To: Karen Young, Shelley Aloi, Carol Krimm, Michael O'Connor, and Kelly Russell
Backyard Chickens for City of Frederick
Please instruct Frederick's Animal Control Officers to follow Municipal Code Article 1, Sec. 3-1A & Sec. 3-8, which defines birds (such as hens) kept as pets as 'animals' rather than 'livestock'. The City of Frederick should join most of the MAJOR CITIES OF AMERICA in ALLOWING up to 3 hens per private back yard of at least 1/10th acre. Stop the impounding of backyard chickens in the City of Frederick!
Why is this important?
Do a Google search for 'Backyard Chickens' and you will discover that our nation is responding smartly to the pressures of economic downturn, overuse of pesticides and fertilizers, and our kids forgetting how to interact with nature and play out doors. MILLIONS of people with back yards are keeping two or three hens (hens don't make noise!) as pets; they fertilize lawn and garden, control pests (most eat stink bugs!), and, yes, as surprisingly sweet pets for kids! MAJOR CITIES allowing back yard hens: New York City, Chicago, Atlanta (home of the CDC), Miami, Albuquerque, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Cambridge, Houston, Austin, BALTIMORE, Spokane, Mobile, St Louis, Santa Fe, LIttle Rock, Minneapolis, Burlington, Des Moines, Pittsburg PA, Omaha, Toledo, Ann Arbor, Richmond VA, Louisville KY! Frederick's Municipal Code does not FORMALLY restrict this (see Article 1, Sec 3-1A & 3-8) as long as there is no sale of animals or eggs; keeping as pets is legal, but currently our Animal Control Dept interprets the Code INCORRECTLY and will impound a hen from your own back yard. LET'S GET THEM TO STOP. Sign this petition to tell our Mayor and Aldermen to instruct our Animal Control Officers to ALLOW up to 3 hens per 1/10 acre lot as long as they are not a nuisance to the neighbors! Frederick should join the MAJOR CITIES OF AMERICA and let us have a few hens for fun and pest control (did we mention they eat stink bugs?)