David Henry for Monroe County

Alright let's take a big breath before things get out of hand with the Monroe County Issue.

The current issue: The Monroe County Planning Department is trying to make new zoning regulations that would regulate us, and frankly every other rehabber, out of the county.

The reality: Wildlife Rehabilitation and small animal rescue is typically a residential endeavor. What I mean is that the vast majority of us (including Jason and I at The Pipsqueakery) who provide care for animals do so out of our homes. We aren't a commercial business. We don't have clients or customers showing up at our door. We don't do tours. We don't have business hours. We eat, sleep, and breathe animal rescue and rehab because it's 24/7 work we do.

How this applies to The Pipsqueakery: We're on a rural lot in the county. Our neighbors haven't complained. In fact, the originating complaint was full of repeatedly proven falsehoods (there have been so many inspections in the last year) by someone who isn't a resident of this county. This has resulted in The Monroe County Planning Department proposing regulations that would make it impossible for wildlife rehabbers and small animal rescuers to exist in Monroe County, Indiana

Our position: We don't understand why an animal rescue or wildlife rehabber should have more difficult to comply with zoning regulations than your local hobby farmer, hamster breeder, or dairy goat keeper. We understand the need for strict animal welfare regulations for rescues and rehabbers but those are, and should continue to be, addressed by the relevant agencies including IN DNR, USFWS, Monroe County Animal Management, and the USDA as applicable. Let those agencies do the work they are trained and qualified to do.

What you can do: You can POLITELY email the following list of people about why wildlife rehabbers and The Pipsqueakery are important to you and include the position statement. Please remember that the majority of the people you will be emailing on this list support The Pipsqueakery and it helps them to know what the public cares about to properly advocate for their constituents.

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Again, please be kind and positive. Three of the emails above are for people who support The Pipsqueakery. It will help them help us to hear from you.

P.S. Yes we have an awesome attorney who has been working on this for more than 6 months now. She's worth every penny we have spent trying to get this all straightened out.