Pendleton-area homeowners living near No Time To Spare Animal Rescue are asking the Warren County Commission to restrict or overturn a ruling allowing the animal shelter to continue operating.

No Time To Spare has been in operation in Pendleton since 2018, but had not applied for a county permit to operate the shelter until earlier this year (an issue that put the shelter in legal jeopardy). After a public hearing in May, Warren County’s citizen planning and zoning board voted July 21 to give the shelter temporary approval to continue operating, and to grant a full operating permit if the shelter can correct several code violations within six months.

The ruling will also require the shelter to hold liability insurance for at least $100,000; only allow dogs outside from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and maintain adequate security and fencing to prevent animals from escaping.

Nearby homeowners who oppose the shelter’s presence are now asking the Warren County Commission to review that ruling, and either tighten the restrictions set by the planning board or overturn their decision altogether.

In a letter appealing the ruling, opponents state three issues that they say the planning board failed to adequately address. Their objections heavily reference the commission’s handling of a different animal facility application, a 2018 proposal from Dowdy Dawgs to build a police dog breeding and training facility. In that case, the commission placed relatively extensive requirements on the proposed facility, causing its would-be owner to walk away from the project.

Here are the objections raised by No Time To Spare’s opponents:

• Insufficient insurance. Opponents have cited the risk of potentially dangerous dogs harming someone as a strike against the shelter. They say a $100,000 liability policy isn’t adequate to cover that risk.

“The (permit) for Dowdy Dawgs issued by the Warren County Commissioners January 28, 2019, had a demand for a $3 million liability policy for dogs that are possibly the most well trained dogs,” opponents wrote. “We ask that the liability insurance amount (for No Time To Spare) be increased to a more appropriate level for the number of dogs and the increased risk factor.”

• No limit on number of dogs. The permit approved by the planning board included no specific limit on the number of dogs allowed at the shelter. Board members instead deferred to relevant regulations set by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which regulates animal shelters. Neighbors said they want a more concrete limit on dogs in order to “mitigate ... noise and smell.”

“Based on past limitations provided by the Warren County Commission — Dowdy Dawgs’ 2018 (permit) limited 50 dogs on 40 acres — the maximum number of dogs ... on 7 acres should be nine,” according to the objections.

• Noise. This has been the biggest complaint from nearby property owners since No Time To Spare opened. Although the planning board is requiring all dogs to be kept inside at night, opponents said that doesn’t go far enough to prevent the annoyance of barking dogs.

“Unless a proven noise mitigation system is put in place, we ask that the (permit) be denied,” the appeal letter states, arguing that No Time To Spare has enough volunteer labor to move the shelter to a different location if it has to.

As part of the appeal process, the Warren County Commission has scheduled a public hearing to receive testimony supporting and opposing the permit for No Time To Spare. The hearing will take place Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. in the lower level of the County Administration Building in Warrenton.

A final decision on the permit would likely come on a later date.