By-law amendment shouldn’t be approved

With regards to the application to amend the by-law in order to facilitate the proposed boarding kennel on Keltic Drive in Westmount, I understand this facility would include 60-100 runs and that CBRM planner Karen Neville, in a Cape Breton Post article of April 26, stated, in part, it would be “well away from any residential development.”

Within the immediate vicinity there are existing houses and an up-and-coming residential development on Kelmere Drive, two spas, a seniors complex, a motel, a high school and an establishment with an outdoor patio, all of which would be affected. Even 20 runs in this location would be too many. Peace and quiet will be a luxury of the past. A facility of this magnitude is purely for profit, not for the love of dogs.

Anyone who has a barker in their community knows how far this sound travels. Try to imagine 60 to 100! I do not believe that any one person anywhere should ever have to listen to that volume of noise morning, noon and night for 52 weeks of the year. Be certain that property values will drop.

Notwithstanding the spread of sickness with this volume of dogs and the excessive noise, regardless of how many runs, there is also the issue of excessive excrement and its disposal thereof.

The bylaw is in place not only to protect citizens, but also their infrastructure. The existing by-law prohibits kennels where municipal water and sewage exist. If amendments do pass for this project, other same-zone communities besides Keltic Drive could be subjected to future dog kennel facilities.

Whether you live in the surrounding area of this proposed development or not, speak up now to stop these amendments because should they change it could eventually change your back yard, too.

A public meeting regarding the proposed amendment is being held at council chambers in Sydney on May 29 at 6 p.m. Lisa Coles

Sydney River (formerly of Westmount)