Got a letter from the town...

[redoak]

Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally) to a domesticated animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to make produce such as food or fibre, or for its labour.

If anyone wants to get technical I guess my Aussie Shepard could be considered livestock, he sometimes herds stuff.​

 

[Chicken Nugget]

It's all in who interprets it. I called our city's code enforcement officer before we ever bought chickens a year ago. He said the city ordinance refered to "no livestock" but that he didn't consider chickens to be livestock (he said he considered them to simply be birds).

Six months ago we considered moving to a neighboring town with the same wording in their ordinance, but we were told that chickens were conisdered livestock there.

I just hope when our city code enforcement officer moves on/retires that the new one won't interpret it differently!

 

[pips&peeps]

I would call whom ever wrote the letter and inquire as to what specifically they are referring to and to what specific code they are referring to also.

Be as sweet as pie to them. Also ask them who inspected your premises without your permission. Make sure to post private property signs on your property in case of further incident.

Be sure to tell them your sheep died.

When you get off the phone look up the law and if it does in fact pertain to you.

 

[patandchickens]

What pips&peeps said.

Those of you looking up dictionary definitions of livestock -- those are unfortunately almost certain to be entirely IRRELEVANT. Law, zoning, code type issues are legal issues and thus written in legal language, the vocabulary of which may SEEM to use conventional common words but usually has very special specific rigid definitions of its own for them.

It is *possible* that the zoning document that talks about no livestock fails to reference any definition of the term and that no specific legal definition applies.

However, it is much likelier that there IS some very specific, itemized list of what does and does not count as livestock in the eyes of the law. Even if it is not contained within that bylaw clause.

Dictionaries, and common useage, really have very little to do with law. Inconvenient but true. Gotta set aside your preconceptions about what each term means, and find out what its TECHNICAL meaning is, in order to find out what a law really does say.

Good luck though,

Pat

 

[SeaChick]

There should be a "definitions" section at the start of the ordinance. If you have a "Search" function on an online ordinance (liek Municode) just type in "livestock" and read all refs: one will be the definition.

 

[Nichole77]

Worst case scenario, you lose and have to give them up. So then you do what Mike Tyson did. He built a big old aviary, not a nice one either, and filled it with pigeons. He had the city of Scottsdale (where all the rich and famous people live) in such a tizzy. These are multi-million dollar homes. They fought him and lost.

 

[chickenshadow]

PP, go to the town hall TOMMORROW and get a copy of the code. Be nice and make
friends. Ask them for their help. Most CT towns allow a certain amount of chickens.

Once you know what the exact code or ordinance is you can prepare for the next step.

Isn't Oakdale part of Wallingford?

Keep us posted.

 

[perfectly_polish]

I'm deffiently going down there tomorrow or will at least call. Oakdale(Montville) is in New London county. I'll keep you posted and keep your fingers crossed for me

 

[chickenshadow]

Quote:

 

[RoostersCrow]

Quote:
Hopefully you can get a copy of the ordinanace tomorrow and the definitions section. You might also find out more about the nature of the complaint. One thing is for sure, the longer you wait to address it the less likely it is that your will be able to influence the outcome.

Best of luck PP, we're pulling for you.