There seems to be a bigger issue here going on between you two, and one that may, in fact, concern chickens.
Regardless of how much a township wants to charge for a registration, or whether people are likely to contract rabies from a horse, the question seems to be, to what extent does government have the right or responsibility to regulate how we take care of our animals.
Certainly, there are health concerns with any animal. But I think I'm more on Rusty's side on this one. In all matters, I think that government needs to make a strong case before they impose any sort of requirement on citizens. There certainly are many examples where that case has been made. Noise polution, and public sanitation concerns, for instance. But I don't think registering a horse serves any public good - and the cost of the registration should not be a factor in making that decision.
My interest in this discussion is that there are some communities that require owners to register their chickens. I don't think that's necessary, and I don't see any public good that registration would serve. Furthermore, the cost of registration can be used to effectively prevent people from owning them.
I have been asked many times, "Why do you need to own chickens?" And my response is generally to the effect, "Why do you think I shouldn't?"
All responsible pet owners should support eachother. If your animals make themselves a nusiance (health-related or otherwise), it should be corrected, but we should all be attentive when government imposes oversight, and be sure that oversight is necessary.
Regardless of how much a township wants to charge for a registration, or whether people are likely to contract rabies from a horse, the question seems to be, to what extent does government have the right or responsibility to regulate how we take care of our animals.
Certainly, there are health concerns with any animal. But I think I'm more on Rusty's side on this one. In all matters, I think that government needs to make a strong case before they impose any sort of requirement on citizens. There certainly are many examples where that case has been made. Noise polution, and public sanitation concerns, for instance. But I don't think registering a horse serves any public good - and the cost of the registration should not be a factor in making that decision.
My interest in this discussion is that there are some communities that require owners to register their chickens. I don't think that's necessary, and I don't see any public good that registration would serve. Furthermore, the cost of registration can be used to effectively prevent people from owning them.
I have been asked many times, "Why do you need to own chickens?" And my response is generally to the effect, "Why do you think I shouldn't?"
All responsible pet owners should support eachother. If your animals make themselves a nusiance (health-related or otherwise), it should be corrected, but we should all be attentive when government imposes oversight, and be sure that oversight is necessary.
