Council hears protest against animal ownership limits
by Megan Morreale, Special Writer
HAMILTON — Rescue groups came to the Township Council meeting Tuesday night with a plea for the council to amend the ordinance that only allows two pets in a home at one time.
They demanded that having only two pets in their home is not enough, calling the ordinance ridiculous and restrictive.
”Hamilton is the only township that has a two-animal rule,” Angela Gould, a long-time member of the Res-Q-Pets organization, said. “Something needs to be done or we won’t have anybody doing rescue in the township, and we save taxpayers a lot of money.”
The members of Pet Rescue and Res-Q-Pets filled the chambers in red and blue T-shirts standing in unison, upset that Ms. Gould was issued a violation at her home on Locust Avenue, where she was said to be fostering about 30 animals.
The rescue organizations called for a special ordinance that would give an exemption to those working with foster animals because they were doing a service to the community by helping the shelters to not overflow.
”Those of us that have single-family homes with property and pay taxes should have a right to a reasonable number of animals,” said Sherry Griffin, a member of Pet Rescue. “Two is not a reasonable number. We need am exemption for those of us working with rescue agencies.”
However, Ms. Gould’s neighbor, Larry Dressler spoke up at the meeting, telling the township how her animals were a problem for him and his family that might force him to leave the township.
”The township ordinances are there to protect us,” Mr. Dressler said. “She is running a kennel out of her home. She is doing good work for the animals, but the humans need to be taken care of.”
After dozens of members of the public spoke on this issue, the council discussed offering some leeway, in addition to examining and amending the ordinance.
”There is a balance here somewhere,” Councilman Dennis Pone said. “If I lived in (Ms.) Gould’s neighborhood, I would have a problem too. The township hasn’t been all that tough on enforcing them anyway.”
Councilman Pone suggested altering the ordinance to four animals per home, but added that they needed to keep enforcing the ordinance when there are complaints or health issues involved, as in Ms. Gould’s case.

