A new animal control ordinance may be on the way to Warren County after magistrates on Thursday were presented with a proposal that would place guidelines on the handling of pets and animals which, if adopted, would be the first animal control ordinance in Warren County government history.

Assistant Warren County Attorney Sarah Bessinger delivered the presentation to the Warren Fiscal Court. No action was taken during the meeting, but Bessinger said an animal control ordinance is something the county has been “lacking.”

“As we urbanize … I think residents are wanting and expecting the same amount of enforcement that you would get if you were in the city limits,” Bessinger told officials.

Under the ordinance, the retail sale of animals and roadside animal sales would be prohibited. “Humane standards” for breeding and boarding facilities would be regulated and inspections for compliance would take place.

Animal control needs are currently handled by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society, and state law mandates that pets be provided with adequate food, shelter and health care.

Bessinger stated that the ordinance would be enforced through a complaint-driven model and existing county code enforcement personnel would handle cases. Fines with graduated penalties would also be in place.

“This is designed to prevent long-term costly problems and problems we are seeing in our subdivisions,” Bessinger said.

Judge-Executive Doug Gorman expressed his support for the ordinance, saying that responsible pet ownership is an “extremely important thing.”

“We do have people who can’t walk and can’t do things in their subdivision because someone is not doing that,” Gorman said. “We want to protect the majority from the minority who’s not doing the right things.”

A first reading of the ordinance is expected at Fiscal Court’s meeting on March 12.

Improvements to the seasonal SOKY Ice Rink also received attention Thursday as magistrates voted to advertise for bids to build a platform for the rink to sit on, which will protect the asphalt surfacing below.

Gorman told the Daily News that the cold temperatures from the rink and changes in air temperature have “destroyed” the pavement at the SOKY Center, where the rink is hosted during winter months. In the off season, the platform could be used for other purposes.

“If we get the right bids … we can use the platform as a stage,” Gorman said.

Fiscal court will convene again March 12.