The Police Took My Chickens

[scarter]

I would take out the part about being afraid of the Chief and also any mention of the word disgusting or anyother thing negative about the chickens. You don't want to look like a victim here. Stand your ground. The rest of the letter sounds good.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Go Sonoran!

Those evil Silkies taught you well

 

[Holly O]

I'm not sure what to tell you.
But I most definitely am sending my Support to you.
When I watch animal cops ... unless their is a immediate danger to the animals ... they wait until a person is home. Same with a search warrant...
And I would start the proceedings of acquiring the proper permit.

 

[mylittlezoo]

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.

I'm an English MA... and what she said!!

 

[Catalina]

I'm making myself sick thinking about it.

I think I'll wait and see how I feel tomorrow. I have to live in this town for the (probably) rest of my life and I don't want to do something I will regret.

I think I'm just grieving.

 

[mylittlezoo]

Quote:
Change 'payed' to 'paid'.

Change 'friend THAT lives on a farm' to 'friend WHO lives on a farm'

Change 'eatable' to 'edible'

And the exhibition thing..... WORK THIS!!

 

[Holly O]

Quote:
I always need to sleep on things to clear my mind.
You are not trying to do anything wrong.
You do have rites as a person to question things.

Never feel bad. You had these pets for 2 years you said. I feel horrible myself in the situation I find myself, and am very sad people are so cruel.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Agree with Scarter - no need to suggest negative things about chickens in your letter because it actually works against your cause to do so. I think it's important that they understand that these are your PETS, not livestock.

I've so enjoyed your blog and feel like I've gotten to know your chickens through it, so am very very sorry to hear this has happened. Hope it gets cleared up and your chickens are soon home with you to stay.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Your letter needs to be stronger. My comments are in the boxes

Dear Mayor Heitke,

I know that you are a very busy Mayor, but "
Scratch that. He is a public servant--responding to the citizens is his JOB.

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.

Add something where you quote the ordinance about permits and that your reading of it says that a permit is not required for chickens kept for exhibition purposes (they may disagree, but it is certainly worth arguing).

I have a friend that lives on a farm and she has agreed to keep my hens.Do not volunteer to get rid of them; fight to keep your pets.

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

add something like: "It is a violation of my constitutional rights as granted in the 4th amendment against unreasonable search and seizure."

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 change that to "commercial"

birds,

eatable rats, scratch that

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 They have been violated, don't wash down the impact by discussing your feelings about it, unless you want to discuss the trauma you are going through and relate it to the trauma of coming home to find ones home has been burgled.

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 don't think you want to roll over and allow this. Pretty much this whole sentence needs reworking.

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,
Carmala Wood​

 

[MissJenny]

My heart breaks for you -- you sound like the nicest person ever who doesn't want to make waves... You said you have to live in this town for the rest of your life... and that you don't want to make the police or the council or the mayor upset.

Can I just say that they should be the ones who don't want to upset you. They have violated your rights and your home. They've dragged your hens off to the pound!!! Sometimes, even if we don't want to, even if we're scared, we have to stand up for ourselves. That's how this country was founded. People before us were very brave so that we could have our rights. And we we are unexpectedly called upon we have to do the brave thing and stand up for our rights so that those who come after us will be protected.

Please tell me you'll call a lawyer. Many many lawyers, particularly those in larger firms would take on such a case pro bono. If nothing else a lawyer could go over the ordinance in your jurisdiction and tell you what your options are.

Your letter sounds terrific -- make the little changes suggested about "paid" and "who" etc. and then call a lawyer. It's the right thing to do.

Jenny