City of bronson michigan will ban animals including pigeons

[chinbunny]

I was told it doesn't matter if you have racing pigeons or not. they can't tell the difference, and the city is still violating the law if they don't allow pigeons in town.

A homer is a racing pigeon. Yep you are still safe.

[Kailey lane]

oh that is great news to hear,thank you so much chinbunny,you've taken a huge weight off my shoulders

[JRNY]

In paper it says you own the house but you dont. Thats How I feel as a homeowner also. Make sure you pay your taxes that go up up every year. Or the town has to make a road through your house doesnt matter. But when you want something you could forget about it.

[Nictorious Ali]

So I had my town meeting today and they denied it on the ordinance that i need 3/4 of an acre lot to keep pigeons. Which is odd because I didn't know pigeons need that room to run. Oh well...looks like im gonna have to contact the american racing pigeon association and see whats up.

[Jay3]

Yes, they often make rules about how large a lot you must have. That way they can say, set back so far from the property line, so as not to be too close to your neighbor. With a smaller lot, you can't do that, so it cuts out a lot of people. I'm really sorry. Hope the association can help.

[Libis]

How did this all end up turning out for you guys?

I wonder what my town's ordinances are on pigeons (so far I haven't looked it up because I only have indoor ringneck doves and diamond doves.)

[KO Loft]

If you read the statute

433.19 Ordinance prohibiting keeping of racing pigeons.
Sec. 9.

A city, village, township, or county shall not enact an ordinance which prohibits the orderly keeping of racing pigeons.


Here is the word that gets you....ORDERLY...

The protection allows for keeping of birds but what attorneys hate is orderly ambiguity. All any township has to do is argue that they are enacting laws to not prohibit ownership of racing pigeons but rather attempting to keep them orderly. Thus you can keep your RACING pigeons but they can restrict loft size; bird population; loft location; could make you license birds; regular inspections at time of licensing much like proper vet papers for dogs; and the list goes on to infinity. If the township wants you to get rid of your birds they will do so by these reasons. If you have non racing pigeons they will attempt to qualify your birds as poultry much like chickens are classified.

The reason and method they will attempt to do this in another portion of the statute:


433.13 Loss of, or damage to, property by animal running at large; demand for compensation.
Sec. 3.

(1) A person who sustains any loss of, or damage to, property by an animal running at large may demand reasonable compensation from the owner of the animal as reparation for the loss or damage or as ordered by the court.

(2) The demand for compensation shall be in writing and shall include:

(a) A statement of when, where, what, and how much damage was done.

(b) The identity or description of the animal and, if known, the identity of the owner of the animal.

(c) The amount of compensation demanded.

(3) The demand for compensation shall be verified by the claimant and submitted to the law enforcement agency which has the animal in its custody or possession.

The petitioner will say that the animal is not in custody but was seen returning to the loft. Possible methods of getting this complaint in to city officials is pigeon feces left on houses near loft; feathers that people will claim is an irritant to their respiratory health; and the rodent problem. They will take video of rats going from their yard to underneath the loft. Livonia has this problem of rat population explosion. I went to visit an old timer years ago before went to law school, and I saw rat holes near his loft. He said they leave the birds alone but go after the corn. There goes orderly.

The key people is know the law and keep your fences with your neighbors in accord. An irritated neighbor is what will get you in trouble. Every time a house was sold near my grandfather he would panic because he was grandfathered in under the old laws of Nankin Township when the township became part of the City of Westland effective May 16, 1966. He would give them tours of the loft; train the birds never to land on others property; and maintain the loft an eradicate any rodents around loft.

This issue has come up recently regarding chickens, pigeons, dogs, and cats because of the show HOARDERS. The sad thing is it will keep appearing. We are blessed with a law in Michigan that protects racing pigeons but only for loft owners that are following the law. A disorderly loft will equal no loft!! Thus the law is the shield for some and a sword of death for others. It is not a gold ticket people so be careful.

Joseph F. Overaitis
Attorney
Pigeon Supporter

[doveone52]

Thanks for the input, KO Loft. Seems that the law can be a sticky wicket!

[Msfreebird]

How do you find these statutes? I've tried, and I can't find anything for Maine, or my town. And I'm usually pretty good at that

[KO Loft]

Go to your compiled laws for your state and search for pigeon. All the state statues should pop up. then go to your city website and search for the local ordinances. Again look for pigeons and all the applicable sections should pop up. If pigeon is defined as poultry for purposes of statute then you must search for all areas of the law that relate to poultry as a pigeon for legal purposes is now a chicken lol

[Msfreebird]

Originally Posted by KO Loft

Go to your compiled laws for your state and search for pigeon. All the state statues should pop up. then go to your city website and search for the local ordinances. Again look for pigeons and all the applicable sections should pop up. If pigeon is defined as poultry for purposes of statute then you must search for all areas of the law that relate to poultry as a pigeon for legal purposes is now a chicken lol

I did all that and nothing came up, except one state ordinance that it is illegal to use live birds (pigeons, ducks, etc) as live bait for dog training.
So if nothing comes up, does that mean there is NO ordinance or law?

[KO Loft]

no you might have a local that believes that pigeons are defined more as fowl or poultry. Detroit and Michigan had a great history of belgium and european breeders who raced and had an influence on the laws here. Never knew it but when my grandfather told people who he bought his birds from in belgium and europe we had guys offering 400 for birds and my grandfather never raced them. He just showed his birds pedigree. Michigan had a history of protecting pigeon racers. Other states do not but........


If there are no laws that say you can have pigeons there also may be no laws that say you can not. THe glass is either half full or half empty lol

[Msfreebird]

I'm really not too concerned about it. I'm Rural Residential. People down the street have horses and cows, someone has chickens because I've seen them by the road I don't know if their still there, but a house down behind me had a small duck pond with ducks, geese and a couple peacocks.
When I googled 'pigeons' in my town, the only thing I came up with was an obituary (dated 5 years ago). An oldtime racing loft keeper died (he was in his 90's).......the wake and funeral was held at his loft, and the pigeons were released during the service! He was like one of the towns 'forefathers'

[GEMcC5150]

Originally Posted by Msfreebird

I'm really not too concerned about it. I'm Rural Residential. People down the street have horses and cows, someone has chickens because I've seen them by the road I don't know if their still there, but a house down behind me had a small duck pond with ducks, geese and a couple peacocks.
When I googled 'pigeons' in my town, the only thing I came up with was an obituary (dated 5 years ago). An oldtime racing loft keeper died (he was in his 90's).......the wake and funeral was held at his loft, and the pigeons were released during the service! He was like one of the towns 'forefathers'

The release of his birds was a nice act to him and his love. Thing like this make my heart sing.

[monsoon]

If someone can find that link i'd love to have it. I did a search and couldn't find it. I live in the city of Monroe and want to start a loft with racers for some fun. Plus i kind of like sticking it to the man whenever i can.