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Neebing resident believes proposed bylaw unjustly targets her family’s sled dogs

A woman living in Neebing says a proposed bylaw threatens her family’s way of life.
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Shanlee Linton is upset about a proposed Neebing bylaw that could force her to give up her dogs. (Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com)

A woman living in Neebing says a proposed bylaw threatens her family’s way of life.

High school teacher Shanlee Linton and her family purchased a home in the municipality of Neebing last September in order to live off the land and to have a place to sled with their six huskies. Throughout the winter, neighbours came by to meet the family and even try out sledding for themselves.

Linton said one neighbor has a problem with the dogs, which she believes is a catalyst for Neebing’s new proposed by-law that would classify anyone with more than two dogs as a kennel.

“It’s been wonderful except for the added stress that we feel we’re harassed and bullied,” Linton said Tuesday morning. “We don’t know where this is coming from all we can assume is basically because of this one concerned seasonal resident who is complaining… we’re assuming this is because of our dogs and our situation.”

If the bylaw passes Wednesday evening, anyone who has a group of dogs for hunting, security, tracking, obedience, rescue or mushing would have to apply for a kennel license.

The application fee alone is $1,000, Linton said.

And because Neebing only has certain zones a kennel can be in, most people would have to get rid of their dogs.

“This is a part of our lifestyle. Our children have always grown up with dogs. This is all they know and it is absolutely devastating to us because we feel like our lifestyle and our traditions are being attacked and threatened by one person who doesn’t agree with it,” she said.

Linton said the main reason she and her family chose to live in Neebing and commute 45 minutes to Thunder Bay is because of the freedom the municipality had.

“We moved out there because we don’t want the constraints of city life,” she said.

Linton encourages every Neebing resident to attend the 5:30 p.m. public meeting Wednesday. The meeting takes place at the Neebing Municipal Office on Hwy. 61.

Calls to the Neebing Municipal office were referred to mayor Ziggy Polkowski who could not be reached for comment.

 





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