The Police Took My Chickens

[lovemychix]

I don't see how that could be legal.

 

[cassie]

I would go to the Chief of Police and issue a complaint about the officer. You want it on record. Then go see the City Attorney if they have one. Also Internal Affairs.

 

[Catalina]

What do you think of this letter?

Dear Mayor Heitke,

I know that you are a very busy Mayor, but I recently had a very upsetting experience and I thought perhaps you could help me.

I returned home from work today to find that the local police had entered my fenced-in backyard, gone into my enclosed porch and entered my garage to take my four pet chickens.
At the word chicken, you have probably stopped reading, but I need to tell someone my story, so I will continue.

They did not give me any prior notice, neither letter nor phone call, but left an orange tag on my door that said, "Your chickens were taken. It is illegal to keep chickens."
I called the police department and they directed me to the humane society. I called the humane society and they told me I could have my chickens back if I payed a fine of thirty-five dollars.
I rushed to the humane society, payed my fine and collected my pets. The woman at the desk told me the police would check my home in one week to make sure the chickens were removed.

I have a friend that lives on a farm and she has agreed to keep my hens.

Losing my pet hens is upsetting, but having the police enter my home and remove my possessions - this is what upsets me the most.

I am afraid to complain to the Chief of Police, because if in the future I need help, will they come to my aid?

To most people chickens are disgusting birds, eatable rats, but to me they are my precious pets and companions.
They are very lovable creatures, as you can see here http://dustbathladies.blogspot.com/ on my blog.

I feel as though my rights have been violated and most of all I feel embarrassed, if someone had simply called or written to me, explaining that chickens were illegal I would have re-homed them immediately.

I did not let them loose in my yard and in two years I have never had a neighbor complain or even question me about my hens. They were kept as pets and treated like pets.

Thank you for reading, sincerely,

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
What he said!

There was no emergency (someone screaming for help, the house on fire, etc.). To enter your property without a warrant is a FEDERAL offense.

I don't care if it was chickens or illegal weapons or money from a bank robbery. You can bet your bottom dollar that if it were either of the last two, the case would be lost as the judge would toss all the evidence. I don't want crummy, shoddy police work to leave the real criminals on the street. When people practice doing things incorrectly, that is what they learn.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Gee, so I can call and tell a lie about a neighbor I dislike and they are then justified in entering his home without a warrant? I don't think so. Probable cause is needed to GET a warrant.

 

[mylittlezoo]

This seems like a very reasonable, non-confrontational letter. Maybe you could ask about your rights, some kind of prompt for him to respond, rather than sending an open-ended letter? Even if it is, "What do you think I should do?" kind of thing, rather than just relating the tale. I feel if there is an actual query or question, he may feel slightly more obliged to respond / address the issue.

One tiny thing... just run this thru spell-check. There's a couple of minor errors

CREDIT to you for not losing the plot and ranting and raving.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
yes, i agree!

 

[Catalina]

I ran it through spell check and nothing popped up. What should I change?

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I didn't think getting a permit was a big deal, because I have a friend that lives on the other side of town and her dog bit a neighbors freeranging chickens.

She had to pay a fine for her dog biting the chicken. They people were raising the chickens as meat birds, so they don't have them any more, but.................I didn't think they would come and just take them away!
I thought they might fine me at the worst!

I would like to know if the officer verified that you do not have a permit. And my reading (consult a lawyer) is that a permit is not needed if you have them for exhibition (so enter them in the county fair or the next available poultry show. This is one case where I would say the heck with whether the bird meets the standard or not, or is a cross of multiple generations of complete unknown breeds.

I am not a lawyer, but I am degreed with an English major including advanced courses in grammar. I was also employed for a number of years writing technical documents for a wide set of audiences. The use of "temporary" in the previous clause does not carry over to the "or for exhibition" clause due to the specific grammar and punctuation.