Tarazet

Pet Rooster Can Stay

A good decision from the Lawrence, Kansas city officials comes to us via the Lawrence Journal-World:

Lawrence Journal-World Photo

Charlie, a 6-month-old bantam rooster, often helps Lawrence resident Karon Johnson get through bad days.

And there have been more than a few bad days. About a year and a half ago, because of a serious heart condition, one of her legs was amputated. Shortly thereafter, doctors discovered Johnson had breast cancer and she underwent a mastectomy.

Charlie, the colorfully plumed pet, brightens her dark days by reminding her of her childhood on a Missouri chicken farm.

"I had quite a bit of depression coming out of all of this, but Charlie has had a soothing effect on me," Johnson said. "He's kind of like a dog that gets you up every morning and nudges you along."

But city animal regulations almost forced Johnson to figure out how to get by without her companion.

[...]

Johnson sent Charlie to a friend's rural Lawrence farm, while city officials sorted out the regulations. Friday, City Manager Mike Wildgen delivered Johnson the news that she had hoped for: Charlie could stay.

"It is a bird in the house, and we just view it as a bird in the house," Wildgen said. "It's not unlike people having a parrot in their house. We haven't had a complaint on it either.

Seems the city has an ordinance against keeping domestic fowl that might be raised for food. Fortunately, because this isn't the case and because the rooster is kept indoors, the officials reached the humane decision.

This is another example of how animals can bring comfort to humans going through tough times.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at April 3, 2005 09:43 AM