Chatham-Kent has always been a proud agricultural community. Despite this, it seems that every attempt for self sufficiency is being thwarted with municipal bylaws regarding small scale livestock ownership.

It makes perfect sense to disallow the keeping of farm animals in urban areas or on very small properties. But as it stands, the current bylaw prohibiting the raising of small livestock (i.e.- rabbits, laying hens, quail) on only A1 zoned properties with a 38 meter setback is far too restrictive. It is written for large scale farming and livestock production, and fails to take into consideration rural property owners who wish to be self sufficient on a smaller scale.

I would like for the bylaw to be amended to allow small livestock to be kept on Rural Residential and village residential properties in limited quantities, with reasonable set back requirements of 50 feet. Current bylaws regarding the health, safety and hygiene of animals and property, as well as nuisance and noise bylaws are already adequate to regulate the keeping of small livestock. Outright banning raising small livestock on RR and VR properties is redundant and intrusive.

Please sign if you agree that rural property owners should be allowed to responsibly raise small livestock for personal use.

Thank you.