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Cass County officials put property owner on notice to clean up illegal 'salvage yard'

KMBC 9 Investigates has documented conditions of dogs on property near Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail

Cass County officials put property owner on notice to clean up illegal 'salvage yard'

KMBC 9 Investigates has documented conditions of dogs on property near Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail

>> KMBC 9 INVESTIGATES HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS OF THIS PROPERTY, JUST OFF THE ROCK ISLAND SPUR OF THE KATY TRAIL. AS WE SAW TUESDAY. DOGS ARE STILL TETHERED BEHIND PILES OF DEBRIS. MONTHS AFTER KMBC FIRST SHOWED SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN SEPTEMBER, NEWSCHOPPER 9 SHOWED THE PILES OF TRASH COUNTY WORKERS HAD TO CLEAR TO MAKE THE ROAD MORE PASSABLE. >> I’M CONFIDENT THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS ADDRESSING IT. >> TUESDAY, CASS COUNTY RESIDENT DANNA ARMSTRONG MET WITH THE CASS COUNTY’S PRESIDING COMMISSIONER. MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER SHE FILED HER FIRST COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROPERTY WITH THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY’S NEW CODES AND ZONING DIRECTOR HAS NOW, POSTED THIS LETTER, SAYING THE PROPERTY OWNER IS MAINTAINING A SALVAGE YARD. ALSO REQUIRING THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MEETING CODES FOR MAINTAINING ELECTRIC, WATER, AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT GIVING HIM 30 DAYS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. >> I DON’T WANT HIM OUT ON THE STREETS, I DON’T WANT TO SEE HIM LOSE HIS PROPERTY. YOU KNOW I DON’T WANT TO SEE TAXPAYERS STUCK WITH THE BILL OF HAVING TO CLEAN UP, AND IT’S GOING TO BE A SIGNFICANT CLEANUP. >> ARMSTRONG SAYS SHE’LL ALSO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR STRONGER COUNTY LAWS TO HELP KEEP DOGS HERE AND EVERYWHERE SAFE. THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS PREVIOUSLY TOLD KMBC HE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS PLACE. WE DID NOT SEE HIM AT THE PROPERTY, TUESDAY. JUST THE DEBRIS, AND THE DOG
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Cass County officials put property owner on notice to clean up illegal 'salvage yard'

KMBC 9 Investigates has documented conditions of dogs on property near Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail

Cass County's county codes and zoning director has given a property owner south of Pleasant Hill 30 days to clean up a "salvage yard" just feet away from the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail. The property owner lives without running water, electricity service, or sewage treatment along South Roush Road near the intersection of East State Route P. The notice to cease and desist is posted on the property.KMBC 9 Investigates continues to document the condition of multiple dogs on the property. KMBC saw multiple dogs tethered Tuesday climbing on top of trash and debris. Several community members and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have called on county leaders to remove the dogs from the property citing poor living conditions. PETA has even issued an action alert. A Cass County sheriff's spokesman told KMBC that a veterinarian has checked on the dogs' conditions, saying the dogs appear to have adequate food and water. The spokesman also said there is no legal cause to seize the animals or charge the property owner at this point.KMBC 9 Investigates first documented concerns for the dogs' conditions in August. She said dogs are chained on top of piles of debris with minimal access to food or water.After first seeing the dogs and the property in August, KMBC 9 Investigates obtained records showing Cass County sheriff's deputies have responded to complaints of animal bites near the area.It is not clear from the reports if all those dogs involved in the animal bite complaints belong to the property owner. He has previously told KMBC he does not want to surrender any of his dogs and wants to stay where he lives.

Cass County's county codes and zoning director has given a property owner south of Pleasant Hill 30 days to clean up a "salvage yard" just feet away from the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail.

The property owner lives without running water, electricity service, or sewage treatment along South Roush Road near the intersection of East State Route P. The notice to cease and desist is posted on the property.

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KMBC 9 Investigates continues to document the condition of multiple dogs on the property. KMBC saw multiple dogs tethered Tuesday climbing on top of trash and debris.

Several community members and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have called on county leaders to remove the dogs from the property citing poor living conditions. PETA has even issued an action alert.

A Cass County sheriff's spokesman told KMBC that a veterinarian has checked on the dogs' conditions, saying the dogs appear to have adequate food and water. The spokesman also said there is no legal cause to seize the animals or charge the property owner at this point.

KMBC 9 Investigates first documented concerns for the dogs' conditions in August. She said dogs are chained on top of piles of debris with minimal access to food or water.

After first seeing the dogs and the property in August, KMBC 9 Investigates obtained records showing Cass County sheriff's deputies have responded to complaints of animal bites near the area.

It is not clear from the reports if all those dogs involved in the animal bite complaints belong to the property owner. He has previously told KMBC he does not want to surrender any of his dogs and wants to stay where he lives.