In May, Wadena city leaders revised the city kennel's ordinance, prohibiting dogs in certain areas of the city from barking or making noise from 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. - a 17 hour span of time.  This new policy went into effect June 1 in commercial zones, including the humane society and the surrounding neighborhood.  Violators could be looking at a $50 fine, and repeat offenders $1000 and 90 days in jail. 

While there have been complaints of barking at the humane society, even they find this ordinance extreme.  The humane society is now scrambling to raise money to build a better fence around their property in attempt to keep the dogs calm & quiet for this unreasonable amount of time.  Money that could be going towards the proper care of the dogs.  And it's not just the humane society feeling the effects of this ordinance; local pet owners not only fall under the same ordinance, but the city passed an additional ordinance that requires homes with more than 2 dogs to apply for a kennel permit, subjecting them to the "no barking" ordinance, or worse - having to find other homes for their pets.

Please let the Mayor and Councilmembers know that it is inhumane to quiet a dog for 17 hours a day.