Marion County commissioners approved a special use permit Tuesday that allows an established kennel facility in Dunnellon to keep operating on a three-acre parcel of land.
Sandra F. Kimble, who owns the Wolves Den Ranch, filed for the special permit after receiving notice from the county telling her that some local breeders would need to obtain the permits for their businesses. The special use permit allows Kimble to operate the kennel/breeding facility, which is located at 11080 SW 110th Ave., in an area zoned general agriculture. The facility has been operating on the property for about six years.
Kimble told commissioners that she intends to breed two to three litters of German Shepherds a year. She said the dogs are exercised in two-hour intervals with no more than two or three in the yards at any given time. And she said the number of adult dogs and puppies at the facility won’t exceed 20 at any one time.
Kimble said clients come to her facility to visit and eventually pick up their puppies, as well as attend “puppy play dates.” She said the facility experiences minimal traffic and adequate parking is available for her customers.
Kimble’s property is entirely fenced and a tree buffer exists on the west and southern boundaries. County officials confirmed that they’ve received no complaints about the business in its six years of existence. They said the special use permit provides limitations to the intensity of use and monitoring of any negative impacts to the surrounding areas.
Commissioners also made it clear that the special use permit was being granted to Kimble, not the property, and she must reside at the site. It also stipulated that all dog waste must be collected daily and removed from the site at least weekly. And all lighting on the site must be directed away from neighboring properties and shielded to prevent the overflow of light into those areas.
The permit allows up to nine breeding dogs and sales of puppies bred and delivered on-site directly to clients. But Kimble can’t sell the animals to pet stores, flea markets or other “non-direct entities,” or allow commercial boarding of animals.
Two of Kimble’s neighbors wrote letters of support for her and her partner at the facility, Dayla Libby, who is certified through the American Kennel Club to breed German Shepherds.
Linda Richardson, who lives beside the facility, said Kimble’s dogs have never bothered her and she feels safer knowing that the animals are close by and barking.
Candice and J. Jackson said they have been Kimble’s neighbors for several years and they’ve never had concerns about the kennel/breeding operation. In fact, like Richardson, they believe it provides added protection for their property.
“It has been our pleasure to get to know Sandra and Dayla,” the Jacksons’ letter reads. “We consider then not only as neighbors but friends.”