Associated Press
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — The planned expansion of a dog kennel near here has led animal advocates to urge officials in central Minnesota’s Morrison County to set new regulations for dog breeders.
Chad Hines was granted a permit last week to expand his kennel from 20 adult dogs to 80. Hines trains dogs for hunting, and some advocates say they don’t necessarily object to his business.
But they’re concerned that county officials allowed a moratorium on new kennels to expire without adopting a new ordinance.
Dog breeding businesses have been an issue in the area since a 600-dog breeding operation was approved in Belle Prairie Township in January 2006. A lawsuit was filed against the county for the action, and a Court of Appeals decision in the case is expected soon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mike Fry, executive director of the no-kill shelter Animal Ark in Hastings, said advocates thought county officials were going to have an ordinance in place when the moratorium expired in August.
"I think people are feeling a little bit lied to," he said.
The county’s overall land-use ordinance will include the new breeder regulations, which are taking officials more time than expected to draft, said county zoning administrator Jane Starz.
"Redoing an ordinance is a very tedious, long-term process," she said.
