Free-roaming chickens are terrorizing Portugal Cove neighbourhood, says resident

A man in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's says he's upset with council inaction in dealing with roaming chickens, roosters and geese that he says are messing up his neighbourhood.  

Randy Lawlor lives on Knight's Rest, a cul-de-sac in the town, and says unpenned farm animals are roaming around his property and causing a nuisance. 

He said you can hear them inside the house with the windows closed. 

"They've had roosters that crow in the middle of the night. When they first got them they'd be coming around our yard at one, two in the morning," Lawlor said.

Over the years, things didn't get any better — even after he and his wife tried talking with the animals's owner, and complained to the town council.  

"The problem was they didn't put up any pens, they let the chickens roam free and they'd be down on our property, scratching up flowers beds," he said.

At one point he says there were as many as seven roosters. 

"My youngest child was six, she was a bit younger when that started. I know roosters can be saucy and I didn't know what they were going to do, if they'd be chasing after her. I just didn't want them in the yard. It's frustrating."

Town responds

The deputy mayor of Portugal Cove-St.Philip's, Gavin Will, says he appreciates where Lawlor is coming from, especially the animal feces on the road.

"Well it is pretty disgusting. You can see that the animals are defecating on the roadway. I can easily understand why he wouldn't be very happy with that ," said Will.  

Will says the town has been working on this complaint for a while and a $50 dollar ticket will soon be issued to the home owner under the provincial Animal Health and Protection Act. 

"People are not allowed to have farm animals on the loose, it simply isn't allowed in a residential area," said Will. 

Will says his town, like others, is working on developing regulations given the growing popularity of hobby animals ownership. 

"We're keeping a close eye on what CBS is doing.  So we're going to wait and see what they come up with and see whether we can can bring about regulations as well," said Will.

Too little, too late 

Randy Lawlor meanwhile says a $50 fine against the homeowner isn't enough. 

"It should be higher, they've  [the town] had numerous chances. I've contacted the town numerous times, they've known about this for years and they've had plenty of opportunity to give tickets before." 

Lawlor says his complaints to council over a long period warrants stiffer action.

"I think it's at the point where the animals should be removed," said Lawlor.