I am a mother of 2 young adults on the Spectrum & knowing what your family eats is very important to our all-around health. I have raised my children on 2 local farms with the Penn State Extension 4-H Program for 8 years. As a parent who has raised children on a special diet, It was my duty to teach my children where their food comes from & how it grows, what is in it before it is put onto the dinner table. It teaches them that food does not grow in a supermarket. We've had great success raising Goats, Sheep, Swine (Pigs), Steer (Cows) & Chickens. To live a Happy Healthy Life, It starts in your home in the kitchen where relationships, family, quality time & teaching begin to build & grow.    It also teaches our children how to become responsible & to care of something that gives the utmost unconditional love & respect that any pet can give & in return give you the gift of food that God has provided us with.  It also teaches companionship with Emotional support for everyone's mental help. These chickens who rescued me are registered with the ADA as my emotional support animals with a doctor's letter as prescribed to support my PTSD   FUN FACTS According to the American Pet Produccers Association (APPA), 13% of American households owned chickens in 2020, up from 8% in 2018. There are an estimated 85 million chickens in households as of January 2024, making chickens the third most common pet in the country. The American Pet Producers Association (APPA) notes that 93% of the 150 largest US cities allow backyard chickens through numbers by local ordinances. With rising egg costs and a cultural shift towards local sustainable food backyard chicken ownership is likely to remain a fast growing niche in the U.S. pet & food production landscape.   Its's Time for a Change   To: The Mayor and Borough Council of Penndel Borough, Pennsylvania Subject: Request to Amend Borough Ordinances to Permit Backyard Chickens   We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Penndel Borough, respectfully request that the Borough Council review and amend current ordinances to allow residents to keep a limited number of backyard hens for personal egg production. Many neighboring communities across Pennsylvania successfully allow backyard chickens under reasonable regulations that protect public health, safety, and neighborhood quality of life. Allowing a small number of hens can provide numerous benefits, including:   Access to fresh, locally produced eggs Increased household food sustainability Educational opportunities for children and families to teach our children where our food comes from Reduced food waste Strengthened community resilience and self-sufficiency    We propose that Penndel Borough adopt reasonable guidelines such as:   Allowing only hens (no roosters) Limiting the number of hens per household Requiring clean and secure coops Establishing setback requirements from neighboring properties Enforcing noise and sanitation standards Giving back to our communities   We believe these common-sense regulations can balance residents’ interests while maintaining the character and cleanliness of our community. Eating Healthy starts at HOME with US. We respectfully ask the Borough Council to place this matter on a future meeting agenda and consider drafting or revising ordinances to permit backyard chickens within Penndel Borough.   Thank you for your consideration.   Contact Information for Petition Organizers   Name: John Cimino & Wendy Damario