Humming Hill Farm, my 2.5 acre property in Fallbrook, California (click to see images), has an A70 Animal Designator zoning which allows me to have a total 25 horses, donkeys, or mules. However, A70 Animal Designator L zoning allows only 5 alpacas on the same piece of land. More specifically, the zoning allows 10 horses, donkeys, or mules per acre vs just 2 alpacas and llamas per acre.

As such, after 10 years of energy, passion, and commitment to these unique animals and this community, I am being asked by County Code Enforcement to get rid of 15 of my alpaca or face extensive fines.

There is a fundamental misunderstanding in the distinction between alpaca/llamas and horses, donkeys, or mules. In all the years that I have had these alpaca, I have never had a problem or complaint…and even today I wouldn’t need assistance if I had 20 Clydesdale horses in place of these alpaca on my property.

To highlight the illogical distinction in zoning laws applicable to my property, consider the impact of 25 horses in the same space compared to 25 alpaca where: 

• A 1,000lb horse produces an average 37 pounds of feces and 2.4 gallons of urine per day
  • 25 horses would produce 925 lbs of feces and 60 gallons of urine per day

VERSUS

• An alpaca weighs an average of just 180 pounds and produces an average of just 4 pounds per day of feces and 1 gallon of urine a day
  • 25 alpacas would produce only 100 lbs of feces and 25 gallons of urine per day

In other words, 25 horses produces nine times more fecal waste than alpacas and 2.4 times the urine, yet are permitted on my property without question. Were I to replace my alpacas with horses, it would not result in a reduced impact on the neighbors from smell, noise, or whatever other impact is being claimed as justification to make me get rid of the majority of my herd. My alpaca have far less impact on the community and my neighbors than what I’m otherwise approved to have. Additionally, alpacas are gentler on the land with padded feet than horses are with their hooves.

With this in mind, I seek support from my community to sway County Code Compliance and Enforcement in favor of a zoning change, variance, conditional use permit, or whatever other option might be available to me that would allow me to keep my animals. I’m want nothing more than the same rights a horse owner would have on this same piece of land and a way to keep my animals. 

Without a zoning change, variance, or conditional use permit, I will be fined $1,000 every day starting today, July 19, 2019.

About Anita Caole

I’ve had the pleasure of raising a family, starting and growing a business that currently employs 45 people just in its Vista branch, and volunteering throughout the community. Now, after decades in Escondido, my husband and I have recently purchased a home in Fallbrook where we’ve gone to great efforts and expense to create a place where my husband plans to ease into retirement, and we plan to enjoy our golden years together, Humming Hill Farm. 

In the 10 years prior to moving to Fallbrook from Escondido, I have been caring for and raising alpacas. My love for these unique animals has led me to develop strong ties to the community by realizing my dream of educating people of the joy of alpacas. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in numerous education and outreach events, including bringing alpaca on the news, and allowing children, the elderly, and those suffering with PTSD the opportunity to be experience these rare animals and learn about raising them and even the centuries old processes related to dying and processing the fiber into finished products.