The 40-year-old Mentor Township animal ordinance prohibits families from raising chickens, regardless of the size of their property or the relatively rural character of their neighborhood.  This needlessly restricts the freedom of families seeking to grow their own food.  The ordinance needs to be rewritten to reflect changing cultural values and the growing desire of families to control the cost and quality of their food and to pursue a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.

There are people in this township that have 5acres up to more than 100 acres surrounded by National Forrest and should be able to have the kind or size of animals that their property safely supports.  On the flip side, people with smaller properties should have the ability to have some of the smaller animals such as rabbits and birds.  I have an acre of land which can maintain both of these with no noise, no smell and no disturbance to any of my neighbors.  Smaller tracts of land will also safely house these animals as long as they are penned and not running all over the neighborhood.

It is time to re-evaluate the rules on animals, what kinds of animals and what size properties can cleanly and safely house animals.  Living in the country is about having the freedom to live the lifestyle that you would like, so let's make the rules fit the needs of all.  Set up new rules that let a homeowner supplement their family needs with chickens and rabbits on smaller tracts of land. Farm animals on larger tracts and common Michigan agricultural manure management for all.

Pets that help feed the soil, eat bugs, and feed your family!