Save the Goats

I support!

People want to grow their own food so they know exactly what they are eating. If major cities have changed what the heck is wrong with the rural communities?

I wholeheartedly support backyard animal husbandry. Any person who is willing to take the effort to build a coop or make a pen has the best interests of the animals in mind and will maintain a clean environment for their animals, as a clean environment leads to a healthy animal. Additionally, as the animals are contained, waste clean up is easier to do than it is for a family dog, and chicken waste can be used as fertilizer, unlike dog or cat waste. Also, the eggs produced by a backyard chicken are also healthier than a store bought egg - leading to healthier citizens. And a child raised with backyard livestock will have a greater appreciation for where food comes from. becoming a better environmental steward. One issue people bring up with backyard animal husbandry is the issue of predators in a backyard environment. Yes, livestock does attract predators like raccoon and fox, but so do garbage cans - I often find our trash thoroughly picked through by some nocturnal predator. A backyard animal is typically securely protected at night and serves as less of an attraction to a predator than a garbage can of easy pickings. I support this petition; but also understand limitations may need to be put in place to ensure regulations can be better policed. Many backyard farmers limit themselves to 5-6 chickens simply to make life easier for themselves. I am not familiar with limitations on other forms of livestock. Five to six hens will provide up to 6 eggs a day in the summer and 1-2 eggs a day in the winter. Finally, people are allowed to keep birds IN their homes with no regulations; a bird kept outdoors is surely much more sanitary and less of a health concern than a bird defecating indoors.

As Megan's next door neighbor for the past several years, I have seen the positive result of having chickens (and more recently the two very small and comical goats) has had on her son Alex. He takes on the regular care of the animals and collecting the eggs every morning as a regular responsability that few kids these days come to know. Except for an occasional "baaah" to greet me when I go in my back yard, I would never know these animals are right next door. Few people can say that about their neighbor's pets . It's time to change the rules and possibly tur this type of pet ownership into a new source of tax/fee generating for our local govt.

Our country was founded on agriculture. These ridiculous regulations strip us of our freedoms and enable unethical farming practices.

I am all for goats and chickens! I agree with sustainable living practices.

I live 2 doors down and have absolutely no issue!

This is right for Americans!

Goats and chickens are environmentally friendly.

Let her have her goats!!

Good luck

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln

How sad is it that this is what Belleville is focusing on instead of the robberies and murders that are up. Belleville should be embarrassed that they are even trying to make this an issue. There is a resident that is actually doing something good for the community and they are attacking a hard working tax paying citizen. We all have a stake in sustainable living! Legalize goats and chickens in Belleville!

Pot belly pigs are sold as pets and allowed in most cities. They are larger and much noisier.

Good luck Megan ,hope you get enough signatures

Individual right to keep animals as long as they are being adequately housed and taken care of, not bothering others! Save the goats and chickens!

This is more important than one backyard sustainable farm. We all have a stake in sustainable living! Legalize goats and chickens in Belleville!

I live in the neighborhood, and I agree that miniature goats and chickens should be allowed.

Please legalize mini goats & chickens in St. Clair County.