October 18, 2023
"The more she researched, the more she thought [chickens] would be good for her son, ideally providing him with a sense of purpose and companionship..."
"... she said, and their 'chicken chatter' could be comforting background noise for her son, who has anophthalmia, and was born without eyes.
C-Jay is missing one-third of his brain and half of his right lung, and his heart is on the right side of his body rather than the left. He also has autism, epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. C-Jay is a social person, his mother said, and pandemic-induced isolation took a toll on his mental health.... The process to be granted an exception to the law [against backyard chickens] was more challenging and complicated than Amy had anticipated.... [Later, Amy filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission] claiming Bangor was discriminating against her son by not giving him an exemption to the no-chicken rule.... 'He deserves to have his chickens,' Amy said. 'They help him to cope and make sense of his world.'"
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26 comments:
Blindly following rules....when they want to control others, is a leftist thing.
I compare it to zero tolerance rules in schools. It removes Highly educated experts in childhood development from having the weigh the facts and defend their decisions.
The no chicken laws are to keep the whole block from sounding like a farm. It is clear this is a reasonable request by a family with special needs. Something that is codified in law with the Americans with Disability Act. Why city administrators refuse to consider all the facts and apply common sense is nothing but a outward display of authoritarianism.
If there's a reason for the no chicken rule, then it should be hard to get an exemption. If there isn't a reason, then there shouldn't be a rule.
If she wants something for her son that is inappropriate in the community in which she lives, she should move.
…the brother in law found himself on the town council at a time when the town was at war with itself over the chickens. The brother in law got out of that position right quick…
…you know I’m pro chicken- the ones with the fuzzy feet I adore, but if you just let them roam around the burbs there will be much disorder. Today it’s the chickens but next thing you know nobody will be raking up their leaves….
This doesn't sound smart because chickens carry diseases that can be passed to humans, including salmonella, histoplasmosis and campylobacter, and enterococcus faecalis bacteria from chickens can cause urinary tract infections in humans. I sometimes handle boxes of chickens being shipped to farms, and the boxes all say to wash your hands after handling poultry. I question whether that child with multiple severe disabilities can handle the level of hygiene necessary to keep from getting sick. Get him a kitten or a puppy instead.
Correction: Now I see that the son is a grown man, but it still seems like a hygiene problem waiting to happen.
It seems like everybody would have been better off if they just let this one slide. Believe it or not, it happens all the time. If the neighbors are OK with it, let it go.
I wonder whether a neighbor complained, a public official decided to enforce the law, or Mom was just trying to make sure she was doing things according to the rules.
Who bans a household from a hen or two? Barbarians.
Kate said...
"Who bans a household from a hen or two? Barbarians."
Agreed.
"Blindly following rules....when they want to control others, is a leftist thing."
No, it is an authoritarian "thing." Both the right and the left can be authoritarian.
"If she wants something for her son that is inappropriate in the community in which she lives, she should move."
Talk about being authoritarian!
Another reason I love my small town. People have chickens in town.
"The more she researched, the more she thought [chickens] would be good for her son, ideally providing him with a sense of purpose and companionship..."
Plus it allows him to use the joke with the punchline “Nobody here but us chickens.”
People are far too concerned with 'might'. Most of my family is rural. All of them have chickens without problems.
There was this guy who used to post here and rant about how terrible dogs were and would list out all the diseases you could catch from dogs.
Human to human infections were more, so by that logic, one should avoid all contact with humans.
People who grow up around animals tend to have more robust immune responses than those who don't.
There is no legitimate reason for any but the dentist cities to ban chickens outright. Limit number based on parcel size? Prohibit roosters? Sure. But there is absolutely no good reason why small flocks shouldn’t be legal virtually everywhere.
- Rafe
Personally, I'd rather have a support duck. They're comical animals. Chickens can be dull. Geese are good too, but you need to raise them so they regard you as one of the flock.
As a member of a township board of supervisors, I feel for Bangor officials. I'm sure they wanted to do the right thing, and did not enjoy being portrayed as being mean to a disabled child.
At the same time, it's risky to make exceptions to ordinances based on emotional appeals and the weak science of "emotional support animals."
A Man Must Carry On
"If she wants something for her son that is inappropriate in the community in which she lives, she should move."
Talk about being authoritarian!
I guess all the Covid rules that kept people from going on walks or to parks were just authoritarian. They should not have had to move away to Florida.
If he needed chicken chatter, why not just get some headphones and play a tape?
You need support chickens to feed the fried chicken habit, which is surely what is going on here.
Seattle began to allow chickens and even goats (one per household, I think) several years ago, along with front-yard gardens (of the vegetable type) and composting. The rat and rabbit populations consequently exploded, which caused the coyote population to explode, which caused the outdoor-cat population to implode.
There are reasons why livestock were traditionally banned in cities.
We Mainers are a fun bunch.
"...born without eyes. C-Jay is missing one-third of his brain and half of his right lung, and his heart is on the right side of his body rather than the left. He also has autism, epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder."
"If she wants something for her son that is inappropriate in the community in which she lives, she should move."
Damn, that's hardcore, Dude.
I have been reliably informed that an individual doing their own research is a fool.
We help care for chickens in a coop out in the country. Food, water, collect eggs. I find visiting the litter critters twice a week oddly comforting. They're usually pretty chatty.
I’ve had chickens for years- and this Summer our neighbors got 1dozen. Very pretty. Unfortunately, they wander lose and destroy my flowerbed, crap in my garage and the rooster lusts after my hens.
I now understand why good fences make good neighbors. Well, I’ve always know from my perspective of keeping my animals off other’s property. Now, the boot is on the other foot. Thank G*d Winter is coming. They have 2sheep, as well. They visit, too. People are weird.
Yes, occasionally a non-standard creature is the best choice as a support animal. Usually, however, your common sense applies and the person claiming that a snake is necessary to their functioning has a personality disorder.
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