Three Yorkies=To Many

[dogbert]

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (WCCO) ― A Twin Cities family is fighting to keep one of its pets after the city says they have too many. The brother and sister live together in Brooklyn Center with their three dogs, but city officials say they can only have two.

Pat Laurin and her brother Ron Ruppert consider themselves a family of five. Their two younger Yorkies take care of their older one, who is blind. So, when the city showed up a few weeks ago on a barking complaint, they weren't prepared for what else they brought with them.

"I said 'Yes, I got three dogs.' Well he says, 'You got to get rid of one because the ordinance says you can only have two,'" Ruppert said.

Two dogs and three cats is the maximum number Brooklyn Center allows.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Tim Willson said there's been complaints against the ordinance in the past but it's there to protect neighbors against foul orders and noise.

Now, Pat and Ron must make their case to the city council to keep all three.

"I'm going to tell them I think you have better things to do with your time than to worry about some little four pound dog," Ruppert said.

After spending years together as a family, their decision has already been made, no matter what the city decides.

Brooklyn Center has to remove a dog from a home about once a month, but the mayor said it's usually because of a dangerous dog situation. He calls a case like this one very rare.

[Patti]

Crazy!! I hope they win their case.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

wow i sure hope they win their case...that is very sad...

[paulalowe6]

I would move before I would part with one of my babies!!!!!! Sure hope they win their case!
Paula Halle Brutis

[Potter]

2 dogs, 3 cats that makes 5 animals...so why couldn't they keep the 3 dogs since it is still 2 animals less allowed... I can imagine people complaining about the noise but I hate to see a dog losing a home based on this story.

[Lee B]

Couldn't they go by the pound? Three Yorkies weigh far less than two cats - and maybe even ONE cat.

I could kinda understand if they had three Bull Mastiffs (no offense to Mastiff owners, please!) - but the waste considerations are entirely different .

That's a bad law ...

[dogbert]

Originally Posted by Lee B

Couldn't they go by the pound? Three Yorkies weigh far less than two cats - and maybe even ONE cat.

I could kinda understand if they had three Bull Mastiffs (no offense to Mastiff owners, please!) - but the waste considerations are entirely different .

That's a bad law ...

Some of these laws need to be revised. In our town (the last time I checked) you can only have two dogs but no limit on the number of cats. The reason I checked was because the people nextdoor had 18 cats!

[Yorkie_25]

18 cats....WOW...that is ridco....
I hope this family gets to keep there three dogs...I know if they dont how devastated they will be....

[dogbert]

Originally Posted by Yorkie_25

18 cats....WOW...that is ridco....
I hope this family gets to keep there three dogs...I know if they dont how devastated they will be....

So will the dogs, they won't understand what happened to one of them and the one who has to go won't understand why it had to leave. The people are just heartsick, I heard them interviewed on a talk radio station last weekend. I think they should be able to keep the dogs too, not just because one is blind but because it's a brother and sister sharing a house. One owns two dogs the other owns one so in my book that's within the guide lines. If it were a married couple then I could see how it could be looked at a little differently, it would be one family owning three dogs and against the rules. It doesn't matter how many dogs they have the neighbors cat will still get barked at. Three small well taken care of dogs are NOT a problem unless you want them to be. I wish everyone who owned a Yorkie would show up and support them.

Yes, we were very happy when the people nextdoor left. The smell of cat pee was beyond bad, the house was up for consideration to be torn down there was so much damage and smell when they left.

[dogbert]

The owners were prepared to fight for their dogs yesterday but were told the meeting they were at was just informational, sounds like they will get a court date later.

[Gardeness]

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted.

[mustangbee]

I bet they win, if the Judge tells them no, I'd make sure they find a way to meet his wife. She will change his mind.

But really, don't they have better things to do.

You would hope so

[Babz]

And you'd think catching criminals was important.

"No, the dogs causes more concern than criminals!"

Right.

[Babz]

Wow. We'd think that catching criminals is more important.

"No, the dogs are of more concern than the crims!"

Right.

I hope they win the case. I'd move before someone takes away my dogs. This is ridiculous.

[Wabbit]

How sad for that family!!!! I would fight it no matter what...or simply move before I parted with one of my babies!!!!!

Please keep us posted!! Thanks!