A Mattawa woman has started a petition, afraid the town is about to ban all exotic animals, livestock animals, and poultry from within town limits.
Chanelle Davidson has been raising laying hens for a year and a half and she says the council is passing a by-law "quietly without public input or discussion."
Davidson's petition is to allow her to keep the chickens. (See the petition in our photo gallery)
"I am attending the meeting in hopes of changing council's minds. I have much public support as well as support from council members from neighbouring municipalities," she told BayToday.
She also raises meat rabbits.
'I believe in sustainable living and knowing where your meat comes from. My chickens provide me with fresh eggs that are hormone free," she explains.
It's the first item on the Town of Mattawa agenda for tonight's meeting.
"Complaints from town and area residents concerning exotic animals have been received by all municipal departments. More specifically, these concerns are about an individual walking around town and attending local businesses with a very large snake in his possession," says Councillor Garry Larose.
"It's been raised because there is an individual in downtown Mattawa with a huge snake wrapped around his neck," CAO Raymond Belanger confirmed to BayToday.
"People are afraid and we're inundated with phone calls. We have businesses that are complaining and there's nothing we can do because we don't have a bylaw to prohibit it."
Mayor and Council have already shown its support towards the development of a by-law which would regulate animals within the boundaries of the Town of Mattawa. It could be passed with three readings tonight.
"From what I'm hearing there's going to be a bit of a delegation and people bringing their concerns forward which is great, council welcomes that," added Belanger. "But we had to start somewhere."
The council meeting is tonight at 7 p.m.
