It’s no surprise dogs at the Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Clifton bark, yelp and make noise. But so do some of the hound’s neighbors.
Neighbors of the four-decade-old pound, 3320 D 1/2 Road, have been complaining for years to Mesa County Code Enforcement about the noise.
“We have gotten written complaints from more than one (neighbor) and numerous calls,” Code Enforcement Director Donna Ross said.
The issue is peaking now because the no-kill shelter is looking to amend a temporary conditional-use permit, obtained last year to place a trailer on site for office space. At the time, the county insisted on more noise mitigation and “threatened to shut down the shelter,” former president of the society’s board of directors Lana Fergeson wrote in her 2008-09 shelter report.
“They were tired of getting noise complaints,” Fergeson said.
Some improvements were made, but now the shelter is looking to place a larger, permanent office building on site, touching off a new round of scrutiny.
Fergeson said the shelter needs to double its office space, which could cost about $40,000.
Denise Lashmett, shelter director, said the shelter holds 38 dogs and up to 40 cats daily. It has 12 outside dog kennels.
The recession and recent construction have added to the noise level.
Last year the shelter was inundated with animals from people who could no longer afford their pets. Also, the walls and other construction done in the winter caused the dogs to bark more than usual, Fergeson said.
Shelter officials said they already had two meetings with the Mesa County Planning Department and will have an informal meeting with neighbors sometime in the next two weeks, Ross said.
If the county approves of Roice-Hurst’s plans, construction would not occur until 2010, said Elaine Johnson-Craig, president of the society’s board of directors.
“Noise abatement is going to be the first phase (of remodeling),” Johnson-Craig said. “We certainly understand the neighbors’ right to peace and quiet.”
For some neighbors the noise abatement is long overdue.
In May 2008, Ray and Jennifer McCall, the shelter’s nearest neighbor to the west, filed a complaint with Code Enforcement. In 2002, they also complained to the county, opposing Roice-Hurst’s plans for a “cat colony,” saying barking dogs have taken away the peacefulness of their property.
Also in 2002, Ernie Pearce, who owned 10 acres north of the shelter, wrote a letter to the county.
“I have had difficulty with the noise from their operation for 12 years,” Pearce wrote.
But the shelter has been in place for decades.
“We were here first. You build a house here, so what do you expect?” Lashmett said.
As time passes more homes will continue cropping up around the shelter.
To the west, at the corner of D 1/2 and 32 1/2 roads, about a mile away, a proposal for a 229-lot development on 57 acres has been submitted to the county. To the northwest, 464 33 Road, the county approved a plan to subdivide five acres into 25 single-family lots late last year.
One of the new neighbors said those who complain should move.
“The Roice-Hurst Humane Society has been there longer than them houses,” said Tamara Melgares, who baby-sits her grandchildren three days a week in a 3-month-old home north of the shelter. “That’s all people want to do is complain anymore.”
John Rogers, who has lived northeast of the shelter for 31 years, has learned to live with the noise — sort of.
“I just got used to it. I tune it out,” Rogers said.
But, he added, “I wish they’d move them out to the desert.”
The director of Mesa County Animal Services, Penny McCarty, knows something about dealing with neighbors and loud dogs.
“A lot of times what we try to do is manage which dogs are outside,” she said. “Or you have a dog that is a barker, like a hound dog, those are the ones we don’t put outside.”
She also said it is a good idea to consult with a sound expert to get advice on appropriate height of walls, where they should be placed, what sound dampening materials to use and other helpful suggestions.
Roice-Hurst has no plans to move, but it is working to mitigate its sound issues as more and more people move closer.
“I don’t know what more we can do,” Fergeson said. “We try the best that we can, but dogs bark just like airplanes make noise when they fly.”
Email LEROY STANDISH
Comments
By common sense neighbor
Nov 20, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this
the neighbors close to the shelter are for the shelter, I am one of them. All we want from the shelter is respect to their neighbors and to submit to the conditional use permit which the county has admitted has been abused. we would be glad to have them stay and continue the service that is needed and supported by us.
By the way the National Humane Society was contacted and were amazed and upset that this facility has abused its neighbors.
By jacob mccall
Nov 12, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
As a "neighbor" of RH, I too support what they do. God bless them....BUT...This IS a residential neighorhood NOW,,NOT 40 YEARS AGO!!!!!..We have to deal with animals getting DUMPED because RH can only hold so many animals and turn them away. So we the "bad neighbor" have to rescue the dogs so they don't get ran over or shot. What they do is an honorable service, but comeonanimal lovers, walk in our shoes. They should be moved to a location similar to Animal Control. SIMPLE...Instead of relocating they intend to spend thousands upon thousands of "Donated Money", to restore a 40 year old building to suite a residential neighborhood? WOW. How are the animals going to eat??? I guess the neighbors will feed them... (by the way folks 38 dogs and 40 cats??) Thats a start but lets get real.They need a BIGGER FACILITY, NOT BIGGER OFFICES!!!! Growth is something we all have to deal with, animals and neighbors. THANK YOU, Your Fellow Animal Lover...
By coloradolady
Nov 12, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this
Everyone has made very sense in their posts. Can I add my two cents worth? Instead of worrying about putting a wall up to keep the noise down, how about the home owners put up a fence to keep the noise out. It will increase the value of your home. I totally agree on looking into where you are going to buy your home first before you sign the contract. If you are having a house built, look around you because what you see is what is there first. We live near a race track and a stupid shooting range and let me tell you.....cars racing at midnight on a work night and people shooting guns at all hours of the day and evening is a pain in the neck but....BUT....they were there when I bought my house soooo....
The poster was right, nowadays we have nothing to do but bch and complain but in this case, the homeowners are wrong. I agree with the poster who compared the humans to the animals......we'd have a much better community if the animals all had homes and the homeowners all moved. You know, if you put all the complainers into the kennels, it would be one noisy place, too!!!
By martey
Nov 12, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this
I am so grateful to hear so many comments from people who support Roice-Hurst. Let me add my support to theirs - RH is an asset this community can ill afford to loose! All but one of the pets I have were shelter adoptions and myself and my children have all volunteered at vet clinics and shelters. These animals need our support, protection, love and time/supplies/monetary donations. Considering the need is greater than ever for homeless pets, considering RH was there long LONG before the subdivisions, considering this valley has so many good people willing to help, considering this is the RIGHT thing to do - everyone needs to be a part of the SOLUTION not the PROBLEM.
By S. Davis
Nov 12, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
If you don't like the noise of trains, you don't buy a house next to train tracks. If you don't like the noise from Roice-Hurst then I suggest you move.
I volunteer in animal welfare, not for Roice-Hurst but for another organization. I have lived in this valley all my life and Roice-Hurst has been here for most of that time.
This community cannot afford to lose this shelter due to complaining neighbors. The new leadership at Roice-Hurst has brought this shelter a long ways and saved it from being closed. They have done a great job! Animals have few options in this area so they are a much needed resource. They also need to be able to expand and use what funds they have towards helping the animals, not fighting neighbors.
The economy has placed great strain on animal shelters and rescues all over the country. People have abandoned thousands of animals and left them to die for lack of any place to take them. Shelters are packed and thousands of animals are being euthanized for lack of space and adoptive homes. Shelters and rescues have had to close because funding has been cut. Many of them have had to start purchasing most of their pet food as the pet food companies have stopped donating or offering food at reduced prices. The big box stores no longer donate torn bag food to shelters and it goes in the trash dumpsters. Times are tough! The average person has no idea how animals have been impacted by the economy but those of us in rescue do. It's horrible!!
I'm sorry the neighbors are unhappy about the shelter but they have been there much longer. We need Roice-Hurst and we need them to be able to expand and grow. Until someone who has the means steps forward and offers them the ability to move to a more appropriate place, the neighbors need to help with a solution instead of being a constant problem and complaining. Dogs cannot be kenneled indoors 24/7 without suffering behavioral issues. For people to suggest that is unrealistic. Personally, I don't want my donations going to fight complaints from neighbors. I want it going to help the animals.
By Lisa
Nov 12, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
As usual,"Happy Valley" at its best. To the McCalls....if we lose this facility,
then we will not have a place that is a "no kill"facility...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?????? Do you understand that the reason that the animals are there in the first place is because "humans" acted in a unresponsible way and deserted the
animals to fend for themselves.....Why did you buy your home there??????
To Bob....just as you would like to see a "limit" on how many animals are allowed there...I would like to see a limit of humans who are allowed in the valley who are irresponsible and desert their animals, expecting other people to tae care of them....Limits means some poor animal will be killed...Do we get to apply the same "limit" to the people??
Happy Valley... got to love it!
By Dee
Nov 12, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this
Just like the "You Said It" writer in my neighborhood whining about the noise from the St. Mary's life flight helicopters - unless you were there before the hospital, animal, shelter, egg farm, stockyard, football stadium, etc. - you have no right to complain. If you didn't do your homework before buying, it's YOUR fault, not the business or facility. Dogs bark, chickens smell and helicopters make noise. Get over it - you're not more important than they are.
By crusty
Nov 12, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
Dogs bark incessantly for a couple of reasons. Wanting to be fed, and wanting attention.
Go help feed them, or go take them for a walk, throw a frisbee or just sit with them with your arm around them to make them feel some closeness to a human.
By Widget
Nov 12, 2009 7:53 AM | Link to this
Our society has turned into a bunch of whiney cry babies. Rather than accept responsibility for their choice to buy or build a home near the shelter, they would rather complain that the shelter is at fault. I have lived near two Air Force bases in Las Vegas and Phoenix. When I moved into the areas, the AFB was out in the middle of nowhere. Soon homes started popping up in the surrounding area and people start complaining that the jets were too loud. Well, duh. The jets were there first. In Phoenix there is a pig farm that at one time was in the middle of nowhere. Soon enough the masses came to the pigs and no surprise, pig smell....awful. It's like moving to the mountains and complaining about the wildlife. If you are not smart enough to figure out that your surroundings affect how you live, well then that is your problem. Oh, and Bob, are you willing to adopt a few animals so they don't go over "quota"? If not, then you are part of the problem, not a solution. Responsible pet ownership requires spaying, neutering and realizing that the cute 2 pound bundle of puppy fluff you buy is a lifetime commitment requiring lots of love, a little training and knowledge that their life depends on you and the compassion of a no-kill facility when an irresponsible person dumps Fido or Fluffy because it was "too much work" Grow up complainers, unless you were living there 50 years ago, Roice Hurst was there first.
By quitwhinning
Nov 12, 2009 7:09 AM | Link to this
If you don't want golf balls breaking your windows don't live by a golf course, if you don't want jet's fly over your house don't live by the airport,if you don't want your tires slashed don't live on 32-1/8. Leave the shelter alone when it was built decades ago it was in the middle of nowhere and some idiots thought it would be a great idea to live and build houses by a animal shelter. What is more annoying to me than dogs barking at a shelter are idiots who choose to live by the shelter than complain.
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