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London residents ask council to enforce ordinances against backyard kennel barking
Summary
Residents told the London City Council that a neighbor is operating outdoor kennels and breeding beagles near homes, prompting repeated complaints about noise, smell and property damage and informing council staff that criminal charges were being prepared under existing city ordinances.
Nancy Brennan, a resident at 169 East High Street, told the London City Council on March 19 that her neighborhood has persistent noise and other problems from a neighbor operating outdoor kennels and breeding beagles. "Our neighbor is breeding beagles, and he has outdoor kennels," Brennan said, adding that the dogs "can be very vocal" and bark around the clock.
Brennan said the dogs have dug under fences, run into nearby gardens and created fly and odor problems during warm weather. She said she represents about a dozen other households and that neighbors have reported birds fouling vehicles with dog food on the property. "One kennel is 25 feet from my bedroom window," she said.
Council members and staff told Brennan that the city has noise and animal ordinances that can apply and that City staff—specifically the code enforcement officer, referred to in the meeting as Steve Hume—has visited the property. Council members confirmed the law director’s office had informed staff that charges would be filed on the noise violation and that the case was in process. "It is already in the process," a city official said, and "charges are gonna be filed against him," referring to the property owner.
Council members advised Brennan to continue filing complaints with code enforcement and to provide photographic evidence; staff suggested she give permission for officers to take photos from her property. Several council members suggested the zoning code could restrict commercial breeding in residential districts and that separate enforcement or zoning checks may address whether the operation constitutes an unauthorized business.
The council did not take formal action during the meeting. Instead, staff said the matter was being handled through code enforcement and the law director's office and recommended Brennan contact the law director for specifics on the charges once the director returned from vacation.
The council record shows the complaint was raised during the public comment portion of the March 19 meeting and that staff confirmed they were pursuing violations of city ordinances cited by the resident (identified in the meeting as sections 61807 and 63406). Residents may pursue further enforcement by filing additional complaints with code enforcement.
The council did not set any additional hearing or formal review on the item at the meeting.
