In April of this year, my four year old niece, Devlin, called to tell me she had purchased 2 ducklings and 4 chicks from Tractor Supply Company. Since that point, she has fed, watered, cleaned up after, and loved these birds. They have all grown into well loved pets and she takes great pride in her little flock: I am immensely proud of her as is her mother and grandmother.
While her family does live within the city limits, the area is not densely populated and is primarily rural: Many families have one acre or more of land. This week, the city council, led by their mayor, has called for complete reworking of their ordinances that would completely ban of all farm type animals from chickens to goats.
Here is a copy of the complete minutes of the meeting as it appeared in their local newspaper, the Times Reporter out of New Philadelphia, Ohio.
"Mayor Mitch Belknap said he felt there should be no exceptions, including those wanting to keep animals for 4-H projects. The ordinance will ban even the smallest of animals, such as chickens, ducks and goats. Mayor Belknap said Solicitor Doug Jackson will have to be contacted to draw up the paperwork and that the ordinance would be given three readings so that residents have time to get rid of their animals. A penalty will be enforced for those who have farm animals and are not in compliance."

Read more: http://www.timesreporter.com/newsnow/x1533300371/Roswell-Village-Council-Aug-13-meeting#ixzz2cKw3072K

While it would be understandable to institute this sort of ordinance in a urban area with a dense population, it is utterly ridiculous for a rural area. Many people in this area have had these sorts of animals for years and they are not just pets, but a life-style choice: Part of the very reason why they chose to move to the area in the first place.
I should not be possible to retroactively outlaw animals that many residents have raised long term and then fine them if they fail to comply with dispersing them. Also, not providing any sort of exclusion for animals kept for 4-H is reprehensible. While a child can still participate in 4-H without farm type animals, it severely limits the types of projects available as well as membership in FFA. Speaking from personal experience as a 10 years 4-H alumni, participating in animal projects especially instill a sense of pride and value in a person that will last a lifetime.

It would be understandable if the council wanted to exclude certain types or sexes of animals due to noise issues, such as roosters. Also, it would not be unreasonable to put a limit on the total number of animals of each type that could be kept dependent upon how much property was used for their housing. If a chicken or goat's housing is kept clean, their is relatively no smell. If properly fenced or a birds wings are kept clipped they will stay on their own property and not be a nuisance to neighbors. If properly fed and cared for they will provide years of eggs, enjoyment, and companionship for their caretakers.

As a founding member of an exhibition poultry club in SE Louisiana, where I reside, I feel that the poultry and waterfowl community must help their fellow flock raisers, no matter how small protect their rights to raise these animals.
Please sign this petition and let the mayor and entire city council of Roswell Ohio know that they must not institute the ordinance banning farm animals within city limits.
Thank you!