George Washington had more than 50 dogs (but not in Hillsboro)
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
One of my favorite U.S. presidents – for many reasons – is George Washington. Unlike today’s wannabe-statesmen, Washington knew the difference between a political swamp and a lobbyist hot tub.
By the way, the Father of our Country also loved dogs. No kidding.
The non-partisan first president of these United States from 1789-97 was a dog lover. He had more than four dogs, too.
Just for a quick history lesson, President Washington had these named dogs: American staghounds – Sweet Lips, Scentwell and Vulcan; and black and tan coonhounds – Drunkard, Taster, Tipler and Tipsy.
By my count, that’s seven of man’s best friends.
From George Washington’s “home page” at http://www.mountvernon.org/, we read: “During his lifetime, Washington kept almost every group of dog recognized today by the American Kennel Club. Records show that he owned French hounds Tipsy, Mopsey, Truelove and Ragman – just to name a few. Greyhounds, Newfoundlands, Briards and various types of spaniels, terriers and toys also called the estate home.
“An avid fox hunter, Washington’s pack of hounds were provided with shelter and fresh water from a spring running through a kennel, which was located about 100 yards south of the original family tomb. General Washington personally inspected the kennel each morning and evening and took time to visit with his dogs.”
Four years ago, in an April 14, 2014 Presidential Pet Museum story headlined “George Washington’s Relationship With Dogs,” we read “Although George Washington is best known for his hunting dogs, his journals and letters show that he had many types of dogs throughout his life and that he had a real fondness for them. He probably had about 50 or more dogs during his lifetime.”
You don’t say. President Gen. George Washington had 50 or more dogs.
This brings us to the proposed Hillsboro zoning update that would limit the number of pets per household as The Highland County Press first reported at http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Proposed-Hillsboro-zoning-update-would-limit-number-of-pets-per-household/2/20/43650.
The city’s 99-page updated zoning code (which I doubt anyone on council has read or could explain) includes a section on the “keeping of domesticated pets, hens and rabbits.”
If approved by city council, the legislation would limit each household to “no more than four dogs or four cats, or a combination of dogs and cats as not to total more than four per household.”
In addition to dogs and cats, each household would be limited to “a maximum of four chicken hens or four rabbits, or a combination of both not total more than four” on each parcel of property.
Roosters named Ernest (what else are you gonna call a rooster?) would be prohibited within the city limits, per the new city code.
And for good reason. As Ray Wylie Hubbard once said, “There’s no such thing as a rock ’n’ roll rooster that will crow at the crack of noon.”
This week, Hillsboro resident Greg Grant made this observation about the proposed city ordinance: “I see no reason for this restriction. There are already ordinances on health/safety, noise, unrestrained animals, abuse, etc., all of which could be utilized in the event that there is an issue. If someone chooses to have more than four animals, and they are all being treated properly, and their property is clean and absent of odors/noise, then there is no reason to restrict those people from caring and choosing to have multiple pets in their homes. Problems can be addressed with existing laws.”
Therein lies the crux of the matter. The city has existing laws for nuisances. The city also has a limited law enforcement department with far more important issues than counting the number of dog turds on any given property and dividing the total by four. It is either an unenforceable ordinance or one selectively enforced.
This whole issue reeks of a disgruntled person or group out to inflict some personal discomfort on the regime’s non-believers or non-supporters.
A joint public hearing on the matter with the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro City Council is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 6:15 p.m. in the Hillsboro Municipal Court, 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro. During the meeting, the planning commission and city council will hear public comment on proposed zoning code amendments (currently Chapter 155).
K-9 units are welcome at the Center for Justice.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County’s only locally owned and operated newspaper – with no entangling alliances to anyone.
By the way, the Father of our Country also loved dogs. No kidding.
The non-partisan first president of these United States from 1789-97 was a dog lover. He had more than four dogs, too.
Just for a quick history lesson, President Washington had these named dogs: American staghounds – Sweet Lips, Scentwell and Vulcan; and black and tan coonhounds – Drunkard, Taster, Tipler and Tipsy.
By my count, that’s seven of man’s best friends.
From George Washington’s “home page” at http://www.mountvernon.org/, we read: “During his lifetime, Washington kept almost every group of dog recognized today by the American Kennel Club. Records show that he owned French hounds Tipsy, Mopsey, Truelove and Ragman – just to name a few. Greyhounds, Newfoundlands, Briards and various types of spaniels, terriers and toys also called the estate home.
“An avid fox hunter, Washington’s pack of hounds were provided with shelter and fresh water from a spring running through a kennel, which was located about 100 yards south of the original family tomb. General Washington personally inspected the kennel each morning and evening and took time to visit with his dogs.”
Four years ago, in an April 14, 2014 Presidential Pet Museum story headlined “George Washington’s Relationship With Dogs,” we read “Although George Washington is best known for his hunting dogs, his journals and letters show that he had many types of dogs throughout his life and that he had a real fondness for them. He probably had about 50 or more dogs during his lifetime.”
You don’t say. President Gen. George Washington had 50 or more dogs.
This brings us to the proposed Hillsboro zoning update that would limit the number of pets per household as The Highland County Press first reported at http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Proposed-Hillsboro-zoning-update-would-limit-number-of-pets-per-household/2/20/43650.
The city’s 99-page updated zoning code (which I doubt anyone on council has read or could explain) includes a section on the “keeping of domesticated pets, hens and rabbits.”
If approved by city council, the legislation would limit each household to “no more than four dogs or four cats, or a combination of dogs and cats as not to total more than four per household.”
In addition to dogs and cats, each household would be limited to “a maximum of four chicken hens or four rabbits, or a combination of both not total more than four” on each parcel of property.
Roosters named Ernest (what else are you gonna call a rooster?) would be prohibited within the city limits, per the new city code.
And for good reason. As Ray Wylie Hubbard once said, “There’s no such thing as a rock ’n’ roll rooster that will crow at the crack of noon.”
This week, Hillsboro resident Greg Grant made this observation about the proposed city ordinance: “I see no reason for this restriction. There are already ordinances on health/safety, noise, unrestrained animals, abuse, etc., all of which could be utilized in the event that there is an issue. If someone chooses to have more than four animals, and they are all being treated properly, and their property is clean and absent of odors/noise, then there is no reason to restrict those people from caring and choosing to have multiple pets in their homes. Problems can be addressed with existing laws.”
Therein lies the crux of the matter. The city has existing laws for nuisances. The city also has a limited law enforcement department with far more important issues than counting the number of dog turds on any given property and dividing the total by four. It is either an unenforceable ordinance or one selectively enforced.
This whole issue reeks of a disgruntled person or group out to inflict some personal discomfort on the regime’s non-believers or non-supporters.
A joint public hearing on the matter with the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro City Council is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 6:15 p.m. in the Hillsboro Municipal Court, 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro. During the meeting, the planning commission and city council will hear public comment on proposed zoning code amendments (currently Chapter 155).
K-9 units are welcome at the Center for Justice.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County’s only locally owned and operated newspaper – with no entangling alliances to anyone.