Today we have had a enforcement letter through telling us to get rid of half the dogs in 3 months or else they will take them! Its says in it it is because of breech of planing permission for change of use from house dwelling to breeding and keeping dogs. We dont breed dogs we have told them this but they are having non of it. Looks like were gona have to move in the next 3months or find somewhere tempary for the dogs.

You must be so angry at the situation, have you tried speaking to the CAB? They may be able to give you some advise on the legality of the threat. Can you not prove to the council that you are not breeding? I guess you will still want to move in any case, but it may just give you some more time to get sorted?

How many dogs have you got??

my dad went to see cab and they wernt very helpful, we have 8, we had one accidental litter 2 yrs ago when our boy wasnt neutered properly but that has since been sorted.

Have you actually been provided with the details of the planning legislation which supposedly dictates this? If not, I would get a copy and seek advice from a solicitor as it may be difficult for them to enforce if you can prove that you are not a breeder. As your dogs are pets and not used for 'business' purposes, I can't see how you would have to apply for 'change of use' of the dwelling.

What a terrible situation for you to be in. I do hope you find a satisfactory solution which doesn't mean that you have to get rid of some of your dogs.

Ar'nt they b*****ds.  Does that also apply if you have more than three children? Are you classed as breeders then?

I think the biggest problem here is how to prove you aren't doing something :rolleyes: If you are doing something then you usually have proof, but if you're not how do you prove that??

Are all your dogs neutered??  If so perhaps a letter from your vet stating each dog and confirming that they are incapable of breeding might be the best way of 'proving' to the council you aren't breeders ;)

Having worked in Planning at one time (don't shoot me please - I left in disgust!) I would say that Shaynlola's advice is good, if they want to enforce this then you must have the information in order to be able to comply. 

Another tip would be to contact your local councillor/local MP inform them of all that's gone on (give copies of letters etc) and ask them to help - its what they are there for and the council workers are answerable to them ;) 

Good Luck

Good grief my freidn has 10 dogs altogether GSds and Border collies.  True she doesn't bred, but did rear a rescue litter two years ago.

You do need to see a solicitor as there is no change of use if ther is no business being run, even if you do breed.

Certainly you want to see what law you are infringing as to number of dogs no longer considered to be pets.

Its great to see that the council can inflict such things on those of us who care about our dogs and have no purpose other than to work and enjoy them as pets but those back street breeders, nut cases that have the house ran down with dogs / cats / birds / rabits etc etc seem to get away with it, at least for a long time anyway!  Makes me so angry but not as angry as you must feel right now :(  Hope you get it sorted.

I would think that the onus should be on the council to prove that the premises are being used as a breeding establishment.
As a matter of interest does everyone who breeds dogs have to apply for change of use for their home ?

Hiya
I'm having neighbour problems as well, we are trying to move.I hope they don't try this on us next.... What I was wondering was, would you like to be put in touch with Our Dogs and get your story publicised? They may be able to do something, similar cases have of course been all over the dog papers and you may end up with help from places you didn't think of before. Worth a try? I'm pretty sure they'd be interested. As it happens my ex husband is the chief reporter for OD and he is the person who writes all the legal stories in the paper, such as DDA, council problems, anything like that -if you want to PM me I can give you his name, e-mail, phone number. I can tell him in advance you may contact him if that would help.

Sadly Trevor Cooper the dog law solicitor would have been ideal but he's given up dog law of course. :(

Marianne

Hi Bordercollielvr :-) i really do feel for you right now......the council are quick enough to move in on you, but what about those people who mistreat there pets....where's the council then?

Like someone has already said....does the same apply if you live in a council property and have 8 kids...would they come and take away some of the kids :-( No

Go to your local paper and name and shame the council :-)

Our older boy is neutered and were waiting for the younger one to mature and then get him neutered the girlys arnt. Would Our Dogs publish a such a thing i didnt think they did? I have been given the number of some people that might be able to help and my dads going to ring them when he gets in.

I am so sorry to hear about your dilema,you must be climbing the walls,i had awful neighbours years ago its no joke,i do hope you can sort it out,but i think even if you do you will probably want to move in time,lets hope you can buy some time so you can keep all the dogs together,wishing you loads of luck.
Lynn. 

Ask them why you need planning permission for a breeding establishment when you don't breed

If you contact Justice for Dogs they might be able to give you advice & OD ran the story of the JP who was given the same information & he won even though he did breed as well !

We keep telling them were not breeding but there having non of it what so ever, they said the neighbours have seen visiting stud dogs lol. Justice for dogs is the people my dads going to ring. We asked the what we needed the planning permission for and they insisted because we breed and we have more dogs than the adverage person.

They do need to prove you breed dogs ie the KC records or puppies advertised in the local papers

Someone reported me for breeding cattle & sheep(they had seen an advert in local paper)& round came the Inland Revenue & the council armed with the adverts. Hm Right surname & initials but & this was a big but the advert was for a local male farmer 10 miles away ! They told me I needed to decalre all my earnings etc ! Luckily I have a very close friend who is a barrister & eventually we had ti take out an injunction to stop the council hassling me when they found out I had bred a litter of dogs !!

Yes it's definitely the sort of story Our Dogs would print.IN fact I just phoned my ex (the OD reporter) and he said YES, definitely, he's very interested, AND he can help by putting you in touch with the right people such as with the other person the same thing happened to, he who did win his case. Just PM me and I will give you my ex's details!

Marianne

Good old councils.  When their tennants are victimising people, breaking into their houses and wrecking their next door neighbours privately owned homes the council don't give a S**** !!  When someone is not doing something wrong then they victimise people.

Crazy isn't it!
Esp. the way they just take the neighbour's word.

Lindsay
x

What council is it?

I read a similar story once in dog world about somebody who owned a lot of dogs [didn't breed or show and some of them were rescue dogs] and he had to apply for a change of use to his house [apparently this is the case for anyone keeping 6 or more dogs] c**p i know :-(

Cannock Chase Council (creepy crap co)

That is Derbyshire where a freind of mine lives.  How many dogs are they saying id too many?

That says it all then!I would seek legal advice asap,or get in touch with the express and star.

and the chase post :-)