Fined for having 3 Backyard Hens
Donation protected
We had been keeping hens for a number of years. Enjoying our food soveigntry.
In 2017 a City by law officer advised us we were breaking a by law.
We knew there were a number of households who were keeping hens as well.
Seeing as a number of cities were recognizing backyard hens and making changes. We decided to make a change.
We had approached the City of North Bay to have them change the by-laws for domestic fowl. We had done a number of presentations including our
Petition
Along with media coverage in local news,radio tTelevision . We then got some
National Attention
There was not even a vote put to the table. So we decided to follow the by laws and got an animal which wasn't restricted by their by law A PIG.
We went back for another presentation and still no vote.
It was our hope the by law would be changed soon, seeing as we pointed out the ludicrasy of being able to keep a pig and not 3-4 hens. We hid our pets in our cellar ( 3 hens ) for almost two years. They had access to an enclosed airy run under our sunroom. Giving them some reasonable sunlight and lots of fresh air.
We hoped with all of our attempts at trying to make the changes the city would grant us an opportunity to keep them a moritorium,while this pending change was still tabled.
That wasn't the case we were facing 3 charges for having hens.
1 keeping a hobby farm.
2 selling commercially from a hobby farm.
3 keeping domestic fowl.
We also were facing a fine of $5,000.00
Along with not being able to do any gardening for a one year period.
We plead guilty to the third charge and had the fine taken down to $500.00 and court costs. We were still allowed to keep gardening and raising vegetables.
We will still fight to keep hens here for the homeowner's of North Bay.
I have invested considerable time energy and other funds to change the by law.
We would appreciate your assistance as we try and fight for everyone's FOOD SOVEIGNTRY and show them that you can make a change!
Even a small donation will help.
Thank you !!
In 2017 a City by law officer advised us we were breaking a by law.
We knew there were a number of households who were keeping hens as well.
Seeing as a number of cities were recognizing backyard hens and making changes. We decided to make a change.
We had approached the City of North Bay to have them change the by-laws for domestic fowl. We had done a number of presentations including our
Petition
Along with media coverage in local news,radio tTelevision . We then got some
National Attention
There was not even a vote put to the table. So we decided to follow the by laws and got an animal which wasn't restricted by their by law A PIG.
We went back for another presentation and still no vote.
It was our hope the by law would be changed soon, seeing as we pointed out the ludicrasy of being able to keep a pig and not 3-4 hens. We hid our pets in our cellar ( 3 hens ) for almost two years. They had access to an enclosed airy run under our sunroom. Giving them some reasonable sunlight and lots of fresh air.
We hoped with all of our attempts at trying to make the changes the city would grant us an opportunity to keep them a moritorium,while this pending change was still tabled.
That wasn't the case we were facing 3 charges for having hens.
1 keeping a hobby farm.
2 selling commercially from a hobby farm.
3 keeping domestic fowl.
We also were facing a fine of $5,000.00
Along with not being able to do any gardening for a one year period.
We plead guilty to the third charge and had the fine taken down to $500.00 and court costs. We were still allowed to keep gardening and raising vegetables.
We will still fight to keep hens here for the homeowner's of North Bay.
I have invested considerable time energy and other funds to change the by law.
We would appreciate your assistance as we try and fight for everyone's FOOD SOVEIGNTRY and show them that you can make a change!
Even a small donation will help.
Thank you !!
Organizer
Brent Johnson
Organizer
North Bay, ON