I might have missed it but have you verified that is what the law actually says? Have you consulted an attorney to get their interpretation of this 'presumed' law? Is it only limited to roosters aka chickens, or is it any livestock that someone complains about? I have found out through experience that police and even town officials generally know little about the actual written law, and generally just go with the complainers interpretation or hearsay vs actually reading and following the law as written... Many times it's easier (and thus the chosen path) for local officials and police to 'intimidate and coerce' the passive resident with fibs and empty threats then to actually uphold the law as written and deal with the aggressive and complaining resident...
I find it hard to believe you can be zoned agricultural and not be allowed to well use it for agricultural purposes, but there is no shortage of stupid municipal ordinances floating around greased and passed by small minority but very vocal complainers that feel entitled and empowered to dictate other peoples lives...
And this is the other part of this saga, which I have followed from post one, that aggravates me beyond belief. This whole thing is giving good people who work hard for their communities such a black eye! I served on Planning and Zoning here in our small town and loved it. Then I was elected to serve on Town Council, and I love that just as much. I am running for re-election and I can't say an unkind word about any of the other candidates running...they are all good people, fair people, and even if I lose, Cowley still wins, simply because of the caliber of people on the ballot.
We have folks in town who own animals and folks who don't. When the owners' lack of maintenance started encroaching on their non-owners' rights, we listened carefully to both sides. We had meetings with both groups. In the end, working together with everyone for over a year, we crafted our first animal control ordinances and they work very well. They address pest control, sanitation, proper sized areas for the animals, noise issues and fair enforcement. Only one animal is banned inside town limits, pigs, but if a kid wants to raise a pig for his 4-H project he/she can come down to Town Hall with his 4-H packet and a note from the neighbors saying they have no objection, pay a nominal permit fee, and raise that little piggy for the county fair. We charge a small annual permit fee per household. Enclosures must meet town setback requirements. We could not have done this if we'd been sanctimonious and if we hadn't taken the concerns of all parties into account, having them work together to find solutions that work.
I am so saddened by all of this...your patience has been stellar, and every step of the way you've gone out of your way to do things legally as far as I can tell. I DO know the ordinances in my town, as do the members of P&Z, the other members of Town Council, and our mayor. They are written in English, not lawyer-ese, so our people understand it too, and they can always stop one of us on the street, in the post office, or the Merc if they have questions. It's so unfair that you are going through this. And it's so unfair to read statements about rotten public officials not caring about anyone but themselves and realizing that we are all being painted with the same brush.
Well, that's that. I just got a registered letter from the town telling me I have to get rid of Spock within 10 days. DH will go down there and meet with them...but I am sure that Crazy Lady has been down there every single day. I thought that if this happened I would be OK. I do have a good home for him. But I'm not OK. I don't want to let Spock go! I have asked DH to ask the town for more time and I have ordered 2 anti crow collars from MyPetChickens (1 small and 1 medium) for Spock. I had no idea such a thing existed. I'm going to try it...I know that he should be allowed to crow freely as he would like...but if it's the choice between him staying or going I have to try. Hopefully it will quiet him down enough.
