Father to be allowed to care for his deployed son’s dogs

When the law is so inflexible that it doesn’t allow for human circumstances, we are inclined to agree with Charles Dickens’ Mr. Bumble: “…the law is a ass—a idiot.”

Henry Carroll, a 45-year-old Army veteran from North Carolina, owns three little Dachshund-Poodle mixes. When his son, Adam, was deployed to Iraq, he agreed to watch Adam’s two little Dachsipoos while he was gone.

However his county limits residents to owning only three dogs without applying for and being granted a kennel permit. One neighbor complained of barking late into the night, which Carroll denies.

While the law has good intentions, to keep people from hoarding large numbers of dogs and becoming a public nuisance, clearly it needed to be revised when the complaints of one neighbor could cause the county to become involved and demand that the two dogs be relocated regardless of the circumstances.

Happy ending: whether from compassion or fear of bad publicity, county officials agreed to amend the law to allow up to six dogs if people could document that the extra three were being cared for temporarily, such as deployment or hospital stays.

Hurray for election years.

Source

Comments

[Lora]

It is just amazing to me how restrictive government is. The more we give up our rights the less free we become. I am glad they made the provision for the soldiers family.. I guess it wouldn't have looked good, being an election year and all!

[Carolyn]

I agree with Mr. Bumble in this case! A neighboring county here has that same condition up before its city council. They aren't even considering spayed animals as an exception, just the # per household. I'm sure if it passes, it'll trickle to mine. It stinks. I think the shelters will see an influx of pets and no way to care for them. I have 2 spayed dogs & 2 spayed cats that live inside and are surrounded by an invisible fence outdoors. No way would I give any of them up! I'd exercise that right to bear arms first.

[schnoodlepooh]

I'm glad that worked out for him. We have the same law here (3 dogs) and... well... don't ask, don't tell.

I just keep the boys in at night so they don't bark after 10 pm and we try very hard to be good neighbors. If there is no reason for anyone to complain, then we're okay - right?

[Lida]

Of all things! First our soldiers have to endure extended tours but this…

Here we are allowed up to 6 dogs -which can be good or bad depending on the dog owner.

We did just have 77 (yes you read that correctly) little dogs seized from a puppy mill. Now our animal control and humane society are full. I wonder if this will push the county commis to try and change the 6 dog law.

[jackie]

thank goddess for smart judges...

[Big_Dave_T]

I think that guy personally deserves a medal for watching five dogs. Just the one I have keeps me busy enough. In fact, he's staring at me as I type this. Let's see what he wants . . .

He wanted a treat. But he hasn't eaten his dinner yet. No treat till he eats his dinner. He knows it too.

[rosemary]

YEA....this time. The picture is small...I am trying to see a doxipoo mix...a curly hot dog?

[Lola Smiles]

oh, that's a good ending. :)

[K9 Amiga]

huzzah!

[K9 Amiga]

i think the sardines were the turning point for me : )

[teetotaled]

thank goodness! Sometimes the law certainly punishes those it aims to protect.

[c]

Yay, glad they changed the law! Our limit is 2... and we have 6 now. But that is our personal limit! :)

[Tony]

I'm glad they worked this out. It's bad enough that poor man had to send his son off to this illegal war. Then to have his son's dogs taken away. I have to say though. I can see where 6 small dogs could raise quite a ruckus if they were in the mood.