Liberty Residents Will Be Forced to Get Rid of Chickens By: Eva McKend Chickens, roosters, ducks are all illegal to own as pets in the Village of Liberty. Its a not new law in the rural community, but one that hasnt been strictly enforced until now. Reporter Eva McKend explains. LIBERTY, N.Y. -- For the Galli family with a 13-year-old son with special needs, the chickens are a godsend. They look a lot like dinosaurs and theyre friendly. Ive been training them to stop when I tell them, said Joseph Galli, Jr. Ed Lopez has had his chickens and a rooster for the past three years. When they come out and they start running around, they are beautiful to see. They got a personality of their own, said Lopez. But the Galli and Lopez families will have to get rid of their chickens because technically Liberty officials said they are illegal to own in the village. They said the law has been on the books for decades, but now that some residents are crying foul, chicken owners who attract attention, have to get rid of their flock. We dont go out chicken hunting. Somebody would actually have to call up, make a complaint and say there is chickens in my backyard or theres chickens across the street, said Daniel Ratner, the village mayor. Dozens of families like the Gallis have just days to get rid of their chickens. Though the village recognizes they arent being used for commercial use, they dont view the chickens as pets. When I came from New York City, I came from a bad area in New York. So coming from where I came from to come up here, it was all for a change, said Lopez. But the village may not be quite rural enough. Officials said coops are too close to property lines and they smell, but residents can ask for the law to be changed. People will have to come to the village board to request a board change, a law change, said Ratner. The chicken owners said they dont wont to break the law so theyll fight, but they are running out of time. I think they are perfectly fine pets, said Galli, Jr. How do you go ahead and get rid of something that youve raised since day one? asked Lopez. - See more at: hudsonvalley.twcnews/content/770538/liberty-residents-will-be-forced-to-get-rid-of-chickens/#sthash.1Yd2KApH.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 02:23:55 +0000