New Hunting Dog Regulations in Clarke County, Virginia

On Friday, April 2 at 9:00 a.m. the Clarke County Planning Commission will consider amending the County Zoning ordinance in a way that will be detrimental to hunters and others who own and use dogs. At the request of animal “rights” extremists, references to dogs and cats will be changed to “companion animals” and the ownership of five or more adult companion animals will require a Business License.  This sort of proposed ordinance affects average families and hunters who are responsible pet owners and advances the Humane Society of the United States’ radical agenda of ending pet ownership and hunting.

The meeting will be held in the Main Meeting Room on the 2^nd Floor in the Town/County Government Center located at 101 Chalmers Court, Berryville, Virginia.

The Planning Commission will consider the following amendments:

• Section 9-B, Definitions, so as to modify the definitions of the terms ‘Kennel’, ‘Commercial Boarding Kennel’, and Commercial Breeding Kennel’, so as to replace the references to dogs, cats, or canine/feline animals with the term ‘companion animals’, to combine the terms ‘Commercial Boarding Kennel’, and Commercial Breeding Kennel’, and to state that such use has or is determined to need a Business License and has five or more adult companion animals;
• Section 3-C-2-l, Supplementary Regulation for Home Occupations, so as to include commercial boarding or breeding kennels as home occupations, only in the AOC and FOC Zoning Districts, when such use has or is determined to need a Business License and has fewer than five adult companion animals; and
• Section 3-C-2-gg, Supplementary Regulation for Commercial Boarding Kennels, Commercial Breeding Kennels, Animal Shelters so as to shift use and setback regulations for such uses from the definition section of the Zoning Ordinance to this section. TA-09-14

Over the years, hunting in the Commonwealth has become difficult enough without having to face malicious interference from local officials whose true intent is the elimination of hunting with dogs by the regulation and licensure of breeders.

It is important that you attend the meeting and express your opposition to the Planning Commission’s proposed changes. If you are unable to attend, please contact the members of the Planning Commission and respectfully state your opposition. Contact information can be found here.