POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa (WOWT) – Karen Davis brought in long-haired German Shepherds in from all over the world.
But most of her dogs aren’t allowed to stay in this part of Pottawattamie County, Iowa.
“Them taking my dogs it hurts because they are a part of my family,” Davis said.
She has 17 adult dogs, and the Sheriff could seize most of them by February 28 if Davis doesn’t reduce the number to four. Operating commercial kennel, even with a state license, violates county residential zoning laws.
“These are local residents that live throughout the area out there that have put up with barking dogs and every property owner has their rights to enjoy their rights out there to enjoy their property peacefully,” Matt Wyant, City Panning Director, said.
The latest last week and the county received a petition signed by 20 neighbors two years ago.
One who signed declined an interview and several others didn’t return First Alert 6’s calls, but another neighbor supports Davis and her kennel.
“The dogs are not a nuisance, we’re out in the country. You hear dogs barking every night so it’s not an issue,” Heath Hoppes, a neighbor, said.
The kennel sits on 22 acres, producing about five large litters, or up to 50 pups a year.
“Far from a puppy mill because we keep everything clean, sanitary and disease free around here,” Kyle King, a kennel worker, said.
The county’s issue is not with the condition of the dogs, but that they don’t qualify the kennel for an ag exemption to the zoning laws.
“A dog is not in the list of agricultural animals,” Wyant said.
Davis says dogs are a part of agriculture.
Though the kennel owner’s argument has failed all the way up to the Iowa Supreme Court.
If these dogs are seized by the county, she will lose her livelihood. One of the pups sells for $2,500.
After extending a three-month deadline another six weeks, a judge warned Davis to remove most of the dogs by February 28, or else.
“Then the country would have to step in and remove the animals from the property and we would have them spade, neutered and up for adoption,” Wyant said.
Davis doesn’t want her dispute with the county to go that far.
“I hope to find as building I’ll be able to put them in. If not if I don’t have my dogs we’ll have to file bankruptcy and get rid of the place,” Davis said.
When the stay ends the end of February, a judge will unleash the county to take enforcement action on the zoning violation.
First Alert 6 asked how the kennel could have a state license if it violates county zoning laws.
The planning director says the state does not check with local jurisdictions when issuing permits.
If all the dogs are removed by the Sheriff, then the county would send a bill to Davis for their care.
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