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UMass Lowell marching band practice causing panic at nearby animal shelter

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LOWELL, Mass. — There's a proximity problem for some pets in Lowell. Live music from the University of Massachusetts Lowell Marching Band is causing the animals at the Humane Society right next door to panic.

Executive Director Jill O'Connell says she's been working for years for a positive outcome, with no resolution.

"We've had meeting after meeting to find a solution but after five years, it wasn't going anywhere," she said.

So over the weekend, she started recording band practice and posted it to social media.

For 5 years I have begged UMass to please find an alternative location for their band to practice instead of 20 feet from shelter. The stress caused to the animals, staff and volunteers cannot be put into words. Listen to the video and listen to the dogs screaming. Is this right? Let UMass Lowell know what you think.

Posted by Jill OConnell on Sunday, November 3, 2019

In the kennels where the dogs are, it can get very loud, but when the band starts playing, things get even worse. It's stressful for the dogs and doesn't help them get adopted.

O'Connell says the band doesn't practice every day and it's usually half an hour to an hour each time, but for the pets under her care, she thinks it's too much.

"The animals were getting directly affected by the stress and as a director, it's my job to protect those animals," she said.

She's hoping practice can take place on another part of campus.

"It's already a stressful environment here, we don't need to make it worse," O'Connell said.

O'Connell said she hoped the video post would prompt the public to reach out to the school and urge them to move the music elsewhere.

UMass Lowell told Boston 25 News in a statement that outdoor practice for the band has ended until the spring, adding it supports the shelter and is committed to being a good neighbor. The university said it will work with the shelter to "identify a solution that supports our student musicians while also addressing the animal shelter’s concerns."

"UMass Lowell is committed to being a good neighbor and we have a positive relationship with the Lowell Humane Society. Many of our students, faculty and staff volunteer there; we support its annual Paws for Celebration fundraiser; and the university provides free snow removal services along its sidewalk.

With outdoor band practices now over until next spring, the university will work with the Humane Society to identify a solution that supports our student musicians while also addressing the animal shelter's concerns."

— Jon Strunk, UMass Lowell executive director of communications.

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