Perfect Paws Pet Rescue has saved the lives of thousands of dogs in Allen County and surrounding communities.  The rescue is a 501(c)3 tax exempt charitable organization which has been in existence since 2006.  The rescue is situated on 3 acres of county property and is zoned A1-Agricultural.  A complaint regarding dogs barking was filed with the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals by a neighbor of the rescue.  Due to this, Perfect Paws was forced to request a "special use" permit requesting that the rescue be allowed to continue to operate.  The rescue requested that they be allowed to keep the homeowner's personal dogs, at that time seven, and up to three additional rescue dogs being fostered at any given time and waiting for adoption.  

The Board of Zoning Appeals ("BZA") denied the special use request for an animal rescue, and granted the request to keep the seven dogs of the homeowners.  Although farm animals are allowed in areas zoned A1-Agricultural in Allen County without any required application, the BZA denied the request for up to three additional dogs at any one time. There are numerous breeders within close proximity to Perfect Paws not only further complicating the issue of homeless animals, but also costing the taxpayers of Allen County because many of these animals end up under the control of Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control.  These breeders are unlicensed and the county is allowing them to go unchecked, while attempting to shut down a charitable organization with a proven track record of saving lives.  Perfect Paws appealed the decision to Allen Superior Court but was unsuccessful in its appeal.  

Perfect Paws works closely with Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control and In 2013, the rescue pulled 175 dogs from the shelter, saving the taxpayers of Allen County thousands of dollars per year, and the dogs from certain euthanasia.  In 2014, Perfect Paws saved the lives of 337 dogs!  Animal Care and Control submitted a letter in support of the rescue at the BZA hearing.  The decision will result in the costs of shelter, food, medical care, etc. being passed on to the residents of Allen County.  Your elected officials can change all of this.  We need your help!

Perfect Paws and its attorney Cody R. Williams understand the importance of zoning regulations, and we support them.  But, exceptions must be made to zoning and are regularly made.  We are requesting that the County Council of Allen County amend the ordinances to allow for a very specific and limited use of agricultural land within the county as follows:  Must be a 501(c)3 charitable organization (not commercial in nature) in existence prior to the recent revisions to the county ordinances; No more than ten dogs at any location within the county (this number includes any rescue dogs of foster dogs); No outdoor kennels (animals to be housed inside the home); No more than thirty minutes of outdoor time for rescue dogs at any one time and only between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 pm.  

To be successful with our petition, we will need to build a massive coalition of Allen County voters, animal rescue organizations, government officials and entities, as well as local businesses to support the amendment. We ask that our supporters sign and share our petition, which will then go to County Council with our proposed revision to the ordinances.

We cannot win this battle without all of you.  Please help us to be the voice of the voiceless.  Thanks to all of you for your continued support. 

Sincerely,

Tammy Derickson
Director
Perfect Paws Pet Rescue
www.perfectpawspetrescue.org

Cody R. Williams
Attorney
Perfect Paws Pet Rescue
501c3lawyer@gmail.com
260.579.1822