– For the municipality to decide how many pets you should have is too stupid, says Camilla Trelvik. She only has one dog, but believes that the limit cannot be determined by a municipality. – As long as you have the finances and capacity to take care of your own dogs, you should be able to have as many as you want. But you don’t need to cram ten dogs into a tiny flat, she says. Camilla Trelvik thinks it must be up to each individual how many dogs they want to get. Photo: Erik Waage / news Municipal Director Torild Lende Fjermestad introduced new dog regulations with the following addition: households on properties under 1.5 acres in size may have a maximum of three dogs. Thought they were too kind to those without dogs The proposal came as a result of challenges in the municipality linked to keeping dogs, says municipal manager for society and culture, Målfrid Hannisdal Teigen. – We have some challenges with people who experience noise or other things from the neighboring property. If we had this in the regulations, it would be easier to follow up, she says. Proposal for new regulations on dog keeping: § 6. The number of dogs in a household or on a property/plot A household can keep more than three adult dogs in its household or on a property/plot under the following conditions: a. The property is larger than 1.5 acres. b. The area the dogs use on the property must be fenced in with a minimum 1.5 meter high fence, and the fence must be at least 4 meters from the border with a neighbor and a public road, and at least 50 meters from a nursery, school, elderly center or public park/ free area. There must be a tight fence against the neighbor (due to noise). c. The property must have a closed and odorless container for depositing dog faeces or another arrangement that prevents annoying odors from the property. The proposal had already been adopted in the committee for society and culture, when the municipal council in Klepp in Rogaland had the matter up on Monday, but it did not quite reach the goal. Mayor Kjetil Maudal (Frp). Photo: Erik Waage / news Because the politicians had not fully understood it. – This matter has simply gone a little under the radar for several of us. This is how it is from time to time, but as long as we act, I think this will be fine in the end, says mayor Kjetil Maudal (Frp). Geir Morten Øvestad, group manager Ap. Photo: Torkel Anstensrud Schibevaag / news Right-wing politician Ove Horpestad sits on the same municipal council. He has a large dog and does not want a dog limit in the municipality. – We must not go out with the dog people. We will probably remove that section, he says. Nor would Labor Party politician Geir Morten Øvestad agree with the dog owners in Klepp. – The proposal stretched the rope too far to take into account those who do not have a dog, he says. Problems with hens, roosters, seagulls, horses and dogs The Labor Party instead proposed the regulation without the section on the maximum number of dogs. This was adopted with 23 out of 31 votes. One of those who voted for a dog limit was Rolf Helge Bergseth (KrF). After many years as manager of environmentally-friendly health care in the municipality, he thought they needed such a regulation. – Throughout that period, there have been complaints about keeping animals in the residential area. Everything from hens, roosters, horses, dogs and seagulls. And when the neighbors have to mediate between them, they fall short. Then they contact the municipality, he said and believed that clear rules would make it easier. Inge Hansen lives in Klepp. He hopes the politicians will start to take up more sensible issues in the future. – There are people who are struggling at the moment. They can probably think of them instead to limit how many dogs people should have. This is absolutely crazy, he says. Inge Hansen thinks the municipality he lives in should take care of other issues than how many dogs people can have. Photo: Erik Waage / news
ttn-69
Would introduce a maximum limit of three dogs per household – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
