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<br /> <br /> <br /> Council of <br /> <br /> d <br /> M ° Minnesota Council of Dog Clubs <br /> . ~ <br /> Cal <br /> rA <br /> Nlarch 22, 1994 <br /> Dear. Arden fIi Lls City Counr.il Member; <br /> The Minnesota Council of Dog Clubs. Inc. (MCDC) writes this letter on <br /> behal[ oE the responsible dog owners of Arden Hills. We urge you not to oass <br /> the dog ordlnance proposal that is on the city council agenda for March <br /> 28th. We propose that this matter be tabled at this time to allow for <br /> consideration of the model ordinance developed by MCDC whicti we will <br /> provide to you within the next month. Ttie MCDC model ordinance accords fair <br /> and equitahle treatment to those responsible dog owners who are not the <br /> source of nuisance dog problems in any community. <br /> The mc<iel ord-i.nance c{raws on the data from and the esperiences oF <br /> comm!initie3 with successful animal control programs. Effective programs <br /> target irresponsible dog ewners who are the source of complaints and <br /> nuisarice problems arid hold thlem. accountable for their acttons. Responsible <br /> pet owners acid hahbyists are nct penal:ized by simplistic number limirs that C <br /> lnfringe on their rightg r.o enjoy the compantonship of their dogs. Piany of <br /> thesr hobbyist serve the cammunity with their dogs as ambassadors to <br /> schools, nursing homes and community service agencies. Many of these dogs <br /> work iri our communities as resctie doas and canine service dogs and their <br /> owners are active in the breedi:ig and training proErams r.hat produce these <br /> useful caciine citizen3. <br /> 7'he pllppie, that are raised by hu:;by fanciers make the best pets as <br /> thPy have been bred for good teniperament and hcalth and they are <br /> careFillly placed ln responsible pet-owning homes. These fanciers work <br /> closely with each puppy's new family to educate them regarding their <br /> responsibilities as good dog neighbors. In this way, hobby breeders make a <br /> positive contribution to the communiT.y. <br /> It is ttie behavior of irresponsible dog owners that causes problems fn <br /> any community, not the number of dogs per famLly. We are aware of no <br /> egitimate, scier.tific studies linking ttie numbers of dogs per household <br /> with inrraased deg related problems in any community. Conscientious, <br /> kriowledgeable dog owners can and do manage multiple dogs in their homes <br /> w;.thout causicig any annoyance to theit neighbors. Most fancters keep <br /> multiple dogs to enable them to en,joy their chosen dog activ±ties to the <br /> fuliest and these responsib.le people should not be penali.zed by an <br /> artificial riumber limit whicti w,l.ll not solve the problems created by the <br /> 1.?'re3pons;.ble owners of one or Lwo dogs ttiat allow their animals to roam <br /> , and bark, defecate and desTroy at will. We musC work tog?ther to write <br /> faic and equitabie dog laws based oIi accurate da*a that will penalize <br /> irrespor,sible dog os.ners witho{ir ]Am.tt.tng the rights of those who value <br /> their dogs a7- compa_nions and partners. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> P.O. Box 1333 ? Minnetokka, MN 55345 ? 612-227-2639 <br />