MOUNT HOREB (WKOW) -
The Mount Horeb Village Board met Wednesday, in part to discuss a petition started by the group Dane4Dogs.
The group's goal is to stop people from using dogs and cats in painful or distressing research experiments.
They were galvanized to action because of a nearby breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Ridgland Farms, Inc. The farm raises beagles to be used in experimentation around the area.
Dane4Dogs gathered more than 700 signatures in preparation for the Village Board meeting, allowing it to bring a draft resolution and ordinance before the Board.
Going into the meeting, Village Administrator Nic Owen said the Board had two options: either approve the ordinance or send the matter to a referendum.
Ultimately the Board decided to send it to a referendum, meaning Mount Horeb residents will see the question on their November ballots.
According to the draft, it will look something like this:
Shall the Village of Mount Horeb amend the Municipal Code to declare possession of dogs and cats for the purpose of transporting them outside the village for experimentation, and experiments involving pain or distress on dogs and cats, as a public nuisance offending morals and decency?
A Yes vote means supporting the use of modern technology, such as human cell culture tests, organs on a chip, and computer models, to advance scientific discovery in place of dogs and cats in experiments that involve pain or distress. Experiments that do not involve pain or distress to the dog/cat will not be affected and will continue unchanged. A yes vote will also prevent possession of dogs and cats for the purpose of transporting them outside of the village for experimentation. A No vote means supporting continued use of dogs and cats in experiments that involve pain or distress.
A No vote will also continue to allow the possession of dogs and cats for the purpose of transporting them outside the village for experimentation.