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Resident asks Keizer to reconsider rule excluding dwarf goats as emotional‑support animals; council refers code review to Planning Commission
Summary
A Keizer resident requested the city amend its ordinance that treats dwarf goats as livestock and excludes them from emotional‑support animal consideration; council agreed to refer the issue to the Planning Commission for a code recommendation, with the option to broaden the review if needed.
During public comment May 18, Keizer resident Monica Njoroge asked the council to examine whether the city ordinance should continue to automatically exclude dwarf goats from emotional‑support animal consideration. Njoroge described Nigerian dwarf goats as small, often kept on fenced quarter‑acre lots, low‑noise, and used increasingly for therapy and emotional‑wellness programs; she said she holds medical documentation for her goats.
Council members thanked Njoroge for her research and directed staff to refer the draft code amendment specifically about goats and emotional‑support status to the Planning Commission for a recommendation. The mayor noted an example — Willamette Lutheran Homes — where goats are kept for therapeutic benefit. Council suggested staff return a Planning Commission recommendation that could include fencing, sanitation and limits on numbers if the commission determines changes are appropriate.
There was no vote on a specific code change at the meeting; the action taken was referral to the Planning Commission so that the commission can analyze zoning, health and sanitation standards and propose draft code language back to council.
