Several McMinnville residents brought their concerns before the Board of the Mayor and Alderman Tuesday night regarding a long-standing problem with a neighbor being unwilling to handle their dogs. The situation proceeded to the extent that, upon residents sharing their testimony of events, City Attorney Tim Pirtle referred to the issue potentially as “a public health and safety issue.” City Administrator Nolan Ming shared his business card with the residents pledging to look into it the potential offense at the home on Old Shelbyville Road. 

First to speak on the issue was Starsha Stuck who described the noise related to a neighbor’s eight dogs. She purchased her home on Old Shelbyville Road in August. Since then, she says she and her neighbors have been in constant communication with another neighbor who has allegedly refused to do anything about a large number of dogs which are not only unruly, but potentially being neglected or abused. Neighbors mentioned how the “atrocious” scent and non-stop barking make quiet enjoyment of the property practically impossible.

Stuck explained how they repeatedly attempted to get help. She spoke to David Denton with McMinnville Animal Control several times since Sept. 2022 and he recommended they keep calling the non-emergency number. She said she was told with enough warnings they’d eventually be ticketed enough times to have their dogs taken.

“I’ve called Mr. Denton again, I’ve called Animal Control numerous times, including in the winter with the dogs not being taken care of. They’re walking around in their own feces. They’re not kept. They don’t have names. They’re vicious. Their own children jump up on their play gym to get away from these animals when they get stirred up,” Stuck explained.

Stuck describes how all the houses were on sale at the same time. “Wonder why,” Sally Brock asked, alluding to the plight that brought the neighbors there. “This has been excessive” Stuck’s husband John expressed. Mr. Stuck explained how they had moved in August and, though they love the city and feel welcome in McMinnville, the issues with their neighbor are wearing on them.  It was also alleged the dog owner admitted to drugging the dogs with Benadryl to put them to sleep and “beat the hell out of them with sticks” to try and keep them quiet.

Kabrina and Ray Brown live nearby on Lakeshore Drive and deal with the sound and the smells behind her house. Brown noted how the dogs will fight with each other. She says during their visits to see the house there appeared to be only two dogs, but once they closed the sale suddenly there were nine noisy dogs. One of whom she said they had to get rid of because the dog was attacking their own child.

There were several issues that were brought up multiple times by the residents in attendance. Attempting to resolve the issue by speaking with their neighbor, calling the non-emergency number several times over a period of months, getting no headway dealing with Denton and Animal Control as well the noise being worst around 1 to 4 a.m. were all discussed. In addition to the negatives, however, the beleaguered neighbors noted dispatch had been nice and helpful; Stuck and Weeks both specifically made sure to commend Officer Jay Hutchings for his helpful response.

Denton responded to questions regarding the issue. “I’ve heard some things about it,” Denton explained that he didn’t know what would be next and that there was not much he could comment on at the time. 

He did say he had spoken “to some extent” with Frank Southard from Public Works. Southard said that he had spoken to the residents who own the house with the offending dogs. He will have to coordinate with Police Chief Nichole Moseley to determine what actions will be taken.

The neighbors noted how they love the area and were happy to have a place in McMinnville, but they regret the specific purchase in that neighborhood due to the noise complaints. Deitra Dunlap on the Board was instantly familiar with the issue. 

“I live on King’s Point Lane. I can hear that every night, the echo of it and I think ‘How do those neighbors live there?’ It’s so bad,” she said.   

Mayor Ryle Chastain noted at the meeting they would have to confer with the police and animal control as well as legal counsel for the City of McMinnville, but would be in communication with the family. Ming shared his business card with the families at the meeting and said he is waiting to hear from them.

Colleen Weeks and her boyfriend James McKenna moved in November. Like their neighbors, they didn’t see or hear any problems at first. Once the issue was clear, they too attempted calling Animal Control including multiple calls this month already. Multiple calls were made to the non-emergency number between 1 and 3:30 a.m. Weeks also commended Officer Hutchins. She said the situation is wearing on their health; her boyfriend has not been able to sleep and was hospitalized briefly with high blood pressure Easter Sunday night. 

They say it’s been wearing on his health and plans to put up a stockade fence to help with privacy and noise have been pushed back due to lack of sleep and the ER visit. “We are all at our wit’s end” Weeks told the board, explaining how she feels “like a prisoner in my own home.”