"It doesn't seem fair, but that's the way it is."

We list this article mainly to demonstrate an attitude that seems to be common with current county government officials. Although this is not what we consider a "hot" issue, we just want you to see in print what we see in Hendricks County government meetings more often than we would like to. You don't have to read the entire article, just scan down to the part highlighted at the bottom.

Pet owners may be zoned as private kennels

By Adam Coates

Flyer Staff Writer

DANVILLE -- Hendricks County residents who own four or more dogs or cats may be surprised to know that an ordinance requires them to obtain a special exception from the Hendricks County Board of Zoning Appeals and be recognized as a private kennel.

Attorney John Moore said the ordinance applies to all residents living in R-A or R-C zoned areas.

"Most residents fall into this category," he said.

Only those individuals who live within town limits or whose property has been zoned as an agricultural district are exempt, Moore said.

"People may be in violation and not know it," Plan Commission Director Terry Jones said.

Such was the case with Dorothy Thornbrough who, upon deciding to have identification tags made for her five dogs, was made aware of the ordinance.

Thornbrough was at this week's meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals with Moore, who asked the board to make a special exception for Thornbrough's five dogs and to grant her the status of a private kennel on her residentially-zoned property.

"They're not running loose in the neighborhood," Moore said of Thornbrough's dogs. The dogs are kept in the house most of the time, he added.

Moore made his request to the BZA on behalf of Thornbrough who, he says, feels that complying with the ordinance is the right thing to do. The board members agreed.

In his presentation to the board, Moore stated that according to a staff letter he had received from the county, Thornbrough would be limited to the five dogs she currently owns and that she may not exceed the three-dog limit once two of her dogs are deceased.

"At some point in time, she'll be down to three," Moore said. "They're not running around and causing a nuisance."

Board member Joann Groves questioned the staff letter by stating her concern that problems with animal waste may become an issue with such an arrangement.

"These are standard issues," Jones assured Groves.

For the county's many dog owners who think a three-dog limit is too strict, Jones said that staff members from the county have been talking to animal control to possibly raise the limit, as long as dog owners keep their pets updated on shots and identification tags.

"I think there's a lot of innocent ignorance," Jones said.

In the end, the board voted in favor of granting Thornbrough a special exception, recognizing her as a private kennel.

Board member Sam Himsel said of the ordinance, "It doesn't seem fair, but that's the way it is."

adam.coates@flyergroup.com