MUNCIE, Ind. -- A Muncie man hopes to keep his 11 dogs after the county learned he had more than allowable by law.
Ray Jones moved to his home more than three years ago, but recently had a county zoning inspector come to the house because he wants to erect a privacy fence. That's when the inspector saw he had 11 dogs – eight more than are allowed where he lives.
"Anything more than three dogs is considered a kennel, and in this zoning you can't get a kennel license," Jones said.
PHOTOS | See Jones' dogs and the enclosure he built for them
The dogs are hybrid wolves contained in complete enclosures. Jones says the dogs aren't a threat to his neighborhood and they haven't been the focus of concern.
"It's been blown out of proportion," he said. "All that it is is that we have more than three, and we want to keep them."
Jones hopes to convince the zoning board members to give him a variance to allow more than three dogs on his property. He's already put part of that privacy fence up, and hopes the county will allow the fence around his home and that he can keep his dogs.
"These animals are innocent," Jones said. "They would give their life for me. How could I do any less for them?"
At the least, Jones says he hopes the county will approve a one-year variance so he can find another place to live with his dogs.
