NICHOLASVILLE, Ky.-- Klaire is the 18-year-old mare found emaciated, unable to walk, hardly able to lift her head, with sores over her body. While making a miraculous recovery at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, she's inspiring her caretakers and politicians to push for more punishments for horse abusers. 

• A bill would make certain horse abuse a Class D Felony in Kentucky with some exceptions, punishable by one to five years in prison, and with a fine from $1,000 to $10,000. 
• The legislation is inspired by a horse, Klaire, that's rescued and recovering at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center. 
• Under the legislation, if passed, ownership rights could also be revoked or altered. 

Klaire is still shaky, but she's regaining her rhthym at a rate no one expected. 

"Really the big thing was, she's able to lift her front feet. But you can tell when she walks, it's not a smooth gait," explains Karen Gustin. 

Karen Gustin, the executive director at the equine humane center, remembers feeling saddened at Klaire's state when she was rescued and arrived in their care. Now on her miraculous road to recovery, Gustin and her staff want to see fewer situations similar to Klaire's. She supports State Representative Diane St. Onge's bill for a law change, to make certain horse abuse a Class D felony, with some exceptions. That would mean a punishment of one to five years in prison, plus a fine from $1,000 to $10,000. The republican from Fort Wright's bill would also revoke or alter ownership in some cases. 

"Currently, it's a misdemeanor for someone that's convicted of animal cruelty," Gustin says. "That penalty is very slight, often times because of the situation that some horses are- and small animals- are found in."

In a statement, St. Onge explains the inspiration behind the bill: 

"Compared with the rest of the Nation, Kentucky ranks at or near the bottom of states which have laws protecting against animal cruelty. While we value our agriculture industry, racing institutions, and sporting associations, and strongly honor and support these traditions, we must do more to protect our animals from egregious and despicable acts of neglect and abuse.  Klaire's Law, HB 307 is narrowly tailored to the equine species, and addresses animals wherein the abuse results in serious physical injury or death; a body score of 3 or less on the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System, as determined by a veterinarian; or sexual contact between an individual and the equine. There are numerous exceptions to the above including, but not limited to, protecting those with licenses to hunt, trap, etc., as well as standard husbandry practices, and veterinary care.  I was moved to file this bill after I witnessed the horrendous and pitiful condition of Klaire, who scored a 1 on the scale above, due to extreme neglect. There is no valid slippery slope argument here. It is 100% neglect and warrants a Class D Felony and removal of the animal from its owner and/or imposing conditions on ownership by judicial order."

To read the full bill, click here. To donate to Klaire's recovery, learn more here.