Dog rescue issue to be heard next week

A woman advocating allowing her to help stray dogs at her home is going to try again to gain favor with Grand Coulee planners for a dog rescue operation.

Dorothy Harris will appear before the city’s planning commission at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 8, at city hall to ask planners to advance her cause for a dog rescue operation at her home on Young Street.

Planning commission Chairman Tammara Byers has stated several times that the planning commission will not recommend that Harris can move forward with her plan. Byers has stated publicly that the planning commission will not allow a dog rescue operation in the midst of residential housing.

Byers also sits on the city council.

Byers said last week that if Harris wanted to put in a dog rescue operation in an allowable commercial zone, then she should acquire property and bring her request to planners.

Harris has noted that the mayor’s business operates within view of her front yard, which she says is in an area actually zoned for light industrial use.

The issue likely will end up with the city council to see if it agrees with the planning recommendation.

Byers and Harris met a week ago when Byers stated that Harris could have three dogs, and that was all. Harris hasn’t said how many dogs she is sheltering.

The council could order Harris to limit the number of dogs to three, and order her to get rid of any over that number. She could be fined for not limiting her dog count.