A Wheeling resident with one more dog than allowed by village law was told by trustees tonight that she would have to seek a variance to keep the extra dog.
Margaret Bucher received a warning ticket on March 22 for having five dogs in her town home. A village ordinance, in effect since 1991, limits the number of vertebrate animals in a residence to four.
“I cannot give up my dogs,” said Bucher, “and I did not know when I purchased my fifth dog that there was an ordinance against it.” She added that the five small dogs together only weigh 35 pounds.
“We’re sympathetic to you,” acting village president Dean Argiris told Bucher. “But the rules are the rules.”
Argiris suggested Bucher pursue a variance from the ordinance, and start that process by setting up a meeting with village manager J. Mark Rooney.
Bucher said she would call Rooney on Tuesday.
–Graydon Megan
