Local no barking ordinance riles Humane Society
The Wadena Humane Society is upset with some new changes to the city's kennel ordinances.
One of the changes requires that all dogs be kept quiet from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. Kennels like the Humane Society must also install a five-foot fence.
Carolyn Hartman, volunteer shelter manager with the local Humane Society, says some of the ordinances are not workable.
She says keeping the dogs quiet for 17 hours is nearly impossible and that the ordinance was put into place without any public meeting. The new fence will cost the Humane Society about $6000.
The city council made the changes after residents who live near the Humane Society complained about the noise and smell.
"The issue isn't a single dog barking for five minutes," said city councilmember Gillette Kempf. "The issue is 20-plus dogs barking continuously for 20-plus minutes."
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