Family hopes to keep pet goat, change city ordinance
LAWRENCE - There is no law currently in the City of Lawrence that allows goats, but one local family wants to change all that and spread the word about urban farming.
Meg Heriford was looking for a gift for her husband Arthur Dodge, so she decided a pygmy goat would be perfect. What she didn't know is that goats are illegal in the city limits. She would like to see that change, so she petitioned the city too keep the family's goat, Whiskey.
The whole family is smitten with the new pet, but Dodge says it's his youngest daughter Eula that has really bonded with the goat. "He thinks she is another goat," says Dodge. "He'll warm up to the rest of us, but right now she's his buddy."
Heriford says she hopes an ordinance allowing the pets would help make Lawrence an urban farming friendly town. She says the pygmy goats are good for the environment. "They provide chemical free lawn control," says Heriford. "They will eat all of your weeds. They especially love poison ivy."
Dodge points out that other major cities already have ordinances allowing goats within city limits. The city has granted the family an exception from the current ordinance for Whiskey, but they hope for a more permanent residency status and don't want to get rid of their family pet.
There is no hearing scheduled for the ordinance, but the family does have permission to keep the goat until the issue comes before the city commission.