We loved our hens. They were our pets and provided our family with eggs. They were not a nuisance to anyone except the worms in our yard. In fact, many of our neighbors, including the ones that reported us to the city, benefited from their eggs as well. It was only after a parking dispute that our neighbor across the street decided to "turn us in" for having illegal livestock in our yard. The chickens were gentle, peaceful animals that allowed my children to pick them up and handle them like any other family pet. 

My son Forest lovingly referred to them as "Salt" and "Pepper." He has ADHD and sensory processing disorder, and the chickens had an amazingly calming influence on him. He would go outside, catch one of the chickens and sit calmly for long stretches of time. He loved them. When the city came and told us that we needed to get rid of them, he was devastated. He doesn't understand why the chicken is any different from the dogs, cats, rabbits, or any other animal we've kept as a pet in the past. 

We were not trying to sell the eggs, or profit from the animals in any way. They were part of our family and now we had to discard them like they were nothing. My family is upset and confused that this city would think that these animals could be harmful in any way. I am asking the city of Salinas to consider changing the ordinance to allow for a limited number of Hens to be kept as pets within the city limits. I understand that there has been a thriving trade in gamecocks in the past and I understand that there must be reasonable limitations on what can be considered a pet. Our chickens were as harmless as a pet rabbit. Why should pet hens be treated any different then the many breeds of rabbits kept as pets when many of these breeds are also used as meat animals?

The gang violence within the city of Salinas has caused us to be frequently listed as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. I think there are more urgent things for the city to be spending their time on than cracking down on "illegal livestock." Please join me in demanding that hens be allowed as pets within the city limits of Salinas, CA.