It's Official: Chickens Can Be Pets
The South Whitehall Commissioners approved changes in a township ordinance that paves the way for residents in rural areas to have chickens as pets.
If you live in a rural area of the township, you can now have chickens as pets.
The South Whitehall commissioners, responding to an 8-year-old girl's plea last year to keep two chickens, unanimously voted Wednesday night for an ordinance change that will allow it.
In fact, the revised township ordinance will actually allow residents in rural areas to keep up to four chickens as pets, as long as the chickens are contained in a coop, with setback requirements, when outdoors.
The vote capped a five-month process that began when Carisa Fogt's mother and grandfather sought permission from township zoners to allow Carisa to have the pets. When the zoners denied the request, they brought their case to the township commissioners.
Though the commissioners were receptive from the start, the township planners and staff had to closely review any proposed changes to the township ordinance. Planners did.
Carisa, her grandfather and mother were not on hand Wednesday night for the commissioners' vote.
Lower Mac Resident
9:46 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Looks to me like the officials in South Whitehall have more common sense than those in Lower Macungie. I guess it could also be that they have a heart, did their research and can see that having 4 chickens, confined in an area with huge setbacks from other homeowners really isn't a hazard at all. Our chickens are currently in an undisclosed location due to lower macungie telling us that our 3/4 + acre property with more than 100ft setback around the coop on all sides was not good enough. Hoping to take what south whitehall did and get the ordinance changed in lower macungie.
Parkland Parent
9:42 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Keeping chickens as pets = REDNECK.
Eric Harding
10:53 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Keeping chickens as pets is redneck?? Really? Well isn't someone a bit prejudiced and ignorant! I happen to keep chickens for their eggs and meat. You know, I used to think that the people in Parkland had their heads stuck up their rears and then a friends convinced me otherwise. But then someone close to me started teaching in Parkland School District and told me how the parents are... and you my fine Parkland Parent have proved my point valid. Get your head removed from your rear and stop being so damn ignorant.
Chickens can be pets, but they provide food and that is the point of this whole thing.
Missy Moyer-Schneck
9:14 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
Our chickens were pets to us, they provided us many eggs and were great to be around...sadly, lower mac made us get rid of them......they are the ones with their heads up their you know what
Parkland parent 2
7:51 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
To the "parkland parent" " keeping chickens as pets=redneck"! You are a suedo-snob. I come from an affluent family, blue blood, from Boston area, and I'll be getting several chickens. Bravo to South Whitehall and the little girl that had enough courage and intelligence to confront this law!