Marty
10-12-2005, 01:39 PM
Lincoln, NE -- Saunders County board of supervisors unanimously rejected a proposal by an Omaha man to build a 24-kennel luxury shelter for pit bulls on his property north of Valparaiso.
The board voted 6-0 Tuesday to block the shelter’s construction. One board member was absent.
David Hibler, a former English professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, had said he intended to open the $35,000 kennel to pit bulls left homeless in the wake of recent hurricanes.
Reached by phone after the meeting, board chairman Ken Kuncl said the board talked a lot about Hibler’s past violations involving his dogs before the vote. The meeting was standing room only, and about eight people spoke against the application, he said.
After the vote, those against the kennel — which would have included soundproof rooms and televisions — clapped, he said.
“I’m very happy that he was denied,” Kuncl said. “I think that some of the situations in the past indicate we probably would have had problems with the 24 pit bulls out there.”
Hibler, who attended the meeting, said he hoped to earn money by making movies about his dogs.
“It is truly unfortunate that the good people of Saunders County are presently being deprived of the opportunity to help their great nation,” Hibler said.
“It would have been a positive thing to help suffering dogs on the one hand and a nation in need on the other. I don’t think what went down is really indicative of what the people of Saunders County feel.”
Kuncl disagreed.
“I think the reason a lot of people move into the country is so they can enjoy the outside and roam around and basically not have to be scared of being attacked by a dog that’s probably escaped or let loose,” he said.
Hibler has said he might consider proposing a boarding kennel for all breeds if the proposal was turned down.
In 1998 Hibler was fired by the Board of Regents, based on a faculty committee’s finding that he was guilty of sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct.
Reach Rachael Seravalli at 473-7063 or rseravalli@journalstar.com.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/10/11/local/doc434c5388d90e2610698583.txt
The board voted 6-0 Tuesday to block the shelter’s construction. One board member was absent.
David Hibler, a former English professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, had said he intended to open the $35,000 kennel to pit bulls left homeless in the wake of recent hurricanes.
Reached by phone after the meeting, board chairman Ken Kuncl said the board talked a lot about Hibler’s past violations involving his dogs before the vote. The meeting was standing room only, and about eight people spoke against the application, he said.
After the vote, those against the kennel — which would have included soundproof rooms and televisions — clapped, he said.
“I’m very happy that he was denied,” Kuncl said. “I think that some of the situations in the past indicate we probably would have had problems with the 24 pit bulls out there.”
Hibler, who attended the meeting, said he hoped to earn money by making movies about his dogs.
“It is truly unfortunate that the good people of Saunders County are presently being deprived of the opportunity to help their great nation,” Hibler said.
“It would have been a positive thing to help suffering dogs on the one hand and a nation in need on the other. I don’t think what went down is really indicative of what the people of Saunders County feel.”
Kuncl disagreed.
“I think the reason a lot of people move into the country is so they can enjoy the outside and roam around and basically not have to be scared of being attacked by a dog that’s probably escaped or let loose,” he said.
Hibler has said he might consider proposing a boarding kennel for all breeds if the proposal was turned down.
In 1998 Hibler was fired by the Board of Regents, based on a faculty committee’s finding that he was guilty of sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct.
Reach Rachael Seravalli at 473-7063 or rseravalli@journalstar.com.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/10/11/local/doc434c5388d90e2610698583.txt