Anti-animal law tabled in Miami



Miami — If you want to keep a mule or an ostrich in your yard in Miami, you'd

better get it now before time runs out.



A proposed ordinance came before the Town Council Monday night that would make

it a criminal offense "to keep or cause to be kept any livestock or exotic

animals" in town.



Live stock is defined as "cattle, ox, horse, mule, burro, goat, sheep, swine,

ass or other similar animal."



Exotic animal is defined as "camel, emu, llama, ostrich, Vietnamese pot bellied

pig, and other unusual animal not commonly considered to be domestic."



Poisonous reptiles and dangerous amphibians are also non-gratis including

alligators and crocodiles.



Housing said cow or crocodile would result in up to a $2,500 fine or six months

in jail.



The proposal, which was listed on the agenda, drew the attention of a packed

house at the meeting as well as a small sheep who stood outside the town

chambers and bleated through much of the meeting in an attempt to make her

opinion known.



Mayor Rosemary Castaneda issued a warning to the irate public, who had already

sat through more than two hours of unrelated town business, before allowing them

to address the issue.



She advised them that they would not be allowed more than three minutes to speak

and they would not be allowed to address the council more than once on the

issue. "We're not going to do this up and down thing," she said.



Castaneda pointed out that the law exempts any animals that are already in town

when the law is passed.



Councilman Michael Black not only voiced his support for the proposed law but

said he would like to see geese, ducks and chickens added to it as well. "This

is a town," Black said. "When you have roosters and geese crowing in the

morning, that's annoying…A farm is where you raise livestock, not a town."



Councilman Don Reiman asked who had sponsored the proposed law.



Town manager Jerry Barnes, who refused to take responsibility for it, said code

enforcement officer Darryl Stubbs had asked to have the law introduced.



Castaneda argued in favor of the law. "Little towns used to be more rural than

they are now," she said. "We're getting a new sewer. We're getting new streets."



Vice Mayor Susan Hanson said she would like to see the proposal tabled so the

council can hear from more people.



Councilman Daryl Dalley said the town needs to separate the treatment of

livestock from exotic animals. "I don't think there's enough livestock that will

seriously damage our sewers and streets," he said.



Town resident Karen Donaldson-Webb got up to speak. "The town of Miami has been

there 100 years."

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