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General News: Village Board Hears Plea for Goat
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| Fiona speaks about environmental benefits of a goat |
December 18, 2007
Fiona Durkin, a 10-year-old village resident, brought her case for a goat before the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson trustees on Monday night.
Durkin, who faces a village prohibition on farm animals in her neighborhood on Pine Street, read a new letter that she had written expounding the benefits of a goat. She submitted a previous letter to the board last month in which she asked to be allowed to have a goat at her home.
“I would milk it,” Durkin read, “and goat’s milk is gentler on the stomach and easier to digest.” She explained that drinking milk from her own goat would cut down on waste from empty milk containers.
The goat’s waste would be used as garden fertilizer, Durkin told the board and noted that it is easier to feed a goat than a dog. “If you can have a cocker spaniel,” she asked, “why not a goat?”
Village attorney Howard Protter explained that the village ordinance exists to protect neighbors from the nuisance of noises and smells created by farm animals. If the board wanted to approve Durkin’s request, he said, it would have to change the law.
None of the trustees said they had a problem personally with Durkin owning a goat and discussed the ramifications of changing the law. Trustee Fogarty said he was worried about the immediate neighbors and how they would react to the farm-type odor. Trustee Mark Edsall suggested that the board look at the possibility of issuing a renewable permit for a goat that would require the owner to meet certain requirements before it is issued or renewed.
Durkin’s proposal prompted the board to compare goats to dogs, which trustee Pete Miller noted could have a larger impact than a goat. Mayor Joseph Gross admitted that he has a soft spot for the farm animals that used to be in the village while village resident Lydia Adams Davis, a folk singer, reminisced about a goat named Apple who lived in a house with her one summer many years ago. “I found the goat to be a wonderful companion and a good recycler,” Davis said.
Another resident, Judy Wilson, a holistic nurse, commended young Durkin for her effort and said she hoped the adults in a special community like Cornwall-on-Hudson might make way for the good of the world.
The board encouraged Durkin to do more research on the care of goats and trustee Miller suggested she ask goat owners to address in writing what the goat’s impact on neighbors might be.
Comments:
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Before I moved to Cornwall from Garrison, we had pet goats for 20 years and believe me they are less noisy than dogs and if set up properly do not smell at all --- I can help you with ideas to set up your goat pen -- years of experience has taught me things you won't read in any book -- I recommend ONLY FEMALE Nubian goats (which I had and miss very much) Please contact me if you'd like me to talk to your parents about this.
posted by Scrooge on 12/19/07 at 1:13 PM
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