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WENTWORTH — Wally Johnson has raised dogs his whole life. He owns eight hunting dogs and raises others for fellow hunters. It’s been done in his family for generations.

But now he and many other dog owners feel like they’re under attack from the county.

Rockingham County has tried for more than a year to develop a kennel ordinance that would establish restrictions and expectations for residents who own or care for multiple animals.

But the county hasn’t made much headway, in part because of strong opposition to the idea.

“If a man’s in there taking care of his animals, he’s doing the right thing,” Johnson said. “The ones that aren’t, ain’t going to. It doesn’t matter what kind of laws you got.”

A kennel ordinance proposed last year would have defined a kennel as any location where someone kept six or more dogs older than four months, regardless of whether it is operated as a business. Among the ordinance requirements were daily removal of animal waste, a sewage system, setbacks of several hundred feet from all residences and an eight-foot- high fence.

The ordinance work came after several high-profile charges of cruelty in the state involving puppy mills and a case in Rockingham County in October when more than 100 animals, including 93 dogs, were rescued from a home outside Reidsville.

The animals found were poorly cared for and malnourished or dead. The owners said they had rescued the animals and were in contact with an out-of-state rescue group to find permanent homes.

Johnson said the ordinance was reactionary and over-reaching. It unfairly lumped kennels like his in with those that are a business, he said.

“If someone’s doing wrong, (the county) ought to take action, but hunters like me are taking care of their animals,” he said.

The debate was rekindled this month when the county’s animal shelter advisory board released a rough draft of a new ordinance proposal.

“It has to be fair across the board, and that’s why there has to be an ordinance,” said Commissioner Craig Travis, who holds the commissioners’ seat on the advisory board.

Travis agreed with opponents of last year’s proposal and said the county needs an ordinance that can govern kennels without being heavy-handed.

The new draft ordinance calls for, among other things, kennels to be at least 500 feet from any residence and have some fencing, but not a minimum height.

The biggest change in this proposal is what constitutes a kennel. Any owner who houses more than one litter a year would be designated as running a kennel, as would anyone who makes money from the kennel by selling the animals or providing services such as training or grooming.

“I’m sorry, but if you’re selling dogs, that’s a business, and you have to meet the same restrictions any other kennel does,” Travis said.

That’s a narrower definition than the earlier ordinance proposal, but opponents maintain it still goes too far. Johnson said it’s common practice for hunters to sell a dog here and there or to get paid to train a dog for another hunter, but no one’s making a lot of money from it.

It’s only a rough draft, Travis said, and he wants more input from residents such as Johnson.

Commissioners have asked County Attorney Eugene Russell to put together the framework for a citizens’ advisory committee to work on the issue. Russell said his office is working on it, but there isn’t a clear timeline yet.

Travis said the county needs to either put a kennel ordinance on the books or drop the issue, but either way, the county has a responsibility to resolve it.

There’s been talk of Johnson joining the advisory committee if and when one is set up. He is considering it but said his stance on the matter would remain unchanged.

“I really and truly think that Rockingham County has enough laws and ordinances,” Johnson said.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 627-4881, Ext. 120,or brian.ewing@news-record.com