Delmont Man Fighting To Keep Pet Ducks (facing $500/day fine per duck!)

[alp227]

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2013, 02:14 AM - Edit history (1)

A Delmont man is fighting for his pets. Not a dog or cat, but instead, he’s fighting for his four pet ducks.

Jim Kistler says he got a notice from Delmont telling him that having his ducks is a violation in the borough and that he could be fined $500 dollars a day.

Instead of getting rid of Larry, Moe, Curly and Fred, he’s decided to pay $400 to try to appeal.

He says the ducks are definitely pets, not “poultry,” which is referred to in the zoning ordinance.

He says he has no intention of eating them, and they can’t produce eggs.

“Frankly, how can anyone tell you what kind of pet you can have!” said Kistler.

full: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/07/01/delmont-man-fighting-to-keep-pet-ducks/

[TorchTheWitch]

1. he needs to give them up

He keeps them in a pen where they can't fly and can't swim. I think it's cruel to the ducks. It's a really inappropriate environment for ducks. If he had a big lot of property with a stream or other body of water where they could roam around being ducks flying and swimming and feeding for themselves and were content to stay there then fine. They're wildlife that needs a certain environment. I think this is just as bad as keeping a bear in a pen all the time where it couldn't act like a bear. Even at zoos the animals have environments that mimic their natural environment and where they can act normally.

And yes, local governments have every right to tell their citizens residing there what pets they can and can't have and for good reason.

The pen is very small with no pool for them to swim in, and it's far too small for them to fly.

[dhol82]

2. seems to be a domesticated duck

don't think this breed flies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Blue_duck

looks like he could say that he has them for the eggs.