KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather SportsAnimal shelter under fire for not meeting zoning codes
Member Center:
By ELIZABETH MATTHEWS
PITTSBURG, KAN. - A Four State animal shelter's future is under fire for not meeting county zoning codes. The Happy Tails Farms east of Pittsburg has until the Spring to comply with the regulations.
If the shelter does not agree with the codes then legal action may have to be taken.
The Website for Happy Tails Farms says it is a Kansas state licensed rescue but Crawford County officials say they are not up to code with zoning standards.
After giving the facility a year to comply the county is taking action.
"We had a formal public hearing - she had an application for over a year to bring it into compliance and at that planning and zoning meeting my planning and zoning board recommended denial to the county commissioners," says County Zoning Administrator Judy Freeman.
Freeman says there are three strikes against the kennel:
The owner of Happy Tails has written on the facility's Website that the codes do not concern her because she is not a breeder.
But according to Crawford County, the zoning regulations are for both breeders or boarders.
The Website also says the dogs must be adopted by December 22 or the county will "remove them."
But county counselor Jim Emerson says the kennel has until March 24 to either comply with the codes or find homes for the animals.
"We'll have to decide what action we take from there and that'll involve court action, either civil or criminal, there would be no way that we could walk in that day and do anything," says Emerson.
If the owner does not comply with the codes, Emerson says the county will "impose fines or penalties, or whether or not we would go in and actually have to remove animals if it comes to that, but we are no where near having to decide that."
When asked if the county would kill the animals, Emerson says "no, we don't operate a kennel."
Emerson says the kennel owner has another option: move the facility to an unzoned portion of the county.
Neighbors of Happy Tails would not speak on camera but say they agree with the mission of the kennel but wish it could be run differently.
KOAM/FOX 14 was unfortunately unable to contact the owner of Happy Tails Farms.
For more information on adopting pets in your area please contact your local humane society.
Sharon K. Huddleston and Rhonda L. Pischel of Joplin, Missouri have been arrested and charged in a Sedgwick County, Kansas murder. The Joplin Police Department has been assisting the Park City, Kansas
A number of parents in Seneca, Missouri tell us their children were attending a football camp at Pittsburg State University when they were assaulted by older players.
Good morning everyone. We are rolling right on through the week and it is the same old same old. Well actually today should be a little different. Maybe that will through a little excitement into the
Crawford County deputies found the body of a man in a field on South 190th street Monday night.
Darren Winans now has new attorneys and a trial date. Winans and another man, Matthew Laurin, are both charged with two counts of first degree murder for the deaths of Bob and Ellen Sheldon..
Associated Press - July 30, 2010 7:44 AM ET PARKVILLE, Mo. (AP) - Three teenagers have been arrested in the fatal shooting another teen in suburban Kansas City.
A judge issued the order Tuesday to have Kaston Hudgins committed to Larned State Hospital for mental health treatment.
Summary Parsons police are investigating a shooting death and what appears to be a methamphetamine lab. Michael D. Henninger, 35, of Parsons, Kansas was found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest on
A former Caney (Kan.) High School teacher is arrested for allegedly having sexual relations with a 17 year old student. The teacher resigned from Caney High School on July 15, three days after the Montgomery
Associated Press - July 29, 2010 12:14 PM ET COLWICH, Kan. (AP) - A 5-year-old rural Colwich boy who was pulled from a small pond on his neighbor's land has died from his injuries.
