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LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 4.17 117 provisions for neglect or abandonment, no restrictions on future possession of animals for those convicted of animal cruelty and veterinarians being prohib- ited from reporting suspected abuse due to confidentiality.) Rusty Ford, the equine program manager at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, says the Borrell case brought incredible challenges, the main one being finding a patchwork of farms that would accept the animals. "A number of the facilities require transfer of ownership before they can or will accept horses," Ford explains. "While in this instance we were able to work through those issues, having a facility operating in a defined manner to fill that temporary housing void would be welcomed." "Hey, Sugar Bear," Cheak says, rubbing a white donkey named Jack under the chin. She points to his petite sidekick name Peppermint. "He's a bucking, biting little fella." Cheak is visiting these animals at McConathy Farms, a rescue organi- zation that agreed to partner with the Equine Sanctuary Center until it raises enough funds and finds a farm to lease. Marylu Ernsting, a co-founder of the center, says the facility may encourage county Animal Control officers to inves- tigate and act on horse-cruelty cases more aggressively. Because counties have to foot the bill on animals seized, it can create hesitance, Ernsting says. Counties need to find space to put the horses and cover expensive veterinary costs. (In March the Kentucky Legislature passed a bill that would allow courts to collect restitution or take away horses from anyone convict- ed of second-degree animal cruelty.) But with the Equine Sanctuary Center, horses in need would have a caregiver, shelter and their medical costs covered. Ernsting stresses that a lot of good work is already being done on behalf of horses in Ken- tucky. But there's room for improvement. "We don't want to step on anyone's toes or look to do better than what's already being done," she says. "We want to fill in that gray area." Two mares continue to recover from malnutrition and neglect.