Platteville Man’s Idea Denied, Must Comply With Ordinance

The Platteville Common Council has denied a dog kennel owner’s proposal for funding for him to relocate his facility outside of town, a project that could have cost the city millions of dollars. Instead, they granted Dan Winch of Platteville until May 1st to come into compliance with the city’s animal ordinance, based on the understanding that a litter of puppies will be born soon and relocating them could prove challenging. Winch operates Bernese Buds from his residence and keeps eight breeding Bernese Mountain dogs and the litters of puppies they produce. A change in city ordinances in 2020 reclassified Winch’s operation as a business, requiring him to obtain a new license and an additional permit, which the council previously denied because his property is too small. If Winch does not relocate or reduce the number of animals at his home to four or less, the city will begin enforcement actions in May.