Dear Editor,
When did we become a nation that allowed hearing rulings to be determined by a court of opinion?
I am the owner of B & C Kennels, and my business has been licensed in DeKalb County and the State of Illinois for the past seven years.
We recently purchased a piece of property in Kings in order to move the sales portion of our business into Ogle County.  Our intention was to have our puppy sales, an obedience training program facility and grooming salon. We called Ogle County planning and zoning and were very careful to choose a property that met the county’s restrictions as far as land use was concerned.
We are a fully licensed facility and run a very clean operation. We are annually randomly inspected by both DeKalb County and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. We have gotten clean inspections with no recommended improvements.
Since our application for a Special Use Permit has been submitted, we have been harassed by animal rights activists. They are well schooled and most often will start and end every sentence with “In my opinion . . .”  That way whether it is true or not, they can get away with statements that would otherwise be subject to a lawsuit.  
Shortly after the Special Use Permit application was submitted, we were told that White Rock Township had met and adopted a resolution rejecting recommendation of the Special Use Permit. As the applicants, we were never notified of this meeting or made privy to this meeting.  We had no opportunity to speak or present information or answer any questions the township officials might have.
We question how the township officials could have made an informed decision on this resolution when they had no hard facts in their hands about our kennel, our business or our plans for development of property in Ogle County.  In fact, at least one of the members has stopped by our property to speak loudly against letting “any puppy mills into their county.”  
On March 14, the Ogle County Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee met. This was another meeting which we were not informed of. The minutes posted on the county’s website show that those opposed to our Special Use Permit were allowed to speak; without notice of the meeting, we could not attend and thus, our voice was silenced.
The first meeting that we were informed of where testimony would be heard both pro and con where we were present was held on March 23. This was the Ogle County Regional Planning Commission meeting. At that time, we showed our program and participated in a question and answer session. Individuals who have again, no knowledge of our kennel, our business operations or the quality care we provide our dogs, spoke in opposition.

One of the members sitting voted, stating that his vote was to decline due to the number of dogs in shelters. This committee ultimately denied the recommendation for our Special Use Permit.
Whether or not it is true that too many dogs are in shelters, has nothing to do with the requirements in Ogle County for granting a Special Use Permit. The Special Use Permit sets out special standards that must be met for the permit to be approved. County officials are to make their decision based on facts presented using the standards of the special use permit, and not on opinion.
On April 27 we presented our program to the Ogle County Zoning Board of Appeals. Our slide show was expanded to include details of our proposed building plan and site plan and making the main focus on positive benefits B & C Kennels could bring to Ogle County.  
The property we purchased was in terrible disrepair. At this time the driveway has already been leveled out, all the windows in the house replaced and all siding removed, repairs made and re-sided. The inside has been cleaned up, painted and carpeted. Whatever the outcome, we are committed to getting that piece of property cleaned up so it does not remain a blight on the Ogle County community.
At the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing, a lot of testimony was presented. Much of what was presented by the animal rights activists in opposition to granting the Special Use Permit was opinion not based on facts and was erroneous.
A petition that had 2,500 signatures on it opposing puppy mills was presented by the animal rights activists as evidence. When questioned by our attorney, it seems that nowhere on that petition did they state that this was not deliberately designed to keep B & C Kennels from operating in Ogle County.
Yet, the petition gave no facts directly relating to our operation. It did state that Ogle County residents did not want a “puppy mill” to operate in their county.  But, puppy mill is an opinion, not a factual statement and certainly not an accurate statement regarding our licensed kennel. The timing of this petition was clearly intended to raise negative and uninformed opposition to our Special Use Permit.
We heard Dr. Champley speak in opposition regarding a canine STD, brucellosis, which had been reported in a pup that originally came from me. This complaint came from an owner in Wisconsin who had the dog for two years before the dog was diagnosed with this STD. The Illinois Department of Agriculture demanded every dog in my kennel be tested. I immediately complied.
One hundred percent of my breeding dogs tested negative for brucellosis. Therefore, being charged with selling dogs with brucellosis absolutely cannot be proven. In fact, I feel that I had to prove myself innocent, regardless that the pup had been out of my kennel for two years.
If I did not run cleanly and have well cared for pups, I would not have clean inspection reports nor would my business have tripled. My license would very likely have been revoked.
From what I heard, our opposition clearly stated that it was their “opinion” that there is no way we could be operating cleanly, efficiently and with every dog well socialized with the numbers that we have.  
That is an “opinion.” Unless you have visited my kennel or my family’s kennel where a majority of my pups come from and have noted negligence or abuse of any kind, what type of facts are these statements based on? None. It is an opinion from individuals of what makes them comfortable or uncomfortable. That opinion should not be traded for the facts that are required to demonstrate whether or not my proposed kennel meets the requirements for a Special Use Permit in Ogle County.
I respectfully ask that you think about the above and ask yourselves if it is ok with you that animal rights activists who loudly spoke in opposition with their “opinions” should be allowed to determine whether or not a legal, well run enterprise which is compliant with state law and meets the requirements for a Special Use Permit in Ogle County should be allowed to dictate the denial of this permit.
Christie Hardt