Posted: Jan. 20, 2010 |(0) Comments

Thiensville — age won't be going to the dogs, at least anytime in the near future. Cats won't rule, either.

Trustees were surprised when asked earlier this month to grant a waiver to allow a sixth dog at a residence on Green Bay Road. They were unaware the village code allowed five dogs, an amount that seemed excessive in the village's residential neighborhoods.

The resident did not receive the waiver and was given two weeks to find a home for the sixth dog, but the board decided it should revise its ordinance.

If you currently have five licensed dogs at your house or if your dog is expecting - or just had - puppies and are ready to call Village Hall, calm down and read on.

Although the board adopted an ordinance Monday that will limit households to three licensed dogs or four licensed cats, or an aggregate of five of both species, residents who currently have more than that number will be allowed to keep those pets.

Animals must be licensed when they are 6 months old, which allows expectant dogs or cats to have their broods without falling afoul of the law. They need to be adopted after six months if their numbers exceed the population determined by ordinance.

No one on the board, nor the police chief, remembered anyone ever having a kennel business in the village.

"They would need a separate license for a kennel," Village Manager Dianne Robertson said.

And since a kennel is a business, there would likely never be one at a house in the village.

"We wouldn't allow that because of the zoning code," said Village Attorney Robert Feind.