Will a goat “mah-ah-ah-ahke” a change in Holmes Beach?
Holmes Beach officials have been working to create a permitting process for housing emotional support animals, including a goat already residing in the city. City commissioners reached consensus Jan. 11 to postpone discussion on a proposed ordinance and directed city attorney Erica Augello to revise the document.
Roger Danziger, a resident of Key Royale, brought the issue to the commission in October 2021, when he requested a special exemption for his wife’s emotional support animal, a Nigerian dwarf goat.
Emotional support animals are pets that provide companionship and therapeutic benefits to people who may suffer from a psychological disorder.
Danziger, an allergist, said the goat helps his wife, Debbie, deal with depression and anxiety since she became physically disabled in 2018.
However, someone complained to the city about the goat, leading city staff to notify Danziger that city code prohibits keeping livestock other than chickens.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said Danziger collected enough petition signatures to keep the goat but the proposed ordinance would set a precedent.
The measure would require that residents obtain a city permit to keep emotional support animals at their property.
Application permits would go before the city commission for consideration. Permits would allow people to keep emotional support animals for a year with “reasonable conditions” including fencing, odor and noise control, sanitation standards, as well as various other regulations.
A renewal request would be handled by the mayor and city staff.
Augello offered several suggestions for the ordinance, such as creating definitions for service animals, which are recognized under the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act whereas support animals are not.
She also recommended revisions to address ESAs in public spaces, such as the beach, since they are not trained at the same level as service animals.
Lastly, Augello cautioned that the city would take on liability by permitting ESAs as complainants could sue the city.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer suggested Augello revise the ordinance to implement her recommendations, delaying the issue until the commission’s next meeting.
“We need to take a step back,” Commissioner Pat Morton agreed.
Titsworth asked commissioners to direct their ideas and concerns for the ordinance to her.
The commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. The meeting will be open to the public with masks recommended. Directions to attend via Zoom can be found online at holmesbeachfl.org.