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Business owner takes on lawmakers over sign issue, files lawsuit

Originally Posted: 2010/12/10
By , Staff Writer
A pet grooming business owner in Virginia has filed a lawsuit after local officials told her she could not have a business sign for her company.

TBD.com reports that Kim Houghton, who owns Wag More Dogs in Shirlington, has filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia, claiming that her dog mural counts as a business sign and that it is permitted under the current ordinance. In a statement, Houghton said that it came down to rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

"The county said, for the mural to not be considered a sign, it may depict anything I like except something to do with dogs, bones, paw prints, pets or people walking their dogs. In other words, the mural cannot show anything that has any relationship with my business," Houghton said, according to the news site. "If it does, then it becomes a sign. This is a violation of my freedom of speech and I intend to fight this with everything I've got."

Many business owners throughout the country feel strongly about the sign rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. The ability to display messages without government interference is important to a significant number of citizens.
© 2010 All rights reserved. Reproduction with permission.

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