The City of Whitehouse and the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch reached an accord Tuesday, March 29, regarding the number of dogs kept at the ranch.

Following directions that resulted from a court hearing earlier this month, the city and the ranch owners, Bob and Georganne Lenham, have been negotiating a settlement regarding the new city animal ordinance adopted in February, which limits the number of dogs and cats allowed per household to four.

The ranch owners filed a lawsuit claiming the ordinance is unconstitutional. The lawsuit is still unsettled, but the city agreed not to seize animals from the ranch as long as the number of dogs continues to reduce through Aug. 1.

City officials will be allowed to inspect the property about once each month to determine if the dog population is being reduced. Most of the dogs were placed at the ranch for rescue, including many on the request of county offi cials. The Lenham’s have reduced the number of dogs on the ranch and have volunteers helping to adopt out some of the animals.