ADVERTISMENT
Whitehouse neighborhood fuming over 'out of control' animal rescue facility
6 Comments
POSTED: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - 7:34pm
UPDATED: Friday, February 11, 2011 - 12:43am
Neighbors say animals are running free in the neighborhood
WHITEHOUSE - Whitehouse City Council members voted on an ordinance that, if passed, could limit the number of animals someone can have within the city limits.
Bobbi Dewet is one of many neighbors on Lynn Street in Whitehouse fed up with an animal rescue facility that sits practically in their backyard - separated from them only by a wooden fence.
Neighbors say the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch takes animals in need under their wing.
"They heal them, take care of them and release them into the wild...supposedly...but that hasn't been happening. It's out of control," Dewet said.
Dogs, raccoons, horses, and deer have been seen on the property and many of them have escaped into the neighborhood.
One man says he was even attacked at a New Years Eve party.
"Actually a buck...and it was chasing people, charging them and attacked one of the friends that was over there that night," Dewet said.
The proposed ordinance will limit residents to having only 4 dogs, 4 cats, or a combination.
The consensus in the neighborhood is that no one dislikes the owners of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch.
"They're wonderful people. They have big hearts. I think everything they do is out of kindness. I just think they've got themselves into a situation where it's out of control," Dewet said.
The Wild Rose Rescue Ranch was unable to speak with us in person today, but they did send us a statement. Part of it says:
"Our mission at the ranch is to rescue and rehabilitate (and when possible to adopt to 'forever homes') lost, injured, orphaned or unwanted animals that would otherwise die."
They said other media as well as the City of Whitehouse failed the city's residents when they made one-sided assumptions without all parties' perspective.
Comments News Comments
Well I live right beside them and it's actually ridiculously loud all the time. I can't walk in my yard without being barked at by at least 10-15 dogs in the front yard. Secondly the neighbors have actually talked to them about it. Third they no longer have a permit with the wildlife department of texas. Fourth based on how many animals they have it is considered hoarding.
All you will accomplish quite likely is to a) force these good-hearted, hard-working and caring people to pay a lot of legal bills with money that could better used for their cause, b) create discord and animosity in an otherwise content community and c) end up ooking like mean-spirited idiots. For what? Nothing! You won't accomplish your goal!
I urge you to talk to them and also to be really certain about your allegations. It is terrible to cast aspersions based on hearsay and assumptions.
If you truly think the people at the Ranch are great people, surely you can talk to them about your concerns? If your concerns are valid (which, by the way, is not necessarily so - this report only took YOUR word for it, which is not evidence enough) why not give them a chance to do something to change the situation?
Think about what you are doing. Why create more problems for everyone? Chances are you don't have a legal way of limiting the ranch to 4 animals (to be ctd.)
Secondly, wouldn't the Wild Rose, as a registered non-profit animal rescue facility, be exempt from this sort of ordinance?
Thirdly, even if they weren't exempt, wouldn't they - or anyone for that matter - in possession of more than 4 animals prior to the passing of any such ordinance be exempt from it, since they already had those animals before and they would be considered to be "grandfathered"?
In short, this is a stupid idea.
I have an idea. Why not talk to the people at the ranch?
I don't understand. If this ordinance is passed, do they think that will mean the Wild Rose Ranch will have to get rid of all the animals that are there, except for 4?
First of all, that's ridiculous, if that's the goal. How can they operate as an animal rescue if they only can have 4 animals at a time? That would effectively shut them down. If Bobbi Dewet truly thinks the people running the ranch are wonderful, why would she want to do that to them?
I would like to say that I live right across the street and have NEVER noticed that this place existed and I have lived here 4 years. The neighborhood has lots of animals throughout, so the dogs that may have been heard probably come from all over the neighborhood and not this one location only. In fact, I spend a lot of time outside and have never noticed noise coming from that location. I therefore don't know what these ladies are speaking of when they say they can't sleep at night.
Post new Comment
ADVERTISMENT
Special Features
Special Reports
