SICSA wants to sell Kettering land to dog trainers

A Dayton-area pet caregiver intends to sell its vacant former Ketter- ing home to a national dog training business looking for another Ohio location.

The S ociety for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals has been discussing the potential sale of its 2600 Wilmington Pike property with a franchise operator of The Dog Wizard, SICSA President and CEO Nora Vondrell said.

“I know that they’ve been interested in the property,” Vondrell said. “I know that they’ve been working with our realtor” but “we don’t have any other movement at this point.”

She declined to comment further on the issue.

The facility north of Dor- othy Lane near the Dayton corporation line has been vacant for more than three years.

SICSA shut down the site in early 2020 as it moved to a larger, $5 million location it built on Washington Church Road in Washing- ton Twp.

The Dog Wizard has 48 locations in 17 states — from California to Virginia — and Canada, according to its website.

The business would be run by Mary Clegg, who operates franchises in Cin- cinnati, Dayton, Sarasota and Tampa, Kettering doc- uments show.

Attempts to reach Clegg have been unsuccessful.

“We provide dog training services to the community in the form of classes, private lessons and overnight board and training programs,” Clegg said in a letter to the city of Kettering.

No more than 20 dogs are expected to stay at the facility overnight at one time, the letter stated.

Montgomery County land records show the 10,3922 square foot Kettering site on 2.5 acres was built in 1969 and lists no other previous owner.

A plan for a conditional use to allow a kennel at the property was approved recently by the Kettering Planning Commission.

The vote came after a city recommendation noting the vast majority of conditions for the use are satisfied, city records show.

“SICSA operated the now vacant facility for many years with no record of complaints,” Kettering documents state. “The building and grounds are designed for and were operated as an animal care and kenneling use. The proposed use simply reintroduces the former uses.”

No further legislative action is required, according to City Planner Ryan Homsi. Aside from an occupancy permit, other certifications may be needed, he added.