LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A complaint filed in June against the Kentucky Wildlife Center in Lexington led to the seizure of nine animals last week – and charges against the center’s president.
“It’s a bad reflection when you dedicate your whole life to the welfare and care of wildlife, and then someone tells you that you own them,” says Karen Bailey, president of the Kentucky Wildlife Center.
Bailey says she realized a few weeks ago that she was missing a permit for some of the animals kept at the Kentucky Wildlife Center. She believes regulatory changes in the last year contributed to the problem.
On Thursday, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources seized nine animals that they said were kept illegally.
Authorities charged Bailey with nine counts of violating the right to keep protected wild animals without a permit.
Bailey says she tried to get the permit when officials came to her house on Thursday, but that didn’t improve the situation.
“They came with a group of people, it was like a raid on a $25 permit for someone who’s had it for 18 years,” Bailey said. “I’m not a criminal. I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket.”
In a statement to WKYT, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources wrote, among other things:
“Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s investigation stems from a complaint received in June raising concerns about the welfare of the animals owned by Karen Bailey,” the statement continued. “Because the animals are now in the care of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, a decision regarding their ultimate disposal will be made later based on the animals’ available facilities and medical records.
Bailey says she is concerned that the three otters and six raccoons were taken from their familiar environment.
“We offered them full access to the facility so the animals could stay until we found a solution,” Bailey said. “I’m struggling because I feel like I’ve betrayed the animals. I stuffed them into a transport box to load them into the back of a truck.”
WKYT asked Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for an interview, but they said that because the case is ongoing, they could not comment further.
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