A Montgomery County man is trying to figure out how to keep his beloved pets on his property.
Officials in Franconia Township said that Ken Schumann is in violation of a livestock ordinance, but he says the animals are not livestock because they are family.
Now, he has taken to the internet and the courts to fight back.
The two goats, Tommy and Bam Bam, have been living at Schumann’s home for more than a decade and they’re both pretty spoiled.
“They follow us on the property. They come to you when you call. So, I just fell in love them,” Schumann said.
The problem is that Franconia Township has a livestock ordinance and it requires the property to be three acres or more. Schumann’s land is about a third of an acre.
And, well, goats are prone to roaming.
After a complaint surfaced, Schumann built a fence but the township told NBC10 that the violations can’t be ignored.
Schumann has gained a lot of support with an online petition getting more than 1,000 signatures as of Wednesday, Oct. 15.
“My wife and I have no children so they’re our extended family. They’re our kids,” Schumann explained.
But, a judge ruled in the township’s favor saying that the goats have to go.
Schumann says that he is planning to file an appeal with the zoning board at the expense of $1,800, but the Tommy and Bam Bam are too priceless to part with.