Pet food firm installs equipment to eliminate irritating odor

MISHAWAKA — Neighbors who live near the WellPet factory will soon be able to detect something in the air — or more accurately, the lack of something in the air.

Mishawaka Common Council member Dale "Woody" Emmons, D-1st, told residents attending his monthly neighborhood meeting Thursday at the Berkley Square Neighborhood Association clubhouse that the pet food manufacturing company has installed units to control the odor of pet food that has annoyed neighbors for years.

"The units came in yesterday, and are already installed," Emmons said. "They're hooked up and they're going to be running and it will take a little while to get everything tested, and hopefully you will start to see some difference in what is going on."

In the meantime, Emmons asked the residents to use their noses to chart progress.

"What I need for you to do is keep track of certain days when you can smell something that is really obnoxious so that I can report it to WellPet," he said.

For their part, the residents in attendance were happy to hear that WellPet is seeking to address the issue. Jack Middleton said that he was glad to hear that something is being done about the smell, which can get pretty strong on Monday morning. "They're trying, but I've been here 12 years, and I've gotten used to it," he said.

Emmons has been working for several years to address the issue of the odor coming from the pet food manufacturing company, which is located just east of Marian High School.