[Golfingnut]

This is a hard one.

Adorable three-year-old autistic boy may be forced to give up 'therapeutic' pet chickens because the town thinks they 'don't belong' | Mail Online

I have to go with a no. I have sympathy for the child and his family, but that weighed against the right so all the people that bought knowing that no farm animals would be allowed.

[BobnBev]

And who says a chicken HAS to be a farm animal? I hope they
sue the town using the ADA. C'mon, ACLU, where are you when
someone needs your support.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

And who says a chicken HAS to be a farm animal? I hope they
sue the town using the ADA. C'mon, ACLU, where are you when
someone needs your support.

Well, I say a chicken is a farm animal and in this case, it is a large pen full so chickens in the back yard. The ACLU is great in theory, but in reality, they discriminate against the majority. Sorry, but I don't know what the ADA is. I grew up on a farm, and the smell of chickens is very unpleasant even from a distance.

[BobnBev]

Maybe a chicken is a farm animal, if it lives on a farm. Maybe it's a
therapy animal if a doctor says it is. I also grew up on a chicken farm,
and to this day, the smell of chicken manure brings back pleasant
memories.

BTW, ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is a
Federal law.

[DougB]

ADA as in "I ada chicken sandwich for lunch!

[Easyrider]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

This is a hard one.

Adorable three-year-old autistic boy may be forced to give up 'therapeutic' pet chickens because the town thinks they 'don't belong' | Mail Online

I have to go with a no. I have sympathy for the child and his family, but that weighed against the right so all the people that bought knowing that no farm animals would be allowed.

Not hard at all....

If these therapy chickens actually do benefit him as stated by his doctor then he should be allowed at least a couple to help him with his condition. We make exceptions and overlook most everything for one reason or another and this child should be no different. Chickens can live on a farm or not, just like dogs, and they are by no means any less sanitary. Let's see we can keep Boa Constrictors/Pythons but not chickens even with the required permit????

I think we can expect to see this decision reversed, and maybe some egg on the town council's face.

After all he doesn't live in Beverly Hills.

[donb9006]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

And who says a chicken HAS to be a farm animal? I hope they
sue the town using the ADA. C'mon, ACLU, where are you when
someone needs your support.

Or maybe...just maybe...they should move to somewhere more accommodating? Somewhere more rural...

Are we really supposed to accommodate EVERYONE? Really? How about the other autistic kid who likes elephants. Or the one who wants a pony? If you're going to make an exception and move the line...how far? pheasant? peacock? ostrich? And they should sue to get them?

Are there always going to be exceptions? Then why bother with regulations? How about your neighbor is autistic and loves bright purple houses...think he should sue to have it?

Your acting with emotion, there are consequences. They knew there are restrictions when moving in. They de facto agreed, if not in writing, to restrictions when they purchased the house. They had the option to locate somewhere else, without the restrictions. Like buying here in TV and expecting the freedoms of living in unincorporated county areas.

These chickens apparently bother the neighbors and THAT is why they want them removed. I believe you can do what you want as long as nobody else is affected by your actions. You can't blare your radio and you can't have roosters crowing.

Just my cold hearted opinion...

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I also saw this piece on the news and wondered if the family had considered that it might be the bond of the child with a living, nonthreatening animal that was working, not just the bond of the boy with just chickens. I think they should see if they could substitute another animal that might be acceptable, like maybe a bunny (if zoning allows) or a dog that would be an affectionate companion. I am a former special education teacher and I have worked with autistic children as well as having used my own dogs in a therapy dog capacity to work with children and adults with disabilities. Animals can often reach a spot that people can not. I am not sure it has to ONLY be a chicken.

[Easyrider]

Originally Posted by donb9006

Or maybe...just maybe...they should move to somewhere more accommodating? Somewhere more rural...

Are we really supposed to accommodate EVERYONE? Really? How about the other autistic kid who likes elephants. Or the one who wants a pony? If you're going to make an exception and move the line...how far? pheasant? peacock? ostrich? And they should sue to get them?

Are there always going to be exceptions? Then why bother with regulations? How about your neighbor is autistic and loves bright purple houses...think he should sue to have it?

Your acting with emotion, there are consequences. They knew there are restrictions when moving in. They de facto agreed, if not in writing, to restrictions when they purchased the house. They had the option to locate somewhere else, without the restrictions. Like buying here in TV and expecting the freedoms of living in unincorporated county areas.

These chickens apparently bother the neighbors and THAT is why they want them removed. I believe you can do what you want as long as nobody else is affected by your actions. You can't blare your radio and you can't have roosters crowing.

Just my cold hearted opinion...

Didn't see any mention of neighbors being bothered unless I missed it. More likely just more small town (less than 20K) government wanting to run the show.

Two-three chickens in a town of 16K people, doesn't appear they're about to be overrun.

If the boy loves the chickens and has grown attached to them then he should be allowed to keep them. After having them for a year and ripping them from him now would be cruel. If they had denied the permit up front it might have been more understandable.

Puzzling why we would want to try and force a dog on him because someone might think it is better for him because that's what everyone else likes.


In December of 2012, DeBary enacted a one-year test run allowing families in residential areas to keep three chickens.
The program was created after the Hart family, who purchased chickens after researching the positive affect of animals on autism, asked for permission to keep their chickens.
keeping a coop is no easy task. Residents wishing to maintain chickens must obtain a city permit.
It also costs between $500 and $800 per year to keep a coop with proper fencing.
The DeBary council's decision to discontinue residential coops will affect the only two loving homes in the community who decided to care for chickens.
One application for a backyard coop was from the Hart's and another was from a woman who wanted to use the chickens for eggs.


Read more: Adorable three-year-old autistic boy may be forced to give up 'therapeutic' pet chickens because the town thinks they 'don't belong' | Mail Online
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[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by donb9006

Or maybe...just maybe...they should move to somewhere more accommodating? Somewhere more rural...

Are we really supposed to accommodate EVERYONE? Really? How about the other autistic kid who likes elephants. Or the one who wants a pony? If you're going to make an exception and move the line...how far? pheasant? peacock? ostrich? And they should sue to get them?

Are there always going to be exceptions? Then why bother with regulations? How about your neighbor is autistic and loves bright purple houses...think he should sue to have it?

Your acting with emotion, there are consequences. They knew there are restrictions when moving in. They de facto agreed, if not in writing, to restrictions when they purchased the house. They had the option to locate somewhere else, without the restrictions. Like buying here in TV and expecting the freedoms of living in unincorporated county areas.

These chickens apparently bother the neighbors and THAT is why they want them removed. I believe you can do what you want as long as nobody else is affected by your actions. You can't blare your radio and you can't have roosters crowing.

Just my cold hearted opinion...

The last line in your rant says it all.
I truly feel sorry for you.
Compassion is not your strong suit.

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by DougB

ADA as in "I ada chicken sandwich for lunch!

Eggs--actly!!

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

The last line in your rant says it all.
I truly feel sorry for you.
Compassion is not your strong suit.

Compassion must not interfere with the law. Don stated every thing correctly.

[Easyrider]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Compassion must not interfere with the law. Don stated every thing correctly.

Posted previously,
I think we can expect to see this decision reversed, and maybe some egg on the town council's face.

Today:
From the latest news it looks like the chickens will be staying. Laws get changed to accommodate most everything else so this is a no brainer. The council meets on the 18th to vote again...


Family thinks autistic Debary toddler will get to keep his thera - FOX 35 News Orlando

[Easyrider]

The therapy chickens will be staying, the vote was unanimous to let the young boy keep them.

The City Council of DeBary, Fla., unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday evening that allows the parents of 3-year-old J.J. Hart to raise the three hens in their backyard as a reasonable accommodation under the Federal and Florida Fair Housing Acts. The resolution notes that “the chickens are primarily utilized for the purpose of enhancing the child’s life.”


Happy update: Boy with autism can keep 'therapy chickens' - TODAY.com

[kittygilchrist]

I'm not reading any of your posts. nananaah.
Get a psychologist to determine whether the animals are service animals.
In my work with the courts, nothing could help make an informed decision like an expert opinion or 3 if it's contentious.