Bill Brouillard with some of his greyhounds
In an attempt to deal with noise complaints, the New Jersey township of Piscataway has passed a law restricting the number of dogs people can have. But many feel the law is inappropriate and ill-advised.
The ordinance limits the number of dogs per household to three. Those who live on two acres can have as many as four; those on three acres or more, as many as five.
Councilmembers say the law is meant to prevent puppy mills. Anyone owning five dogs or more is considered to be running a kennel, and must be licensed accordingly.
Sheila Gross says the law is a infringement of her civil liberties. She also says it will encourage residents to avoid licensing their dogs, since “No one will know if you have 3 or 30.”
Barbara Wicklund, a member of the legislative committee for the New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs, says the law will encourage owners to take dogs to already overcrowded shelters — or worse. “Do you kill it?” she asked. “Do you abandon it?”
Wicklund would prefer that the township use existing noise and leash ordinances to deal with any problems.
Bill Brouilliard rescues greyhounds that are too old to run or aren’t winning races. He currently has six dogs, three who live with him and three he is caring for temporarily.
What does he think of the new law? “If I got a call tonight, I’d take in six more.”
The council has said it would consider amending the law to create an exemption for rescue operations.
