INNISFAIL - It has been a long five months for Lisa Reid.
The devoted pet chicken owner has been front and centre of the local fowl controversy since last May when she and her four chickens were busted by a peace officer. She was told the town's bylaw prohibits pet chickens.
Reid chose to present her case to council in May, and while she has been allowed to keep her chickens until the issue is resolved, she wants the entire affair to come to an end.
"It is frustrating that I have waited this long and now they are going another month," said Reid, noting the 7.45 per cent survey response rate for urban chickens was higher than the one for legalized cannabis, which finished with 4.27 per cent.
"We had more people responding to chickens than marijuana."
Reid and local urban chicken owner Linda Braun both attended the Oct. 22 town council meeting when the results of the month-long stakeholder feedback survey were officially presented.
"They were really positive results. I am very encouraged about it," said Braun, who houses her pet chickens outside of town. "What gets me is that the big cities allow chickens and a little place like ours says no. There is no sense in that."
However, Innisfail senior Lloyd Moravec, who was also at council, is vehemently against urban chickens for the town. He also questioned why Reid should be allowed to keep her chickens when the current bylaw outlaws them in town.
"Unless you're very fastidious about looking after a coop you do get smell," said Moravec, who complained to council about Reid being able to harbour pet chickens despite it contravening the local bylaw. He added the non-binding survey results are not an accurate measure to judge public opinion and that the issue should go to a legally binding referendum in the next municipal election.
"And you do get noise sometimes as well," he said. "They haven't said there will be no roosters. They have said that will probably be the plan but nothing definitive has been said. There are too many unknown factors."
However, Reid and other urban chicken lovers have repeatedly claimed that properly cared for urban chickens are quiet, clean and their municipally regulated residential quarters are aesthetically pleasing.
"Mine is so beautiful. It is not an eyesore," said Reid.
In the meantime, Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer, said the town is aware Reid continues to maintain her chickens in town.
"The bylaw is applied but in this case we are going to wait until council gives us formal direction, until they formally address any bylaw infractions," said Becker.
