Suzanne Macre left last night's Genesee County Planning Board meeting in tears, seemingly sure that she will need to put down some of the Shiba Inu pure bred dogs she owns.
Macre has been involved in a dispute with neighbors and the Town of Alabama over her kenneling as many as 14 dogs at her home on Wright Road.
According to neighbors, the dogs bark in loud, shrill woofs multiple times per day, destroying the quiet of their neighborhood and making it impossible to do something as simple as sit on a back deck and watch the grass grow.
At one point, it looked like the board was going to recommend approval of her application for a special-use permit to kennel more than six dogs, which Alabama declared was required after neighbors started complaining about the dogs. Just as the motion for approval was about to be made, one of the neighbors spoke up and reminded the board there were residents who wished to talk on the topic.
In all, five neighbors spoke and disputed Macre's claim that the dogs only bark for a minute or so two or three times a day.
They said the dogs bark any time there is any noise of motion in the area of Macre's house.
Board member Michael Cianfrini noted that many times with requests for special-use permits the board only hears what the impact might be of a proposed development, but in this case, the impact was already clear.
"I don't think anybody has the right to destroy the quiet use and enjoyment of other home owners for what is in essence a hobby," Cianfrini said.
He then made a motion to recommend denying the special-use permit.
The motion passed 9-0.
Macre said, "So I'm just supposed to destroy half of my dogs?"
One of the other residents then spoke up and told the board a search of Google will show that there is a good market for Shiba Inu. He said nobody wanted to see dogs destroyed, but he was sure Macre could find buyers.
"Nobody is going to pay to ship a 10-year-old dog across the country," Macre said.
You don't kill the dogs!
You don't kill the dogs! There are rescue organizations that will re-home them. Have you ever heard of the SPCA??? Take the dogs to the SPCA in Tonawanda, they can find homes for them and don't tell me that people won't adopt a 10 year old dog because people do, I have a neighbor that takes older dogs who need homes from the SPCA, DON'T BE LAZY!!! Killing them is inhumane and LAZY! There are many other options for these dogs...how about we start euthanizing people in nursing homes because they are out of room or someone bought the property and are shutting it down? There is NO DIFFERENCE!
Those dogs would be gone in a
Those dogs would be gone in a matter of days on Freecycle or Craigslist. If she needs help placing them, I would be happy to help.
Forced Noise in a Domestic
Forced Noise in a Domestic Environment and The Toll it Takes on Families Exposed to it...
http://barkingdogs.net/chartnoise.pdf
This is, why after a year of torture, watching the neighbors dog left out in the cold, not fed, or given water in a timely matter, hearing my girls daily saying Awwww Mom he's out in the rain, or zero degree weather with no dog house, and the constant howl inside the house and out, all day and night, we had had enough and took action. We put an end to this nightmare of a life we had been forced into living. She's lucky we didnt sue her for the damage it did to our family physically, and mentally. We video recorded(still have 5 vid's)of the dog being left in the house, at one point for 18 hours, barking and howling the whole time. Not only did he suffer, but we suffered right along with him. Dog owners need to RESPECT their neighbors RIGHT TO Privacy, and remember that they have just as much right to enjoy their surroundings, and life as the next guy! As for the kennel owners, isnt it about the money anyway......?Why else would you keep dogs in a cage, condemned their whole lives?
You're going to tell me there
You're going to tell me there is no difference between humans and dogs? Really? Are you kidding me?
There are other options for sure. She was speaking out of desperation when she said that about killing them. If you lived near dogs that bark any time of night, like i do, YOU'D want to see some kind of resolution as well. I'm sure there's more to peace and quiet than watching the grass grow as well. When i work ten hours in the city of rochester and commute home to where I live in the country, I don't want to hear a dog non stop barking. Who would? Dogs bark, i don't want to hear them bark all the time. These people have that right. I have a black lab and a beagle. The black lab barks at EVERYTHING. I bring him in when he does; to be considerate to my neighbors or the people working in the field behind my house.
Yeah I would seek resolution
Yeah I would seek resolution to the issue and not by killing a living being. And yes, I do put all animals on the same level as humans. Animals are alive, feel pain, emotion and love just like humans. In fact in some respects I think that dogs are above humans...they aren't arrogant, selfish and they love unconditionally. I tell you what, if someone were to do something to my dog or anyone else's animal to hurt it, I would gladly inflict as much pain to that person as humanly possible.
The owner needs to make accommodations for the the dogs that doesn't take away the peace of neighbors, nobody is saying the neighbors shouldn't have peace. What I don't condone is killing the dogs due to the fact that they won't make the accommodations or make the effort to get the dogs adopted. I don't condone laziness...there are lots of people and organizations that will help find homes for these animals and by not taking advantage of the resources would be lazy and selfish.
I agree with you about the
I agree with you about the laziness comment. She has options. The dogs arent going to die. As for your comment about animals being on the same level or above, welcome to the real world. Its not that way. Do you eat beef? Do you eat chicken? Those animals have feelings too right?
Shiba Inu Rescue
<a href="http://national.shibarescue.org/listings/">Shiba Inu Rescue</a>
For the record, I don't know
For the record, I don't know Ms. Macre, but she struck me as a decent, caring person. I think last night she was just upset and emotional. I think it's unfair to characterize her with negative terms.
Michael....I don't eat any
Michael....I don't eat any animal products...as you may be able to tell I am an animal rights activist. I haven't always been that way but after learning the reality of what the animals go though to end up on my plate, I changed my life. Check out www.meat.org and you will see what I mean.
Here is a local Shiba Inu
Here is a local Shiba Inu Resue http://www.wnyshibarescue.com/
I think the easiest thing to
I think the easiest thing to say here chris is: I watched the video, and I'm still not going to become an animal rights activist.
To each their own.
To each their own.
You know, now that I'm older
You know, now that I'm older and my children are grown and have moved away, kids get on my nerves and I could have said this: "I don't think anybody has the right to destroy the quiet use and enjoyment of other home owners for what is in essence a hobby" , except that I know raising children, just like raising dogs, is much more than a hobby. For many it is a gift. Ask the neighbors to try earplugs, they might really like them.
Hi Michael and others....I'm
Hi Michael and others....I'm so glad that I have started to read The Batavian and stories such as this. I finally have a possible solution to my similar dilema. I too commute to Rochester every day, but I work 12-14 hrs days on top of my communte. I love living in the country where I should have peace and quiet. I would love to walk out onto my deck overlooking all my pines and 'watch' the grass grow...i believe that was the comment by another thoughtful and caring human. However, I can't. I hear screaming and yelling from the neighbor kids day and night. But thanks to all of you, I now know that I can go to court and have them 'removed', by simply whining about my life and whoa is me. I had no idea how easy it is. I sure hope they have an SPCA or Shelter for kids! Thanks for all of your idea's. You guys are so awesome and here I thought I would never get to watch my grass grow in peace again. You're the best!