In response to new guidelines recently released by Louisville Metro Government, the Zoo will be requiring masks inside of buildings including Gorilla Forest, the Islands, HerpAquarium, MetaZoo, African Outpost and the Zoo’s gift shops effective Monday, August 2, 2021.

This metro change is due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly contagious Delta variant. The new policy applies to every person regardless of vaccination status.

Guests outside of Zoo buildings do not have to wear masks but are encouraged to social distance. The Zoo has disposable masks available for guests.

Louisville Zoo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (enjoy until 6 p.m.) through September 19, 2021.

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Illegally dumped trash is more than just an eyesore! It is expensive to clean up, it negatively impacts our quality of life and economic development, and the plastic debris may end up in our waterways and oceans. Individuals caught dumping illegally may have their vehicle impounded and face fines and fees totaling about $1,000. 

We have recently posted images on social media asking for help identifying illegal dumpers caught on camera and reporting when a vehicle was impounded. WDRB also helped spread the word about the negative impacts of illegal dumping. View their story here. 

Residents are encouraged to fill out this online form if they witness illegal dumping. The form can also be used to share home security camera footage or images of illegal dumping occurring with our Solid Waste Enforcement Department. Go to Louisvilleky.gov/IllegalDumping to learn more about how you can help prevent illegal dumping. 

Did you know..? Many waste materials can be dropped off legally and for FREE. Up to three large household items, up to 4 passenger tires, and up to 3 electronics items can be dropped off for free at the at the Waste Reduction Center, located at 636 Meriwether Avenue. A pickup truckload of yard waste or construction debris can be disposed for only $60.00.

Residents can also utilize the free Pop-Up Drop-Off events that occur monthly, on a Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., March - November, in various parts of Jefferson County. Items must be separated into the various categories for easy off-loading. Know before you go! View the accepted items list here: Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps

Related WDRB news article HERE.

Yes, we are still working on the second round of recycling cart deliveries! If you’re still waiting for your new recycling cart, here is the latest update:

1. The first round of deliveries was done by our contractor during the month of June. We started allowing residents to fill out the Request Form during this process so they could report if they were missed.
2. For the second round of deliveries, we are using the form submissions to create delivery lists for our crews. For efficiency, they are delivering based on recycling route days. All Monday route addresses, then all Tuesday route addresses, etc. 
3. Addresses with Monday recycling have already had their second round of deliveries. If you have recycling collected on Mondays and filled out the form after this was done, you’ll be waiting till the third round of deliveries.
4. Crews were not able to do deliveries last week due to the heat and staffing constraints. As of August 4, we are still working on delivering to houses with recycling collected on Tuesdays.
5. We are working on solutions that will help this process move faster and we appreciate your patience!
6. We will continue to collect recycling from the small bins until January 1, 2022.
7. The new grant-funded carts are intended for households that did not already have a rolling recycling cart with wheels. If you already had a recycling cart and are experiencing overflow, consider purchasing an additional recycling cart or using a store-bought container that is 30-40 gallons, has handles, a lid, and is labeled RECYCLING. Only recycle what is accepted, crush containers, flatten cardboard, and recycle items loosely (not in bags). 

The new every other week recycling schedule is in effect. Keep up with the schedule by downloading the Recycle Coach app. Learn more about this recycling cart project at Louisvilleky.gov/RecycleMore. Set reminders and allow notifications to hear from us if there are issues or delays in waste collections

Pollywog: What a difference a week makes for a shy dog.  Pollywog has finally come out of her shell, thanks to daily playgroup sessions with other adoptable dogs. Pollywog loves playing with them in between pool breaks because she’s a water doggy! An approved adopter can adopt Pollywog for free thanks to the Pay It Forward Program. Pollywog is an approximately one-year Beagle mix who weighs 43lbs. Child testing is mandatory for families with children. Pollywog can also be tested with other dogs or cats by request. For more info about Pollywog, send an email to animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov. To meet or adopt Pollywog, visit Animal House Adoption Center, located at 3516 Newburg Road, open from 12-6pm daily.

Francisco:  When it comes to grades, Francisco gets three F's: Fun, fun, fun! The one-year-old Siberian Husky mix is one of the happiest, liveliest adoptable dogs you'll meet at Animal House. He has a super sweet personality to match his sweet face. Francisco is somewhat of a velcro dog, so he prefers to stay by your side - just in case a spontaneous party starts up and you need entertainment. Francisco loves a good time! Adopt him for free with an approved application, thanks to the Pay It Forward Program. Francisco weighs 45lbs. He's already neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. Francisco can be tested with children, other dogs, or cats by request. For more info about him, email animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov. To meet or adopt Francisco, visit Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Road), open to walk-ins from 12-6pm daily.

Major Shannon Lauder

Major Shannon Lauder joined the Louisville Metro Police Department in 2008. She served as a patrol officer in the 4^th Division, primarily in the Old Louisville neighborhood. She also spent 6 years as a hostage negotiator and team leader for LMPD’s Hostage Negotiation Team. She was a detective in the Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) investigating physical, sexual and internet crimes against children across Louisville Metro.

She was then promoted to sergeant in 2015, where she served in the 6^th Division before becoming a Professional Standards Unit investigator. She was promoted to lieutenant in 2018 and served as a patrol lieutenant in the 4^th Division. Most recently she was assigned as the Commander of the Special Victims Unit. The SVU consists of the Sex Crimes Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit and the Crimes Against Seniors Unit. In 2020 Major Lauder was promoted to the rank of Major and serves as the Commander of the 4^th Division.

Major Lauder holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville. She is a graduate of the 143rd Session of the Southern Police Institute’s (SPI) Administrative Officer’s Course at the University of Louisville.

Visit http://mapit.louisvilleky.gov/  and type in your address to find out when your junk pick-up date is as well as street cleanings and additional information.

Visit at https://lge-ku.com/outages/report/streetlight to report a street light outage in your neighborhood. When reporting a street light outage, be sure to have the pole number, which can be found on a metal plate on the pole.