Assembly passes kennel and cattery ordinance

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly last night  unanimously passed an ordinance that now requires the owner or custodian of a dog kennel or a cattery to reside on the property where the animals are kept.Willow residents Steve and Laura Stine brought the topic to the attention of the borough’s animal control department as they live next to an unattended dog kennel and have to content with late night barking and the concern of uncared for animals in their neighborhood.

During the meeting, animal control chief Bob Haskel said that the practice of staking dogs out on unattended lots is quite common in the borough and that he is greatly concerned about it.

Assemblyman and musher Vern Halter was worried that the ordinance unfairly singles out the mushing community, but Haskel countered that the ordinance targets the “wanna-be” mushers who are not knowledgeable about safe and humane dog and kennel care. He said, the intent of the ordinance is to provide humane treatment of dogs and cats and to prevent animal cruelty or neglect due to absentee owners or caretakers.

Eight people provided public comment and were all in favor of the ordinance for the sake of protecting the animals as well as people.

The ordinance passed with three minor amendments and with the understanding that the animal control board is in the process of re-writing the code that spells out the borough’s animal care regulations.