Rural Wellington (Colorado) dog breeders wanting to expand from a hobby breeding business to a county-approved pet animal facility have self-imposed a limit on the number of puppies that could be born each year at the property.

Wendi and Gary Elliott on Feb. 1 amended their application for special review to set a limit of five litters a year from seven female and three male dogs the family already owns. This limit will be more restrictive than the state kennel license for a small-scale breeding facility, which would allow up to 99 puppies a year.

The county allows canine hobby breeding of two litters a year without any regulation, which is how the Elliotts have operated for four years at their North County Road 70 home north of Wellington. With their wish to expand the business, they became the first family in the county to apply for special review under the county’s revised regulations for pet animal facilities.

The number of animals in a pet animal facility is considered on a case-by-case basis by the county commissioners. Regulations also focus on the size of indoor facilities and on facilities that keep animals outdoors, whether the business be for boarding, day care, training, grooming or breeding. Any pet animal outdoor area used as a business requires special review.

When the Elliotts went to the county with an expansion request, planners suggested they consider how the business might grow in future years.

“We routinely advise applicants to plan for success” in balance with neighborhood compatibility, explained planner Michael Whitley, who has been working on the Elliott family’s application.

In the Elliotts’ case, however, taking the advice to allow for growth backfired, as some people objected to increasing the number of adult dogs and called the proposed business a “puppy mill.”

The requested five-litter limit could produce about 40 puppies, but Wendi Elliott said her registered Labrador and Australian Shepherd dogs would not have that many litters most years.

“Please don’t take this maximum number of five total litters out of context,” Wendi Elliott said in her written project description. “If I had five litters one year, the year before and after would be significantly lower, if any.”

She further stated that they have a waiting list for their puppies, and they screen potential buyers. If a buyer can no longer provide a home for a dog, Elliott said she will take it back and find another home for the pet.

The Larimer County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the special review request on Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., in the courthouse offices building in Fort Collins. The county planning staff has recommended approval of the pet animal facility as long as no more than 10 adult dogs are kept outdoors and breeding and selling is limited to five litters a year.

“This public hearing is about three extra litters,” Whitley said.

The county is also requiring the Elliotts to upgrade the one-half mile dirt access road to their 40-acre property to an all-weather surface, which the Elliotts are appealing. Elliott said they will offer a less expensive compromise at the public hearing.

The planning staff has recommended denial of the road appeal, saying that the road has to be safe and adequate for business use of the property.

A staff report with details about the proposed facility is available online at www.larimer.org/boards/minutes/pcagenda.htm . The packet includes a letter from the Larimer Humane Society that says the agency does “not foresee any problems.” Letters of support and opposition are also included.

The volunteer planning commissioners serve in an advisory role to the elected county commissioners, who will have their hearing at a later date.

If the special review is approved at the requested limits, the Elliotts would have to file another application if they want to expand the business at a later date, Whitley said.