McDuffee allowed to keep and breed 500 dogs
Click Here to read the previous storyBy Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends NetworkNews of the Morrison County board’s probable decision
leaked to the newspapers early, but the official word came today. After adding 13 new conditions, the board unanimously approved Gary McDuffee’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP). He will be allowed to keep 500 adult dogs for breeding purposes, not counting puppies.
The permit also requires that 1/6 of the indoor building be reserved as an exercise area, though no outdoor exercise is required. The facility will be subject to annual inspections by a county staff member, with 24-hour advance notice.
It was a disappointing decision to all who have opposed the permit, including several animal welfare organizations, 400 Morrison County residents, and 22,600 others who signed a petition opposing it.
Here are the conditions under which McDuffee has agreed to operate, as directed by the Morrison County board:
Special Conditions1. All feces generated by the dogs on site must be double bagged and hauled to the Morrison County Landfill.
2. Adequate supervision and monitoring of the site must be continuously maintained. This may be accomplished by someone living on the site and/or through electronic monitoring which, at a minimum, means monitoring for power outages, fire, and temperature.
3. A fifty (50) foot buffer strip of conifer trees will be planted within one year of approval of the Conditional Use Permit and maintained on the north and east side of the property as recommended by the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District.
4. All wash water from the kennel must go through the onsite septic system.
5. County staff will conduct an inspection of the site on an annual basis with 24 hours notice for compliance with the conditional use permit and special conditions of the permit.
6. If an outdoor exercise area is provided it must be located on the west side of the present building. Hours of outdoor exercise will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
7. No dogs shall be debarked. No shock collars will be used to control barking.
8. One-sixth (1/6) of the total indoor building area will be set aside for an exercise area for the dogs.
9. The number of adult dogs permitted onsite is 500. An adult dog is defined as four (4) months of age or older.
10. Removal of dead dogs from the site must be done through a cremation or rendering service.
11. The owner of the dog breeding facility at this site must be in compliance with all federal, state, and county statutes related to the operations of this dog breeding facility. If at any time the owner of this dog breeding facility is convicted of any violation of such statutes, the Morrison County Board of Commissioners shall hold a hearing to consider the revocation of the Conditional Use Permit, at which time the owner shall be allowed to be heard on the issue.
12. The USDA kennel license must be maintained at all time.
13. The Conditional Use Permit is non-transferable without prior Morrison County Board of Commissioners’ approval.
See the puppy mill resources to see how you can help mill dogs.Click Here