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A Softened Bite Proposed on McConnell’s Trace Dog Restriction

Posted at 10:16 PM, Apr 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-13 22:16:27-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — It is the homeowner’s association decision heard around the world: 11 breeds of dogs banned in a Lexington neighborhood. However, there appears to be some proposed changes that would soften the blow on the restrictions, leaving residents barking mad.

READ MORE: Homeowners Outraged After New Breeds Restrictions Announced For McConnell’s Trace

Recently, news of the deed restrictions made its way to People magazine. On Friday, residents gathered at Masterson Station to voice their concerns on the new rules.

"Part of why we like the neighborhood is there were no breed restrictions. It was across the dog park over here," Megan Knochelman said with her half pitbull-half lab, Shadow, by her side. She moved to McConnell’s Trace three years ago. "I live on a street with a doberman, a rottweiler, and a couple of other pit bulls mixed in with ten other dogs on the street. There has never been a problem."

Anderson Communities, the McConnell’s Trace developer, sent out this letter on Friday, softening the bite of the changes. It reads, in part, the rules are not new, but current dogs would be "grandfathered in," and the number of restricted breeds would be reduced to from a dozen to three: German shepherds, pit bulls, and rottweilers.

"How do you police that?" said Lloyd Ellis, who lives in McConnell’s Trace and was on the HOA board until last week when he stepped down after he saw the restriction change. He said he never saw the change until a letter was sent to residents.  "Until you can tell me how you can police that when I can walk down the street and wonder ‘am i going to be fined?’ or be put in jail possibly?"

HOA president Josh McCurn was at the meeting, and took questions from angry residents about the changes. He told LEX 18 News he could not comment on residents who did not know about the breed restrictions prior to them moving to the neighborhood, but said nothing is set in stone with the HOA.

"It’s continuing to hear the neighborhood out and move forward from this point; to sit down and trying to find both sides’ convictions," McCurn said.

Knochelman said it’s a ‘canine conundrum’ she wants solved.

"I got a dog before having kids," she said. "So they kind of turn into your ‘kids’ and you become very protective."

McCurn said there will be upcoming meetings to discuss further potential changes to the HOA bylaws involving dogs.