News: Greenwood – Request For New Dog Limit (Apr 2021)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Neal, Bock, Hansen, Schar, Wachsmuth, Schecklman

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 28 Apr 2021

A Greenwood resident is asking the city to revise its limit on the maximum number of dogs someone can have so he can keep his “emotional support animals” as well as two puppies he recently acquired.

Thomas Neal appeared at an April 21 City Council meeting to ask about the possibility of the city amending its 2-dog maximum. He said he and his girlfriend have two certified emotional support animals at their residence on West Miller Street, and recently brought in two 11-week-old puppies. Neal suggested that the dogs that are considered emotional support animals should not count against the 2-dog limit because of their status as certified animals that perform an assistive function.

The city has imposed a 2-dog limit for a number of years because of past problems with residents who had more. Police Chief Bernie Bock said a resident years ago had 8-9 dogs that were aggressive and continuously barking.

“The neighbors were constantly complaining and that, in essence, is where this came from,” Bock said of the current ordinance.

City Council member Dave Hansen, who was the city’s mayor several years ago, also said he recalls that the current ordinance was revised to the 2-dog limit because of residents who had larger numbers.

“They were a nuisance to the neighbors around it,” Hansen said.

Neal noted that his emotional support dogs are certified and that designation may allow persons to take them on airlines and in other places where dogs may otherwise be prohibited. Emotional support animals (ESAs) are said to assist persons with emotional disabilities such as anxiety or depression by providing comfort and support.

City attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth said ESAs do not necessarily have the same status as service dogs that perform functions such as leading people with blindness. She said she would need to check further into legal standings of ESAs.

City Clerk Kayla Schar said Greenwood’s ordinance does not contain any provisions for ESAs.

“They do count as dogs in our community,” Schar said.

Bock noted that a resident recently filed a complaint against Neal because one of his dogs was running at large. Neal admitted that, but said it was a 1-time occurrence that he has since rectified.

“She has been chained every day since,” Neal said of the offending animal.

He also said he plans to erect a fence around his property to contain his dogs, and wants to be accountable if neighbors have any concerns.

“I want somebody to knock on my door immediately and I will rectify the situation,” he said.

Neal questioned the city’s limit of two dogs, and said a higher number would be acceptable as long as the owner controls them.

“To me, a dog is not a pet, it’s a family member,” he said. “The number of animals to me is not the issue, but the mentality of said critters.”

Bock said the city needs to be careful in amending the ordinance due to past practices. He said a person with disabilities a few years ago asked the city to amend the rule for their five dogs, but the city declined.

“We didn’t allow it then. I think we’d be opening ourselves up to possible liability if we didn’t make an exception there and we do it now,” Bock said.

Mayor Jim Schecklman had similar thoughts, and noted that Neal lives on a street where homes are close together.

“That’s kind of a congested area,” he said. “We might be opening a can of worms if we decide to change it,” Schecklman said.

The Council did not take any action on the request last week and will wait to get more information. Neal said he thinks he has a legitimate request because of his dogs’ ESA standing.

“I don’t want to drag this into a legal runaround,” he said. “I’m trying to be as nice as possible with this town.”