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Flash is a senior Basset Hound with a loving family, a safe home, and two Basset siblings – all of which he can now lose. The reason? The decision to start enforcing an ordinance allowing only two dogs per household in Wadena, Minnesota.
“I have three dogs. The chief of police decided to start with my family because we have three dogs. Three amazing Bassets,” writes Amber, the animals’ caretaker, who has started a Care2 petition to gain Support in the case. The case itself seems positively bizarre for dog lovers, especially those who share their homes with a few four-pawed friends.
According to the petition, the mayor and the city council members of Wadena point out that the ordinance was only to be enforced if the presence of more than two dogs in a household causes complaints. The Bassets’ family did not have any recent complaints – only one about barking from a year ago, after which they put up a privacy fence, as suggested by an officer.
However, now the family is being told they need to re-home one of their dogs. What is more, this process of expecting certain households to adhere to the rule seems to be carried out haphazardly, not treating all dog guardians equally. “The mayor has a list of over thirty houses with ‘too many dogs’ but the police don’t want the list as they are not ‘going head hunting,’” writes Flash’s caretaker. “Yet the chief came to me, saying, ‘we know you have three dogs and you need to get rid of one!’”
The family has a senior Basset with heart problems who has to take medications twice a day and a Basset sister rescued “to be his therapy dog.” Flash was rescued six years ago and the family cannot even imagine giving him up because of the ordinance – with no ground for its enforcement. They send out a message: “My family needs to be together. Flash’s heart is breaking. His furry siblings, Comet and Roxy, are stressed. My 11-year-old daughter and myself are stressed. Please Support our fight in keeping our furry friend.”
Click here to sign the petition and Support Flash and his family!
Image source: Amber B/Care2
“The only difference between a dog, cat, horse and dolphin and a cow, chicken, pig and turkey is perception. One is no more valuable than another. And yet in this culture, we hold the former animals in high esteem and the latter we brutalize for food. All animals are deserving of respect and freedom from violence. The way to respect others is veganism.”
https://www.befairbevegan.com/
The only comment I would make is that no matter what the limit was 6, 12, 22 ? there would be someone who would say they are entitled to have them if they decide so. Now what do you do – I think the local authority should have the power to make local rules as the council or local group determines is best. I cannot think of any rule that would be acceptable to 100% of the locals ! Nevertheless – since this family has 1 much older dog, this case should be decided as just a new rule going forward…then once the older dog passes away..they are not allowed to get a replacement for him. That seems the fair way to rule on this. But only if every person in the area is subject to the same rule !!! They would still have the \’nuisance\’ ordinance to keep things under control.
I signed this already. It is appalling that people can have as many children as they want even when they can not afford them or are not great parents yet people can have only two dogs/ And what if the people with more than two children (and two is quite enough unless they are adopted) were asked to pick one and give her/him up. Grrr!
Absolutely out of line, I also live with a pack of 3 dogs. I find it absurd to do this as well as citing people for sleeping in their vehicles and many other ways people can harass others; sorry to hear you are going through this! <3
Well said, Kate. And, that said: even I were a millionaire, I wouldn\’t live in a place that can dictate such nonsense to ya in the first place.