9/13/13 - A therapy center focused on horses in Oceola Township got permission to continue operating at the township planning commission's meeting last night. The township had originally approved a special use application for Happy Hallow Ranch 14 years ago. The business provides approved therapeutic treatments and general healing with the use of resident horses. Last night, the planning commission approved extending the special use by another seven years. It had received a letter bearing 14 signatures from the ranch's neighbors in support of the renewal, saying the business is an excellent neighbor and corporate citizen. Ina Zeemering, who runs the ranch, has lived at the property for 25 years. She tells WHMI people are able to connect with her horses despite their large size because of the way they empathize with humans, allowing them to grieve when they are sad or being upbeat when they are happy. The planning commission's only change to the ranch's special use was to specify that if dogs stay at the facility overnight, there cannot be more than five of them at a time. (TD)
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