Planning commission tells woman her three pet goats must go
By Avi Rutschman avi@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Planning Commission played the role of the troll earlier this week when it denied Ethyl Wortman a conditional use permit that would have allowed her to keep three dwarf goats as pets.

"We're upset, but I expected this from day one. I don't feel we were treated fairly by the planning department," said Wortman, who has resided in Simi Valley for 12 years.

The issue was brought to the attention of the panel after Wortman's neighbor, Mike Fagan, complained about smells and noise emanating from the goats. Fagan also expressed concern that the goats could spread disease.

"I'm a homeowner and I want to protect the value of my property. There's a place for these animals. You buy a house in a residential area, you don't expect to have farm animals next door," Fagan said.

According to the city's zoning codes, people who reside in a residentially zoned area can keep a combination of no more than four dogs, cats or Vietnamese pot belly pigs as pets.

Wortman's goats are a cross breed of dwarf Nigerian and Nubian. The eldest is 2, and the other two goats, which she received as a Mother's Day present from her children, are 1 year old.

According to Wortman, the goats' rare breed should have been enough to set them apart from farm animals, but Fagan said he was skeptical about the goats' origin.

"There's no proof of the rarity of these goats or their breed. We have no idea where they came from," Fagan said.

The goats are no taller than 25 inches and weigh no more than 53 pounds. Their diets consist of hay, fruits and vegetables, and their feces were compared to rabbit pellets.

"These animals are clean and they don't smell," Wortman said. "The droppings of a neutered male goat are odorless and smaller than dog droppings."

According to Wortman, the goats are regularly vaccinated, eliminating any threat of disease.

"If you don't take care of animals, diseases can be transferred, but the same thing happens with dogs," Wortman said.

While Fagen was adamant that the goats were a nuisance, a number of other neighbors on the street supported Wortman's decision to keep goats as pets.

"Most of the neighbors didn't know the goats existed until a letter went to the city council," said Laura Hicks, who resides across the street from Wortman. "The lots we live on are over 9,000 square feet, and the goats are no larger than any dog on the block."

Joe Schmidt, a Simi Valley resident and certified Haz-Mat and EMT specialist, testified to the Planning Commission that the goats did not present a health threat.

"I don't see any problem. I don't see an issue with smell or cleanliness, and I don't see how this would be any different from owning three dogs. I feel this is a frivolous complaint and that the goats are not a hazard," Schmidt said.

In addition, a few neighbors also expressed concern with setting a precedent that would allow for other "exotic" animals to be kept as pets.

"We've gotten along very well without any goats, and I'm opposed because it opens a floodgate for any miniature animal to come in," said Harry Shaw, a resident of 42 years.

Even though Wortman says she has a Plan B to keep the goats, her children expressed dismay at the thought of not just losing a pet, but a friend.

"They're not just pets to me, they're really good friends. If I need to talk to somebody, I can talk to them and tell that they're listening," said Felicia Daily, Wortman's daughter.

Wortman was given 14 days to file an appeal.