Kennel plan dogged by questions

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/04/2014 (3640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A conditional use application by an RM of Hanover resident to setup a dog breeding kennel along Road 37N was greeted cautiously by council at a public hearing on Wednesday.

Johann Thiessen told council he is purchasing a existing kennel operation closer to Mitchell and plans to move it to his farm. His application would allow for him to keep 15 adult dogs in the kennel.

Thiessen was quizzed by Councillor Clif Bakx about whether he had any background in dog breeding. While it is something entirely new for Thiessen, he told council that he looked to follow the example of the previous owner in constructing his kennel and said he received other information from that owner on how to operate it properly.

“Right now we have nothing to base your success on,” Bakx told him.

Thiessen also faced questions about how he would deal with fecal matter on the property. As Bakx mused, and Thiessen agreed, the property could have upwards of 65 dogs at one time, including adult dogs and pups.

Thiessen suggested he would dig a hole for the waste and then cover it up. That idea was quickly dismissed by municipal planning manager Jeremy Neufeld, who told council that any such operation would either need a proper composting program established or would need to transport waste to a landfill.

Neufeld also noted to council that the province has suspended its dog breeder licensing program due to lack of resources but added there are still regulations under the animal care act that breeders must follow.

Neighbor Eleanor Penner expressed concerns about how the site would be maintained, the value of her home, and whether Thiessen had already done some work on the building.

“Has the applicant already started building on the grounds that (the application) is going to be passed,” she wondered aloud.

Reeve Stan Toews asked Thiessen to respond to Penner’s question. Thiessen acknowledged that some work on the kennel began last summer.

Council sent the matter to the planning committee for further study.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Local

LOAD MORE