Residents Warn Kennel Rules Could Squeeze Legitimate Local Businesses

Resident Andrew Bertrand told the board he supports improvements in the draft but fears it will "restrict the legitimate businesses, the ones who are trying to make a legitimate business" while doing little to deter illicit breeders. He noted the draft's listed fines — "$50 fine and $100 fine and $250" — might not be strong enough to prevent repeat offenders and said the law lacked concrete noise standards (decibel levels) to determine nuisance violations.

Board members and ad hoc committee participants responded that the draft was revised following review and that the goal is to close the loophole that allowed prior problematic operations referenced in the hearing as K-9 Gen. Committee member Darryl said the ad hoc group met line-by-line with a potential operator and that the operator was comfortable with the final draft. "We're not here to regulate somebody that's got a bunch of pets," Sam told the hearing, framing the law as targeted at incompatible commercial operations rather than ordinary pet ownership.