The Citizen, 2005-06-30, Page 21THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2005. PAGE 21.
Pet Rescue owner confused by council decision
By Elyse DeBruyn
Lucknow Sentinel
A decision made by Ashfield-
Colbome-Wawanosh council left the
owner and employee of Pet Rescue
confused and upset after the June 21
meeting.
Kathi Newell-Nicholson, owner of
Pet Rescue, said the minutes from
the Nov. 16 meeting clearly state
that the dogs on Mary Jane and
Corey Breen’s property are covered
under the kennel licence fee that
they received in February.
“According to the minutes, her
(Mary Jane) dogs should fall under
the kennel licence fee,” she
said.
The minutes say “... Therefore the
foster home of Breens as part of Pet
Rescue will not require dog tags for
the pets at this residence but the flat
kennel fee.”
“They (ACW council) are not
following what they said at the
beginning,” said Newell-Nicholson.
“They knew before they gave the
kennel licence that M.J. has 12 dogs
that are her own.”
She said she called surrounding
municipalities that have kennels in
them and asked what their policy
was on kennel fees.
“I called Central-Huron, Howick
and Huron-East and not one requires
separate tag fees for personal dogs
on the property, if the property has a
kennel.” She said she also called
Goderich, but no kennel licences are
issued.
Nine dog runs were built onto the
Pet Rescue building to make a total
of 14, which are to house dogs that
can be adopted out.
Newell-Nicholson said before the
expansion was added. Breen had
taken in dogs to her home because
there was no room at Pet Rescue at
the time of their arrival. Those
animals were soon adopted out.
Newell-Nicholson said Breen had
received an e-mail from the ACW
office stating ‘that it was time to
update her dog tag fees to which
Breen replied she didn’t need to as
her animals fell under the kennel
licence.
“Within 40 minutes. Bob Trick
(animal control officer) was at her
door with police wanting to know
why she wasn’t going to pay her
fees," she said; “He said he wanted
to see inside Pet Rescue. I’m
assuming to see if the animals were
being mistreated, but I'm not 100
per cent certain why. When Mary
Jane said he could, he didn't want
to.”
Newell-Nicholson said Breen had
paid her dog fees in 2004 and
assumed, because of the Nov. 16
minutes, that she wouldn’t have to
pay the dog fees in 2005 because her
animals fell under the kennel
license.
She said Breen used to breed her
animals, but has since been
convinced to have her dogs
neutered.
“All of Mary Jane’s dogs are
neutered now, so no she doesn’t
breed her animals anymore.”
Newell-Nicholson said.
She said since November, Breen
has also adopted out five dogs which
she had taken in and cared for. Right
now, Breen has three dogs living
with her that did belong to
Pet Rescue, but due to lack of
space, they came to live in her
home.
“Those dogs can be adopted out if
a good home is found for them," said
Newell-Nicholson.
“We’re not trying to get out of our
obligations or fees, but council said
she won't have to pay the tag fee so
long as a kennel fee is paid
for.”
ACW says ‘personal’ dogs still require tags
Continued from page 20
kennel fee, but personal dogs would
require dog tags.
The improvements were
completed and Pet Rescue received
the kennel licence which meant if
nine “runs” were built then Pet
Rescue could have nine more dogs
come and go to the shelter. The
kennel licence doesn’t grant
approval or cover another 12 dogs
running around the property without
dog tags, it only means the dogs in
the runs are covered by the licence,
the rest must have dog tags.
June 21, Newell-Nicholson, and
the Breens along with their
representative Quinn Ross, from
Ross and Ross law offices in
Goderich, returned to council. They
questioned why the Breens have to
pay dog tag fees for their 12 dogs
inside their house and why they
don’t fall under the kennel licence
for Pet Rescue.
Ross said the Breens and Newell-
Nicholson thought that the Nov. 16
ACW minutes meant all dogs on the
Breen property fall under the kennel
licence fee and that they don’t have
to pay for dog tags.
“The Breens are a foster home for
dogs and they have put their personal
funds into Pet Rescue to help expand
the kennel,” said Ross.
“(Because of the November
minutes) they (Breens) think if they
pay a kennel licence for Pet Rescue,
they don’t have to pay for the dog
tags.”
Ross told council that Mary Jane
Breen was taking in stray dogs and
adopting them out before Pet Rescue
even started.
He said the Breens adopted their
dogs and if they had to, would adopt
them out to suitable owners, and'
Mary Jane said they don’t really
want to do that because “they are
personal dogs.”
“I love my dogs,” said Mary Jane.
“I don’t see why I have to give up my
family.”
Ross said because the Breens take
in stray dogs, it’s a benefit to the
community and without their
services, dogs would be euthanized
unnecessarily.
“By no means is this setting a
precedent (having the Breens’ 12
dogs fall under the kennel licence
instead of paying for the tags),” said
Quinn.
However, ACW Reeve Ben Van
Diepenbeek said the kennel licence
was issued to the Pet Rescue
building, not to the Breens’ home
because “a house is not a kennel.”
Councillor Eric Gosse said if the
Breens were willing to bring their
house up to par for a kennel and
follow all the regulations required,
then maybe a kennel licence could be
issued.
When Van Diepenbeek asked Trick
if it would be possible to turn a house
into a kennel. Trick said, “I don’t
know if a kennel can be put into a
home.”
“You have to think about proper
ventilation, proper drainage, things
like that,” said Trick.
Van Diepenbeek said he and the
councillors were willing to
compromise with the Breens as they
are doing a service to the community.
“We’re willing to meet half way,”
he said. “If you adopt out, let’s say
six or seven of your dogs and keep
the rest as your own personal dogs,
then we can let you pay dog tag fees
for the dogs you are keeping as your
own.”
Council agreed that the Breens
will pay individual dog fees for all
12 dogs, if they weren’t willing to
adopt out their dogs or if their house
cannot be brought up to kennel
regulations (in order to get a kennel
licence.)
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