Wellington dog breeding facility gets county approval

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

A dog-breeding facility north of Wellington will be able to produce up to five litters of puppies each year, Larimer County Commissioners decided after an April 12 hearing.

Commissioners also exempted the property from county road standards usually required of home-based businesses operating in a rural area.

Gary and Wendi Elliott, who own 40 acres on North County Road 7, needed to get county approval to take their hobby dog-breeding venture of two litters per year to five litters per year. An average litter has eight puppies.

The Elliotts already own 10 dogs, which are used for breeding and live outdoors. Two additional dogs are indoor pets. The Elliotts' request for five litters is more restrictive than the state kennel license for a small-scale breeding facility, which would allow up to 99 puppies a year.

The county's three elected commissioners were unanimous in their decision to allow the business expansion, although much of the testimony contended breeding facilities stymie the efforts of rescues and pounds to find adoptive homes for their animals.

"Both sides in this issue care deeply about animals, but they have different perspectives," said Commissioner Tom Donnelly.

He noted that breeding or rescue facilities that have caused problems never received approval through the county's land-use process. "I do believe the Elliotts have made a case for their application," he said.

Commissioner Lew Gaiter concluded the Elliotts' plan did not fit the common definitions of "puppy mill" and supported their request.

"In a free-market economy, there has to be some hope for profit," he said.

"These individuals meet the requirements of the land-use code," said Commissioner Steve Johnson, adding that three more litters of puppies are still compatible with the neighborhood.

Some neighboring property owners supported the Elliotts' request, and some opposed the plan for more puppies.

County planning commissioners, who held their hearing in February, also gave a unanimous recommendation of approval to the dog breeding facility. Planning commissioners, however, wanted the roadway to the facility to meet a higher standard than that adopted by the county commissioners.

The Elliotts said they had spent about $3,000 improving the roadway since the February hearing. The county commissioners concluded the work was sufficient for the number of anticipated visitors, but they are also requiring the Elliotts to maintain the one-half mile of dirt road in the current or better condition.

The Elliotts are in the process of finishing a new outbuilding for use as a birthing barn. Otherwise, there will be few changes at the site.