KRS 437.415: Findings of the General Assembly.

The General Assembly finds that the caring, rearing, feeding, breeding, and sale of

animals and animal products, and the use of animals in research, testing, and education,

represents vital segments of the economy of the state, that producers and others in volved

in the production and sale of animals and animal products and the use of animals in

research and education have a vested interest in protecting the health and welfare of

animals and the physical and intellectual property rights which they have in an imals, and

that there has been an increasing number of illegal acts committed against farm animal

and research facilities. The General Assembly further finds that these illegal acts threaten

the production of agricultural products, and jeopardize crucial s cientific, biomedical, or

agricultural research, and finally, the General Assembly finds that these illegal acts

threaten the public safety by exposing communities to contagious diseases and damage

research.