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Family heartbroken, pleas to keep backyard ducks against city law

Dayton Daily News - 11/4/2019

Nov. 4--The Govoni family on East Sycamore Street in Miamisburg says it was caught off guard when a city official told them they either have to get rid of their pet ducks or they could face a citation.

It is Miamisburg's policy on backyard poultry that dictates the ducks must go.

The group of ducks are kept as pets in a little fenced-in area in the backyard, being fed, cared for and given medicine by the family. One of the ducks has a vitamin deficiency, said Arlee Govoni, owner of the ducks.

"I started crying at him, like 'what can I do?' ... I'm like 'what can I do?" Govoni said. ""It's heartbreaking to think to have to get rid of them them. ... I can't give them to a pond. This is what they know; they know we feed them, we take care of them."

City officials issued a statement in response to Govoni's plea to keep their family ducks.

"Some cities have chosen to allow them in normal residential districts under certain regulations and other cities have chosen not to allow them. At this time, Miamisburg has chosen to limit them to agricultural areas where such animals are more customarily found."

Govoni said she understands officials enforcing rules, but said the ducks are loved by her kids and people in the neighborhood.

"I understand ordinances, I understand city laws, but ... they're not harming anybody, they're not a nuisance, no one's complaining about them. It's not like we're raising them to slaughter them. We literally have them ... no different than our dogs or our cats or anything," Govoni said. The ducks even have served as sort of therapy animals for her son who has autism, Govoni said.

Backyard poultry is a controversial issue, with many cities outlawing the practice, including Miamisburg. Govoni said she had no idea her family was breaking the law.

For now, Govoni said she is in limbo as she asks for the city to give her time while she searches for a solution.

"I've raised them since ducklings," Govoni said. "We've had them since they were little yellow and brown chicks."

"This is an issue that cities across the region have had to address," said Chris Fine, Miamisburg development director. "Some cities have chosen to allow them in normal residential districts under certain regulations and other cities have chosen not to allow them. At this time, Miamisburg has chosen to limit them to agricultural areas where such animals are more customarily found. ... As of now, there are no planned changes to allow these animals in other zoning areas."

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