Ypsilanti Township family fights to keep pet rooster
An Ypsilanti Township family is fighting to keep its pet rooster, Waffle, after township officials appealed a magistrate's decision that ruled in the family's favor, WXYZ reported.
Kendra Wiedbusch told WXYZ that having the 2-year-old rooster is like "having another dog."
A magistrate agreed with the Wiedbusch family, allowing them to keep Waffle but township officials are appealing the decision after an ordinance officer cited the family with a civil infraction because families who live on less than five acres cannot have farm animals.
Neighbor Chris Cascone filed a complaint with the township.
"It makes noise, it’s loud, it’s any time during the day," Cascone told WXYZ. "I always thought roosters were supposed to crow when the sun came up, but this thing will crow at noon, three o’clock in the afternoon."
Katrease Stafford covers the city of Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2548 or KatreaseStafford@annarbor.com. You can also follow her on Twitter.
Comments
Ariana Manuel
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 6:26 p.m.
There are people out there with nuance animals in that neighborhood. Hell, in that neighborhood there are nuance people. So if you are going to get rid of the rooster, get rid of the stupid "gangsta's" Come on people! What is wrong with you??? Poor Rooster get no love.
snapshot
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 2:45 a.m.
So "Magistrates" aren't obligated to "uphold" the law but belong to the "priviledged" few that get to "make" the law? Sounds like this Magistrate went "rogue" and needs to be removed. Kendra Weidbusch is just downright "rude" in keeping a rooster contrary to law. Neighbors ought to get a loud siren and blow it whenever the rooster crows. And by the way, the reason it's crowing all the time is because it's horny. He needs a hen.
russellr
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
We live in the country and the neighbor has a rooster. I thought they only crowed in the morning. This stupid rooster crows all day long every day. I'm not for killing it because it's only doing what it was born to do, I just don't get why people want to torment the neighborhood.
recovering bureacrat
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
I understood that in order to keep chickens in ypsi township that you had to have permission from your immediate neighbors. Has the township ordinance officer checked to see if the Weidbushes have a valid consent agreement with them. Sounds like the township is going about this in the lease effective way, if the people don't have permission from the neighbors....case over. Waffle gone.
ReluctantEarthMother
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Unfortunetly, the story as it was reported was not accurate. There was one complaint by Mr. Chris Cascone, not numerous complaints by other neighbors. It is unfortunate that this gentleman cannot find a civil way to resolve this issue. Has he approached the family with his "noise concerns"? The Statute regarding having "farm animals" would not apply because the rooster is not being raised for or used as livestock. He is a well cared for family pet that is not as noisy as Mr. Cascone has alleged. I support the Wiedbusch family and waffle.
christine
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
Well you are sadly mistaken there were 5 complaints and a lot of other neighbors that wanted to, but out of respect for Mr. Croff, they never complained.
salinemom2712
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 2:26 a.m.
So by your reasoning your neighbor could have pigs, a great smell in the summer, as long as they considered them to be pets and weren't planning to butcher them eventually? You might want to re-think that one.
Barzoom
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
Too bad it's not a pit bull. Then there would be no problem.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:17 p.m.
Normally pit bulls aren't the problem. I have a pit and everyone of my neighbors love her. Even the neighbors that don't have dogs keep a supply of dog treats for her. I must be pretty lucky, I've lived in the same house for 15 years and NEVER had a neighbor problem.
ThaKillaBee
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 2:26 a.m.
Ypsi Township is supposed to be considering a chicken ordinance... I haven't seen or heard of anything in a while, though, and roosters would definitely not be allowed. That's common sense.
arborani
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
For the record, we saw the actual "Waffle" on the 5:00 pm news; he is all white and fluffy. The rooster pictured here is a shameless impostor - or a stock photo.
Billy
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
"It makes noise, it's loud, it's any time during the day," Cascone told WXYZ. "I always thought roosters were supposed to crow when the sun came up, but this thing will crow at noon, three o'clock in the afternoon." That's a rooster for ya....sometimes they wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and they make sure EVERYONE knows it. Also...having a rooster in a dense residential area...without consulting your neighbors first...is beyond rude and inconsiderate.
Tom Todd
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
welcome to rude and inconsiderate oops I meant ypsi.
Jay Thomas
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
Sell the rooster to me. I will dispose of him with some garlic and onions.;)
Turd Ferguson
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.
Might have to find a few racoons to let loose in that backyard.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:12 p.m.
Your name fits.
Candy
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:36 a.m.
I live in Ypsi Township (and HATE it, and hope to move in the near future!), and I would definitely welcome Waffle as a neighbor as opposed to the noisy, party-all-night thugs that live next door to me! At least Waffle only makes noise in the mornings and afternoons! Wishing the best of luck to the Wiedbusch family! Their whining, complaining neighbor should have to live next door to MY neighbors. I'll take a rooster anytime over THUGS and DRUGS!
christine
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
I live next to waffle and you are sadly mistaken, waffle doesn't shut up all day long. I also live next to a loud motorcycle, car, and drugs! So until you have lived where I live, you have no clue.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
Sorry to hear that Candy, nothing worse then bad a neighbor. Chickens, and dogs don't know any better, but people should.
Candy
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
Yes, Chaz, I do live in a bad part of the Township, but it wasn't bad when I first moved here. I should probably have been more clear about that. I agree that there ARE good parts of Ypsi Twp., but where I live, of course, I'll take that rooster as a neighbor!
Chaz H
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:45 a.m.
You must live in a bad area of the TWP. Ypsi Township has many nice neighborhoods with home built in the last 10 years, mostly south of Ford Lake. I LOVE living in Ypsi Township, despite the fact that I could hear a rooster in the distance on Saturday morning.
xmo
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
I just love the sound of Roosters in the Morning! This is Ypsilanti Township! We should be able to do what we please in this affordable housing area!
Tom Todd
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
seeing as there is no police presence I'd say people do as they choose with no regard to there neighbors at all.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
do you also "love th smell of napalm in the morning"? ( like robert duvall in 'apocalypse now'??) i'm an urban chicken fan too...but roosters in a heavily populated area, not so much...per virtually all urban chicken ordinances that exist.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : midnight
mmmm....finger lickin' good...
cinnabar7071
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 9:14 p.m.
Too bad it makes noise, I live in the township and have 3 people close to me that raise chickens and I haven't bought eggs in years. I'm sure glad the folks around me can stand a little barking from my dog, as I'd hate to get rid of her. How loud can a rooster be anyways?
christine
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:25 a.m.
A rooster can be heard up to 21 acres away.
a2citizen
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 1:23 a.m.
Laura: maybe
Laura Jones
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
@a2citizen: You are kidding, right?
Ann English
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 10:55 p.m.
YpsiLivin, You're saying the difference is 15 decibels between a barking dog and crowing rooster. The neighbor should be glad that there's no rooster for this one to respond to, if roosters answer to each other. Dogs do answer one another with barks. Roosters don't lay eggs.
a2citizen
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
How many eggs can a rooster lay in one day?
YpsiLivin
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
Barking dog: 75 dB Crowing rooster: 90 dB Either way, I'm pretty sure this family's neighbors aren't enjoying any free eggs from this particular bird...
stevek
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
Surprised to hear that this is occurring in Ypsi Twp. Maybe the pitbulls will get the rooster.