Given the current economic crisis and the high cost of living, we thought having organic eggs would be a good idea for our family and neighbors since we value self-sustainability and neighborhood cooperation. Soon we realized that our local government had the time and the money to spend on prosecuting citizens like us by sending letters without giving them the right to appeal and sending inspectors to our property. Backyard chickens have numerous benefits that could benefit our community as listed below,

1. Backyard chickens provide a better alternative to the excessive environmental impact of factory farming.
2. Backyard chickens are pets since they provide companionship to their owners and are able to recognize faces and come when called.
3. They provide an organic and healthy source of food.
4. They are great as pest control for gardens
5. Decrease the use of harmful herbicides since they eat unwanted weeds.
6. They make less noise than the cars that pass by or dogs, so they cannot be a noise problem.

We believe that politicians who get paid a high salary from our taxes should have the dignity to review the laws and change them in favor of the people who vote for them. The laws in Fort mill are contradictory, on one hand, they have laws against animal cruelty stated in sec 4.2 of the code of ordinances and they declare themselves as a bird sanctuary, and on the other hand, they prohibit having chickens sec 4.4, and order their removal. Isn't this "removal" cruel to the hens that have lived with us since they were chicks and live happily and free in our backyard? What i am supposed to do with my hens when they tell me to "get rid of them"? What are they implying with this ordinance? Slaughter of animals? Abandonment? This situation is very hurtful and our family and the many others that have been affected by this.

With this petition, we want to change the Fort Mill ordinance sec. 4-4 since surrounding cities like Tega Cay, Clover, Charlotte, and Rock Hill allow the ownership of backyard chickens. We ask the help of anyone who is reading this to sign this petition to end this ordinance. Thank you!