Hostile Neighbor Seeking to Shut Down GSRSV's Rescue Ranch! (posted 9-17-17)
During the past few months, one of my dogs (Rusty) found his way off my property on multiple occasions and allegedly killed a large number of chickens belonging to a nearby couple. Additionally, Sutter Animal Services Authority (animal control) impounded another one of my dogs (Nar) on three different occasions for being off my property and allegedly killing chickens at the neighbor's property. It is the clear intention of the couple with the chickens to shut down GSRSV.
On Tuesday, September 26 at 3:00 PM , the Sutter County Board of Supervisors (BOS) will be conducting a hearing to consider revoking the Use Permit for my property. The Use Permit allows me to have up to 30 dogs on my property so that I can operate my rescue/adoption program. (Without the Use Permit, I am only allowed to have four dogs--even though I live on 45 acres.) The Sutter County Development Services Dept (SCDSD), which issued the permit to me in 2005, will be making the recommendation to revoke the Use permit.
As of 9-17-17, the BOS had yet to announce the hearing on their Website (https://www.suttercounty.org/agenda/bos), but had mailed a notice to me and people within a mandated distance from my property. SCDSD's report upon which their recommendation is based will not be available until Friday, Sept 22. The report will supposedly be posted on the above link. The BOS' meeting will be at the Hall of Records Building, 466 Second Street, Yuba City, CA.
I have requested each of the Supervisors in a separate letter to allow me at least six months to relocate, if in fact they decide to concur w/ SCDSD's recommendation. Six months might seem like a lot of time, but with all t he work that's involved in caring for the dogs I have and helping countless shelter dogs and people needing to rehome their dogs, six months will fly right by. Without the Use Permit, I will be seeking to relocate my rescue/adoption operation--likely to a place outside of California. This will not be an easy undertaking, to put it mildly.
What I am asking each of you to do is to contact each of the Supervisors--either by e-mail (preferred) or by postal mail--to express your support for GSRSV based on your experience with me and whatever else you know about my organization. You can request that the BOS consider not revoking my Use Permit, but I do want you to be aware of the events leading up to SCDSD bringing their recommendation to revoke the Use Permit to the BOS. See "Recent Events" in the addendum to the letter linked above. I also want you to be aware that the BOS represents only those residing in Sutter County, so your appeals may fall on deaf ears.
The Supervisor who represents District 5 where I live is Mat Conant. His page on the BOS Website, which includes his contact info, is https://www.suttercounty.org/doc/government/bos/bios/bos_conant.
The other four Supervisor's names and contact information are at https://www.suttercounty.org/doc/government/bos/bos_home.
Though I anticipate a disappointing decision from the BOS at the Sept 26 hearing, I do not want to go down without making them aware of all the good work I have done as Director of GSRSV while at this location for the past fourteen years. Such a stand could very well make the difference between the BOS allowing me only a short time vs allowing me 6 months to reduce the number of dogs on my property to four.
If you want to show your support for GSRSV in person at the BOS' hearing on Sept 26, I'd welcome your testimony--especially if you've been to my rescue ranch and have seen for yourself what a great place it is for the dogs. The Notice of Public Hearing states that "All interested parties are invited to attend and express their opinions or provide written comments before the hearings." If you have questions, you can call the Clerk of the Board at 530-822-7106.
If you do write to each of the BOS, I really encourage each of you to read the letter linked above that I wrote to the BOS. It pretty much says it all. It will make your appeal to the BOS on GSRSV's behalf much more effective.
I'm also still seeking an attorney to represent me in a Small Claims Court appeal case involving the couple with the chickens, and to be present during the Sept 26 BOS meeting. If you can recommend an attorney close-in to Sacramento that would be willing to work for a discounted fee, please let me know right away by contacting me, Brian Foran, at either 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com.
I appreciate any support you can offer.
Sincerely,
Brian Foran
Director
German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley