No Goats for Now

Scott Wardle has been very kind in helping me to understand the process and help me get the information I was proposing into the hands of the chairman, Dave McCall. Unfortunately, the goat issue won't be put on the agenda at this time. Most of the council agreed not to take it on.

It's really a bigger issue than just goats. Because if they legalize miniature goats, the concern is about what's next. The city has been approached by many people about making changes that would allow animals that are not currently legal to own. So in order to take on this issue, it will have to be examined in the big picture, considering other animals, how big they are, appropriate lot sizes, and so forth. The current chairman doesn't want to take this on.

However, I am not giving up. What now?

We continue to collect signatures on our petition. After the first of the year we will try again. We need as many signatures of Tooele City Residents as possible. I've found that most people are happy to sign my petition. I would say 99% say yes. Many of them would never own a miniature goat, but don't care if their neighbor does.

Anybody want to help collect signatures?

Submitted

After two or three years of research, the submission has been sent on to the City Council. They are looking at it and will hopefully decide to add this topic to the agenda.

Fingers crossed.

There are three magic moments I remember often.

• When we saw dolphins at a Monterey Bay beach and followed them up the shore. 
• Seeing fireflies for the first time in Kansas City.
• Walking into my backyard early one morning to check on Ms. Billy and finding these two precious babies with her.

The goat magic lasted for 21 days. Then they had to leave.

Then and Now

In my search for pictures to support my proposal I came across one of my yard the year we had the goat. I'm inspired by it now. I guess I forgot how good it looked with all those lovely tomatoes growing and the weeds being fed to the goat.

Then I found these pictures I took of the deer in the same yard this year. It's later in the year, but you will see why I'm inspired by the other picture. I wonder if my garden will ever look that good again. I sure miss the goats and chickens.

Goat Pictures

I'm finishing up the proposal for the city. In going through my pictures to find what would supplement the proposal well, I came across this picture and had to share.

We loved that baby goat for all 21 days. Isn't she cute?

Holiday Goat Giggle

Enjoy this bit of holiday joy with goats to make you smile.

Pumpkin Walk

Meet Lilly and Sweetie Pie. They spent the day with me at the Pumpkin Walk, drawing people into the booth. They were a hit. The kids loved them and the goats probably went home spoiled from all the attetion.

Thank you Liz and Steve for the effort you put into getting them there. And thank you Sara, for all you did to help.

One more thank you to all those who signed the petition. We got 155 signatures. A good start.

It was a great day. The lotion business suffered a little, but it was worth it to highlight the goats.

Petition

We need to work on three things.

The why, the who, and a petition.

After visiting with Councilman Wardle, I recognize that these three things are our hope for legalizing miniature goats in Tooele. (And I realized that keeping them miniature makes all the difference).

The why.

This legislation process has been a great education for me. I have realized that I must set emotion aside and focus on the facts. This issue is very emotional for me, so its been a great lesson. If we are ever going to convince the city to take this seriously, we will have to help them see "why" this matters. Our facts need to be solid.

The who.

What other cities in Utah allow miniature goats to be kept. I haven't found any. I was talking to somebody yesterday that said West Jordan allows them. However, finding cities comparable to our own, such as Cedar City, Spanish Fork, would be helpful. It gives them something to look at and see that somebody else in our state has done this. Do you know any?

A petition.
I started a petition three years ago and have many signatures. However, what I failed to do was collect people's addresses, showing that they are Tooele residents. This detail is important.

I happen to have a booth at the Pumpkin Walk at Benson Grist Mill this weekend and decided to put a petition out and start collecting signatures. Others have arranged to have a Nigerian Dwarf out for people to see. She and her baby will be hanging out in my booth today. If you are in the area, stop by and pet the goat. While you are there, we'd love to have your signature on the petition. Tell your friends to come by also.

Hope to see you there.