[Posted in two parts, combined here. BIG]
 
This post is meant to list many of the violations I have been cited for
over the past two years of the harassment campaign conducted by the city
of Aurora.  Previously, I was not ordered to cease all vehicular and
pedestrian traffic to my residence.  I have been ordered to do so now.
 
1. I had 5 pop machines donated to the shelter and placed all in stores
that support our rescue efforts except two.  I put one in the backyard to
be by Ferretland and one in my driveway for the neighbors.  It was real
popular until 1 1/2 years later when I rec'd my first citation for it being
in the driveway.  At first, I thought he was just being funy, until I got
another one.  Then I moved the pop machine to the front porch.  Got more
citations.  Plus the chairs that my volunteers sat in on breaks now became
unlawful storage on my front porch and the van bench seats (almost new
condition) became unlawfully stored auto parts on front porch.  I enclosed
3/4 om my front porch to obstruct the view of my front porch from
passerbys.  You could not see pop machine or chairs on my porch unless you
came up to the front porch and looked inside the enclosed area.  The
citations continued.  My favorite chair was out on the front porch and I
like sitting out there in the evenings when it starts to cool down in the
summer.  I felt that now, not only was he invading my privacy, but trying
to violate my rights as a homeowner.
 
Volunteers coming to the house.  Covenace says that in a home based
business in Aurora, only the owners of the business may operate it.  That
means no "employees" Honestly, we have on occasion had to pay day labor
to come in and help when there wasn't enough volunteers, but it isn't a
significant amount to be worried about.  Most volunteers are friends who
have been coming here for years.  Hours are limited to 9am to 9pm although
Gloria and I frequently are up to 2-3 am working to get done what wasn't
done earlier.  We have a shuttle van that picks up volunteers on weekends
to cut down on parking spaces loss near the house.
 
Traffic has been one of the alledged complaints leveled against us.  Right
across the street is a day care center (home business) that has a much
greater amount of traffic than we do.  around 30 cars a day pull up and
drop off and later pick up their kids we might have 1000 folks a year visit
us.  some days their are no people here and some days 10-15 people a day,
but nowhere the traffic as across the street.  I have yet to be disturbed
by the traffic acroos the street.  All of the neighbors that could possible
be affected by the shelters presence have been friends for a long time and
only one did not get along with us.  I witnessed the cops dragging their
son out of a house down the street one day while I was out talking my daily
walksay that I saw them bring him out of the house in court.  I never did,
but one day, I did make a statement that really ticked him off.  He was
getting ready to go hunting and I said something like, Hey, Jack, off to
kill Bambi again?  He said" what a terrible thing to say!"  He never took
care of his lawn or house and thank goodness moved away.
 
Boarding of ferrets.  What is the difference between boarding a ferret and
sheltering a ferret??  I was issued a licensed every two years for 5 years
now by the city of Aurora to be a ferret rescue and shelter.  The state
dept of Agriculture has renewed my license every year for 5 years now and
it states specifically Boarding, training, rescue and shelter.  I have
passed every single inspection by both entitys and never been found to have
a substantiated complaint against my shelter.  I have two documents wriiten
by the same authority that is prosecuting me saying" that which the state
allows, the city will not or cannot prohibit" and it specifically involves
another animals rescue that is state licensed also.
 
Ferretland in the backyard.  This charge is so ridiculous!!!  Last year
Ferretland was only opened from Aug to Oct due to 3 month stay in the
hospital.  The only reason we even opened it was because Animal Planet did
a show there on Aug 12th.  Hardly any traffic at all and Ferret Fun Days
were held on the last Saturday of each month it was open.  Notices were
sent out to my neighbors two weeks prior to each event inviting them to
attend also if they cared to.  No gatherings were any larger than a family
get together of my neighbors.  Besides, it shouldn't be any of their
business what goes on behind my privacy fence.  By the way, not one of the
city inspectors has actually seen Ferretland with their own eyes, they just
know it is there.  They also made me remove my address of my website so no
one will know where my house is.  My question to all who read this, Am I a
scofflaw, and should I comply?  or should I fight this tyranny and protect
mine and yours rights to own ferrets and have friends over to let their
ferrets play in my yard and still provide the commuity services that we do
provide to ferrets and people all around Aurora, Colorado?
 
HUgs to all, Ferretguy
[Posted in FML issue 3369]