Board recommends changes to legal definition of kennel

YOUNGSTOWN -- The city has been using the "duck" test on dogs, but suggested language in city law would change that.
New dog laws that define kennels in both business and residential settings should help avoid the "if-it-looks-like-a-duck" process used now to decide what's legal, said Bill D'Avignon, city deputy director of planning.
The city planning board recommended several kennel changes Tuesday to city council.
Right now, city law contains no definition of a kennel. Inspectors look at each instance and decide whether a property with several dogs is an illegal kennel.
Four or more adult dogs on property zoned general business or industrial would constitute a kennel.
Four to six adult dogs kept and owned by the property owner or tenant would be a kennel in other zoning areas.
That would be allowed, but under special circumstances. The property must be at least three acres, have 100 feet of frontage and a six-foot fence. The dog areas would have to be at least 30 feet from the back of the yard and 60 feet from the side of the yard.
More than six dogs on a property would require the canines to be kept in business or industrial areas.