"Let Us Keep Our Pet Chickens"

Papillion taxpayers flocked to city council fighting to keep their pets

By Liz Dorland

CREATED Sep. 18, 2012

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Papillion, NE -- Papillion may soon be the next city to allow chickens to be kept as pets.  Members of the community flocked to the city council Tuesday night, pleading to keep their beloved animals.

No taxpayers feathers were ruffled during the Papillion City Council meeting.  Papillion taxpayer Jim Ratte said, "My wife and I are here to admit in public that we're pro-chicken."

Many speakers quieted beliefs that the chickens are too loud.  Mike Lanquest stated, "The roosters are a whole lot quieter than the city pool right across the road."

Mary she doesn't own any chickens, but doesn't have a problem with them.  "I'm very happy to have the chickens in our neighborhood because they are the quietest things in our neighborhood."

Amy Harlow-Kelly was one of dozens who are fighting to keep their pets before city council. "There is no legitimate reason for any city to prohibit keeping a few chickens anymore than there is any reason to ban keeping cats and dogs," Harlow-Kelly urged.

Pa pillions proposed law will allow owners to license up to four chickens. Similar rules already exist in Omaha and Bellevue.  While not everyone is ready to own a chicken in Papillion, Karen Sequoia said, "I'm not planning on getting chickens in my house - either the bird dog would have to go, and the husband would go right after that. I have read the ordinance and it looks like we're covering our bases."

With the decision to keep to keep the coup or ban the flock still up in the air, chicken owners like
Sidney Zivney are preparing for the worst.  The 13-year old admitted it will be hard to see her loved pets go.  "I'll be sad but we have a place for them it's not going to be the same in the back yard not being able to sit on the deck and watch them run around," said Sidney.

The same ordinance will also mean Papillion taxpayers can own pigeons, and it will hold dog owners financially responsible if their dog becomes aggressive and attacks. The Papillion City Council will vote October second on the measure. 

Reported By: Liz Dorland, ldorland@action3news.com