proper containment to help prevent animals from becoming lost, injured or worse.

Every dollar raised goes directly toward billboard rentals, and invoices are posted in the updates on this page for full transparency. Your support helps bring this urgent message — and the information needed to report animal cruelty — to the areas where it’s needed most.

Thank you for standing with me—and for them!!