Copperas Cove residents seek to change ordinance regarding certain livestock in city limits

By PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press

Several Copperas Cove residents are seeking to change Copperas Cove ordinances to allow citizens ownership of more kinds of livestock. 

Current city ordinances prohibit roosters but allow residents to have up to 10 hens. No other livestock is currently allowed within Copperas Cove city limits. The Texas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, section 36, gives citizens the right to engage in agricultural practices, including raising livestock

In her efforts to help initiate a change in the city’s ordinances, Copperas Cove resident Elena L. has organized a group which meets at the 1st Edition Book Store at 4 p.m. on Thursdays. The bookstore is located at 101 W. Avenue D.

Elena and other members of the group declined to share their full names due to worries about retaliation. The group plans to continue to meet on Thursdays leading up to the city’s Town Hall meeting in March wherein they will be given the opportunity to speak their case

“It’s up to the people to have their voices heard. It’s up to the people to say we’re not okay with it,” said Elena. “That’s the only way we can implement change.”

The Thursday meetings are open to the public and seek to allow residents the ability to talk about the issues and learn more about why residents should or should not be allowed to raise livestock and what, if any, rules should be in place.

Elena said that she raises livestock to help with some of her dietary issues.

“I can’t eat chicken. I can’t eat turkey. I can’t eat dairy, but if it’s fresh from either the cow or the goat, then I can have it,” said Elena. She also can eat rabbit stew.

She said that there are others in her position who cannot eat food with preservatives, additives, etc., that are in many store-bought foods. Raising one’s own animals or growing one’s own food also guarantees a food source should an emergency situation arise, or food sources become scarcer/more expensive. Elena said that it’s important to her to be able to provide for herself and for her family.

One woman who wished to remain anonymous stated that she feels that much of the food we eat has “poisons” in them, so she feels that growing one’s own food is a significantly healthier option.

Even smaller livestock can provide people with a variety of food options including eggs from ducks, chickens, geese; milk from miniature goats; and meat from animals such as rabbits and chickens. 

Elena says that all of her animals are contained, and she said that this is true of everyone else she knows that raises livestock.

“Animal Control needs to be concerned with animals that are on the streets, not animals that are controlled,” said Elena. “It’s common courtesy not to have roosters, but I’d rather hear a rooster a couple times in the morning than listen to dogs barking for hours at a time.”

One of the concerns against owning livestock is that it might exacerbate the city’s already bad rodent problem, but members of the group said that goats actually help prevent rats by eating overgrowth and chickens will actually kill rats and mice.

1st Edition Book Store owner, Mario Vasquez, allows the group to use his store to meet. 

“I’m not part of their group, but I understand them,” said Vasquez. Vasquez said that he has a friend who moved to America from Romania because of our country’s freedoms. She eventually was able to build herself a farm only for her area to be rezoned. The city then forced her to get rid of all of her animals.

“Education is needed on both sides,” said Vasquez. He said that while it’s important to understand city rules and why they exist, those in opposition should also learn about why others feel it’s important to own livestock and to understand that there is no harm in raising livestock so long as basic courtesy rules are followed.

Those interested in learning more are welcome to join in on future meetings, Thursday’s at 4 p.m. at 1st Edition Book Store or to join the City Hall meeting in March.