Can't stop dogs barking, says Yukon kennel owner being sued by neighbours

Shelley Cuthbert, the owner of a controversial dog kennel in Tagish, Yukon, says there's only so muchshe can do to keep the noise down when her dozens of penned animals get riled up.

Cuthbertis in Yukon Territorial Court this week, defending herself against a group of neighbours who want to shut her kennel business down. The neighbourssaythe "mass of braying dogs"disturbs their peace and threatens their safety.

• Neighbours in court to shut down noisy Yukon kennel

• 'Dogs will bark': Yukon kennel owner stands firm despite neighbours' complaints

Cuthbertoffered no apology for her animals andtold court on Thursday the noise is far from constant, and is often provoked by the neighbours themselves.

"They only bark at certain times," she said."If there's stranger danger near the property, they let me know."

Cuthbert,whois representing herself,accused other peopleof "inciting" the dogsby approaching her fence to videotape the animals, racing their vehicles past her property, firing guns, orsetting off bear-bangers.

"It's very frustrating to me, because I don't intentionally make the dogs bark. If I'm not home I can't control every situation," she said.

"My dogs do bark, there's no doubt they bark.They're dogs."

She also claimed that she's been the victim of "minormischief and vandalism"at her rural property, with people throwing garbage at her, and eggs at her truck.

She noted two of her dogs died mysteriously, one of which might have been fromantifreeze poisoning.

A needed service, Cuthbert says

Cuthbert's neighbours are seeking a courtinjunctionthat would strictly limit the number of animals she could keep, and require her to keep them all inside at night.

Several neighbours testified in court earlier this weekand described feeling terrorized by the animals,wondering when any of them might breakloose.

Cuthbertadmits that some of her dogs have deeply-ingrained behavioural problemsand have been with her for a long time. Other dogs she has trainedand adopted out.

Cuthbertsubmitted piles of documents as evidence, intending to show that her facility is well-runand provides a needed service.

The evidence includedanimal welfare investigation reports, affidavits, and about 50 letters of support from people who had used her kennel serviceor visited the property.

She toldcourt she works torehabilitateproblem dogsand find appropriate homes for them.

'This is normal behaviour'

Cuthbert also entered hundreds of photos and videos as evidence.

Some showed how the dogs bark "at certain times," such as when Cuthbertgets home. Rarely do they bark for more than 20 minutes, she said.

"They're excited, this is normal behavior for a dog," she said.

Other videos showed the fencing around Cuthbert'sproperty, and herliving quarters, which she shares each night with dozens ofdogs, some of them in crates and some running loose in the house. About 15 dogsher "night crew," she said spend the nightoutdoors.

Justice Leigh Gower said he had a hard time following some of Cuthbert'svideo evidenceand some of her documents would not carry much weight in his deliberations.

Gower also told Cuthbert that, at times, her testimony was rambling and goingon a bit long. He warned her that "there may be a point where I just cut you off."

The civil trial, which started Tuesday, is expected to wrap up Friday afternoon.