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CBRM vote allows doggy daycare to become overnight kennel
Nova Scotia

CBRM vote allows doggy daycare to become overnight kennel

Cape Breton regional councillors have rezoned a Sydney neighbourhood to allow a controversial new dog kennel to expand and add an overnight kennel operation.

The Crate Escape was controversial when it first opened and a public hearing on its expansion was packed

Tom Ayers · CBC News ·
Nicole Campbell of The Crate Escape Doggy Daycare addresses CBRM council during a public hearing into a zoning amendment that would allow the operation to become an overnight kennel. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

Cape Breton regional councillors have rezoned a Sydney neighbourhood to allow a controversial new dog kennel to expand.

The Crate Escape Doggy Daycare was allowed to open on Keltic Drive last year, but as a daytime operation only.

The owner, Nicole Campbell, had hoped to offer overnight kenneling services as well, but some local businesses and residents objected.

CBRM councillors then voted 8-4 to amend the zone to allow the animal daycare and promised to revisit the overnight aspect a year later.

The council chamber was packed Tuesday for a public hearing into the second zoning amendment.

Several people spoke for and against the proposal to allow kenneling overnight.

Nicole Campbell had hoped to offer overnight kenneling services in addition to day care for dogs, but some local businesses and residents objected. (Wendy Martin/CBC)

Peter Thompson, who operates Paws Awhile and Dream Kennels in a rural area just outside Sydney, said he is concerned that Campbell's business plans keep changing.

He said he objects to the proposed zoning amendment because he believes Campbell is not acting fairly.

"Now I got my foot in the door, I'm going to go a little further," he said. "There's got to be a stop [to] this."

In addition, Thompson said, most kennels are located outside Sydney because their operators were told zoning would not permit their operation inside the municipality.

Peter Harrison lives in the Keltic Drive neighbourhood and said the doggy daycare and kennel are in high demand.

"Miss Campbell and her family have created an absolute top-notch facility in this district," he said.

Steve Gillespie, the area's councillor, told the hearing he would have to vote against the zoning amendment.

CBRM councillor Steve Gillespie says he is not against the dog kennel, but area residents have asked him to vote against it. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

"I am not against this business idea, but I have several residents who have asked me to act on their behalf," he said.

"They voted me in and I have to do what they've asked me to do."

The zoning amendment passed, with Gillespie the only councillor to vote against it.

About the Author

Tom Ayers

Reporter/Editor

Tom Ayers has been a reporter and editor for more than 30 years. He has spent the last 15 years covering Cape Breton and Nova Scotia stories. You can reach him at tom.ayers@cbc.ca.

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