No one on the East Ridge City Council made a motion to grandfather Oreo, the family pet pygmy goat, into their city ordinance.
Jeffery Viar, owner of the family pet pygmy goat, went to the council meeting Thursday night hoping to hear good news, but that wasn't the case. Viar said, "I really don't know. I brought my kids here last time, stood them up in front of the council members. Council member Bethune said if they came up with a solution he would agree to it." However no one agreed to the proposed solution. Viar said, "He said what if they came up with a reason why we can't keep it grandfathered in, I'm all for it. You come here tonight, he shot it down. So he didn't lie to me, he lied to two young children."
City Attorney John Anderson drafted the ordinance and presented it to the council. Anderson said, "In our culture the definition of companion animals has changed, and pygmy goats and pot belly pigs have made it not only in our lexicon, but also into our homes as companion animals." Council member Denny Manning stated that the owners are renting and he disagrees with the idea. Manning said, "I have went through the book. And I know the lawyer says it's a pet. The book plainly says it is a farm animal."
The family goat has been part of the childrens lives now for two years. Viar doesn't know exactly how to tell his family. Viar said, "Well I'll have to go home and explain to them that they can't keep their family pet. And we will just have to go from there. Like he said, I rent my house and I can obviously move."
