City allows residents to keep goats
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This thing can now live in the city limits as long as it stays under 100 pounds, loses the horns, and— if male— gets neutered.STOCK PHOTO
The four present members of City Council voted unanimously to allow residents to keep goats in their yards. Previously, goats— along with swine and sheep— were banned. And that was just fine with St. Clair Avenue resident Naomi Roberts.
“Farm animals belong on the farm, not in city yards,” said Roberts.
But fellow speaker-to-Council Clint Sherrill opined that goats are actually better for the environment than “the huge mass of dogs” he’s seen in Charlottesville.
“If you’re in favor of dogs, then you should have no problem with goats,” Sherrill told Council.
The local chapter of a national group called the Goat Justice League had spearheaded the move, which limits residents to keeping three goats, which must remain under 100 pounds and be dehorned.
Goats have been credited with providing milk, cheese, as well as companionship and weed-removal. However, according to Charlottesville Goat Justice League founder Meghan Keith-Hynes, who also spoke to Council, they do not eat tin cans.
10:14am Wednesday update: Caption lengthened to reflect some conditions.
Nice caption, Hawes. Well, if it works for Google …
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/goats-are-baaaahk.html
We don’t need a circus we have Charlottesville, the biggest joke in Virginia.
I love it. I love the fact that somebody brought up the fact that if dogs are allowed, goats should be too.
I love Charlottesville.
“But fellow speaker-to-Council Clint Sherrill opined that goats are actually better for the environment than “the huge mass of dogs” he’s seen in Charlottesville.”
Really? Having owned a few goats in years past I can say without a doubt that I would never have one near my home ever again.
I’m still waiting for the day I don’t have to keep my emu hidden in the basement.
“Old McDonnell had a farm
E i E i O!”
The goat in the picture is not allowed to live in city limits as they must be dehorned.
Them lil rascals
Wonder who the first Belmont resident will be to complain about goat bleating violating the new noise ordinance. When those little buggers get to dry-humping each other, it’s quite a ruckus. This could have one benefit of delaying sending out bills for water and sewer, if meter readers are now supposed to also check the herd to make sure their jewels are not intact. Goats are also pretty good at escaping fenced yards — so get ready to be butted when Billy decides to go out on a stroll.
Goats in the city … nice. Why am I not surprised? Thank God I moved out to Fluvanna. We have animals, but not on 1/10 acre lots.
so who has the job of checking if the males are neutered?
The female goats?
;D
http://www.goatfinder.com
Don’t turn your back,
Hmmm. Still feeling resentful that the residents in Belmont are no longer 3rd class citizens and now get treated equally to those residents living in other areas zoned residential? You know, like Park Street?
Tell me, are you still upset about black people and women having the vote too?
You are welcome to make as much noise as you want in your own backyard.
Wow. Goats in the city. We have county people complaining about needing to pay for their citified services. County people complaining about shooters in ‘developed’ areas.
And now we have city people wanting to have goats like in the county.
Old Timer must have a pretty sore back, having to carry such instantly-jostled chips on his/her shoulder. Not sure what kind of mind logically connects ridiculing a goat-fetished city council and the civil rights movement — maybe he/she can take a break form his/her glue sniffing and ’splain it. I sure don’t live in Park Street digs, but speak from experience that goats are horny and noisy, disinclined to remain locked up in tiny city backyards, incredibly efficient at eating whatever they can get near, and prone to running up and head-butting people in the posterior. Too ornery to be treated as cute little urban pets by a city full of trust-fund hippies waiting around for their buddies to show up at Mas. And, no, you are not allowed to make as much noise as you want in your backyard — that’s what the noise ordinance prevents, genius.
“This thing can now live in the city limits as long as it stays under 100 pounds, loses the horns, and— if male— gets neutered.”
Hum, perhaps this should be the requirement for a city politician…oh, maybe some of it is.
Don’t look back,
“Old Timer must have a pretty sore back, having to carry such instantly-jostled chips on his/her shoulder.”
Projection {proh-jek-shun] - When an individual suffering from certain beliefs or behavioral patterns claims others have them in an attempt to hid it in themselves.
I’d say the 10 ton chip you have on your shoulder about Belmont residents and their noise battle must have caused your spine to collapse by now. Maybe that’s why you want to project it on me. Otherwise why make a snide comment when the Hook’s article is about goats?
I suspect a lot of goats will turn up in Belmont. I have yet to find one that bahhed at 95 decibels with bass eating through walls. Have you?
Personally I am glad I can eat out again at the 3 establishments in Belmont that won food awards without being assualted by the patrons and noise of the others. I’m spending a lot more money there again.
maybe mas has found a new source for “mountain oysters”
Well, look, to be realistic the city allows dogs and, no they do not regulate noise issues with dogs despite any theoretical laws pertaining to dog noise. So what’s wrong with having goats? Certainly they make less noise than an eternally barking dog and does their sh%^ stink more? It actually stinks less. So what’s the problem with goats.
For my part, dogs are the biggest nuisance people have to deal with in the city. I live near someone who has a German Shepherd tethered in his yard and that animal barks nonstop all day long and can be heard over the entire area. I’d trade that mutt for ten goats.
http://www.jackmauldin.com/goat_recipes.htm
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robert-irvine/goat-stew-recipe/index.html
http://www.boer-goats-farmstay-bed-breakfast.com/goat-recipe.html
Sooooo, just a few idea’s for dinner, or breakfast.
i say what will they do if they get loose? take it to the SPCA in their van that already isnt big enough to hold todays puppy dogs?
put it this way, with ch’ville being allowed to own goats, chickens and other farm animals, is mayor norris trying to say our town is a farm?
“maybe mas has found a new source for “mountain oysters””
if that’s in response to this:
““This thing can now live in the city limits as long as it stays under 100 pounds, loses the horns, and— if male— gets neutered.”
Hum, perhaps this should be the requirement for a city politician…oh, maybe some of it is.”"
Mr. Huja is the sole source for that among our current crop of councilors, and I suspect he would put up something of a fight.
Bring me the German Shepherd and I will buy you 10 goats! :)
This article has nothing to do with Belmont.
Just Pointing Out,
That’ right, it doesn’t. Which is why I was annoyed by Don’t Turn Your Back’s comment.
So a couple years ago we had the guy who shot the cat that climbed on his car and scratched it up… that got people up in arms… Are they going to require goat owners to post a bond to cover the cost to repaint the neighbor’s car when the goat escapes the fence and climbs on the nearest “rock outcropping” that happens to be a shiny new SUV?
Keep them goats in Belmont!