Richard Simm says his two pygmy goats are pets just like his dog, but the City of Richmond disagrees and says the farmyard animals have to go.

The city says it's against bylaws to have a farm animal on a parcel of land less than 2,000 square metres, but Simm argues the two pet pygmy goats, named George and Freddie, have become a part of his family.

"We get up in the morning, go downstairs and they greet us," said Simm.

"They're just a pleasure. It's like having comedy in your backyard all the time. You can never have a bad day when you have a pair of pygmy goats."

George (left) and Freddie (right) in their younger days. George is sporting his trademark burned wool coat and charcoal face. (Richard Simm)

Goats that think they're dogs

Pygmy goats are small goats and Simm's measure about 45 centimetres to the shoulders. George has 13-centimetre horns while Freddie doesn't. The brother goats are smaller than their family's pet golden retriever, Molly, who has also accepted them as part of the family.

"It's an interesting dynamic. I think Maggie thinks that George and Freddie are dogs and I think George and Freddie think that George and Freddie are dogs."

Simm's family got the goats two years ago, after wanting to add more unique pets to their home. They already had tropical fish and reptiles and after doing some research decided pygmy goats would be a good fit.

Since then, they've become a constant source of amusement for Simm's 10-year-old son Alex and other children in the neighbourhood.

"We've got a feeding area in the back where the neighbourhood children can come and feed them so when the children come by the goats both know what's coming so they'll run over to the fence."

Pygmy goats love to climb and have items to jump on. (Richard Simm)

City says goats must go

Not all of Simm's neighbours are amused however. In June, Simm was told by the city's bylaw enforcement office that a nearby resident had filed a complaint and the goats would need to be removed.

The City of Richmond has given Simm until Aug. 18 to get rid of the pygmy goats because goats are typically considered farm animals and for Simm to keep them would violate the city's bylaws.

The city defines a domestic pet as an animal that is normally kept in a residential household and for pleasure rather than utility.

"They do come in the house," said Richard Simm, "However, you want to make sure if they are in the house that they don't spend a lot of time in the house." (Richard Simm)

Simm says the goats do come into the house, which his family rents, but they don't spend a great deal of time in there.

He says he's in negotiations with the city and he's hopeful an arrangement can be worked out to enable him to keep his goats because despite the approaching deadline, he's not ready to give them up.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled City of Richmond wants pygmy goats gone