Dehorn, microchip, neuter: What it may take to keep a miniature goat in a KC area city
Raytown might be close to making a decision on whether or not homeowners would be allowed to keep miniature goats within city limits.
The city’s planning and zoning commission will take up the issue when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at Raytown City Hall, 10000 E. 59th St.
The meeting’s agenda indicates that the commission will make a decision to “Approve, Conditionally Approve or Deny” the application to change the city’s municipal code. The commission’s decision would then go to the board of aldermen. Currently, the city’s ordinance doesn’t allow goats, although it allows horses, chickens and potbellied pigs.
Nathan and Rachel Bergen asked city leaders in April to make the change, saying that they wanted to have the goats for enjoyment as pets and also for milk to make cheese.
As a result, city leaders directed city staff in May to prepare possible changes to the city’s municipal code. The planning and zoning committee held a public meeting asking the public for comments on a draft outline of amendments in early July.
People at the meeting spoke in favor of dehorning of the goats for their safety and microchipping the animals in case they get loose. One person urged that the ordinance to allow fencing materials other than wood and vinyl, according to the minutes of the meeting.
Under the proposed amendments, homeowners would have to have enough space for the goats to roam. The proposed ordinance allows two goats per acre, up to a maximum of four goats. The goats cannot exceed 29 inches in height measured at the shoulder of the animal and all goats over seven months old must be neutered.
There are other requirements, including those that address fencing and permitted breeds.
Nathan Bergen, who spoke at the meeting, said they live on almost two acres at the edge of town and because his property had enough setbacks for horses, he thought it was reasonable to have small miniature goats in that same space.
He supported the proposed amendments with a few adjustments including requiring that goats do not have horns and making it clear that it is male goats that need to be neutered because they smell when they rut.
He also wanted the commission to reconsider the fencing requirements being proposed, saying that a completely solid privacy fence or concrete wall would be cost prohibitive.
“The cost would be more than twice what it would cost to make a very good goat fence that is more than adequate to all standards and recommendations for goat keeping,” Bergen said.
Alderman Greg Walters, who represents Ward 1, said he was in favor of the amendments, saying it was a good way to attract young professionals to the city.
“This is a unique thing for Raytown,” Walters said. “We were one of the suburbs and because of that we have very large tracts of land with houses on them . . . . There’s room to attract people here and I think its an attraction that is overlooked in Raytown frequently that we could use for the betterment of our community.”
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Van Buskirk, who represents Ward 4, spoke out against the change, saying she has received two calls from constituents — one wanting to be allowed to raise a steer and the other who wanted a miniature donkey.
“We got a zoo for people to go to, to take their kids to, to look at animals,” she said. “We don’t need to turn our city into a zoo.”
