The town of Clymer discussed some changes in rules for town dog kennels and partnering with the town of Ripley on a shared services grant. P-J photo by Sara Holthous

CLYMER — Rules and regulations surrounding dog kennels for towns and municipalities have changed, and the town of Clymer recently discussed during their January meeting a shared services grant the town of Ripley is working on to help fund those changes.

Town Supervisor Brian Willink said the town of Ripley has reached out to all of the townships that border them, including Clymer, to see if the town would be interested in working with them on this shared services grant to help solve some of the local dog kennel problems. The grant itself could be up to $250,000 per municipality. He noted that Ripley has a grant writer that is already working on the process, but needed formal approval from the four towns; Ripley, Clymer, Sherman and French Creek, to move forward.

“Right now we’re quasi harboring our dogs in the town of Sherman’s kennels when they’re not being used by the town of Sherman, which is working for now,” Willink said.

Willink also noted that these dog kennels require a lot of certifications, including a yearly inspection. Kennels now also have to be climate controlled with inside and outside access and running water, something the town does not have capabilities for, and is the reason for partnering with Sherman.

The grant has no cost to the town as of right now, but if awarded they will need to pay 10% of whatever the bill may be.

Another dog related topic that was also brought up again at the town board meeting was the town’s dog laws. Willink said he discussed the laws with dog catcher Kelly Thornton the week before the meeting, talking about what she is looking for to add into the town’s laws.

“She had some ideas of some things she was trying to solve and she was going to actually talk to Judge Cooper about what the procedures would be for something like that, making sure what she’s thinking is able to be done,” Willink said.

The town’s dog laws are fairly up to date, Willink noted, last being amended around 2011. He said they want to continue to support Thornton in what she is trying to do and would wait to hear back and see where it goes. The noise ordinance for dogs barking was brought up again as well, including reiterating the idea that it would be hard to enforce for the town, but there might be something to do in regards to disturbing the peace. Things will continue to be monitored at this point and the town will see where it goes.