Ohio woman with 6 pet chickens fighting city to keep them

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio woman is fighting to keep her six chickens after she was told her pets had to go.

Raising poultry within 200 feet of an adjacent home violates Perrysburg’s agricultural use code.

But Krista Kiessling, who has owned chickens for three years, told city officials in June her chickens weren’t raised for agricultural purposes, The Blade reported (https://bit.ly/2hTwqd1 ) .

Kiessling said she values the sustainable source of eggs, compost for her garden and natural bug control.

“We don’t want reckless care for the animals” she added. She has proposed a new ordinance that would allow up to six chickens on properties zoned for a single family.

Residents would have to obtain a $25 permit. Regulations would be created for chicken coops and squawking hens. Roosters would be banned, and slaughtering chickens would have to be done in accordance with state law.

Kiessling’s proposal is expected to be discussed at a city planning commission meeting next month.

The city has also proposed an amendment. It would ban raising poultry and any other animals not typically considered pets, including goats, pigs, skunks and llamas. That issue was tabled in September and hasn’t been revisited.

The planning commission can suggest approving or rejecting both proposals.

Brodin Walters, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, said both should make their way to city council. Only one is expected to be recommended for approval.

Kiessling has a court case pending, depending on the outcome.

“I fight for them as I would fight for any of my pets,” she said. “We take pet ownership very seriously and we are bonded to our animals as they are to us.”

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Information from: The Blade, https://www.toledoblade.com/