Ken Schram: If you want goats, move to a farm
Aug 26, 2013, 12:06 PM | Updated: 1:14 pm
Ken Schram says if your city doesn't allow goats, and you want one, you should move to a farm area that allows them. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
After hearing of a Federal Way eighth grader petitioning her city to reclassify goats as house pets, rather than livestock, KIRO Radio guest host Ken Schram had some advice: move to a farm.
According to The Seattle Times, in Federal Way, goats are classified as livestock, and as such are only allowed on pieces of property over 1.6 acres.
But 12-year-old Ava Anissipour is fighting the city for a pet classification so that a baby goat they were fostering can be returned. They already have another goat that is allowed in the home because a doctor declared it a companion animal. But Anissipour wants room for more, even though, in addition to the goat, the family already has three dogs.
“You know the family also owns a mastiff. They’re looking at adopting a St. Bernard and they’re looking at adopting another dog,” said Schram. “Give me a break.”
According to the Times, neighbors have complained about smell of urine and the goats having a negative impact on the neighborhood.
“First of all, I’m just imagining the pile of poop in the backyard from the mastiff and the St. Bernard. Those are like small horses.”
Schram said, while it might be impressive that a 12-year-old is taking a stand and trying to change laws through the legislative process, he’s not impressed with the general attitude here.
“There are people in our community who think the whole world should revolve around them. That everything and anything that they want and desire should be made available to them,” said Schram. “At one level, I think this 12-year-old is just an exceptional kid. I think mom is overindulgent.”
There doesn’t seem to be any concern about what negative impacts these additional animals might bring on the community, said Schram.
“There’s no sense of how is this going to impact my neighbors, my neighborhood, my home value,” said Schram. “I think a couple of chickens and a rooster running around is fine. I’m all into urban farming with chickens and collecting the fresh eggs, but I think two goats and three dogs is a little bit too much.”
