Hi Scott,

My animal rights group received the following e-mail and I thought I'd share it with you since you have a broader base of members. Any suggestions?

-Julie

Hello,

I have attached a story that I came across in my local paper. Although I am not personally involved with either party in this case I think it is horrible that if Armada Township has it's way they will destroy this hurd of llamas. Please e-mail me back and let me know if there is anything that can be done to stop the Township. Thanks.

Julie Schoenherr

schoenherr@ees.eesc.com 

Llamas become beasts of burden

Armada Township takes legal means to pare couple's herd.

PUBLISHED: July 31, 2004

By Chad Halcom

Macomb Daily Staff Writer

*Macomb Daily staff photo by David Dalton*

Raymond and Susan Marah have maintained at least 20 llamas on their Armada Township property. Officials say any more than five is too many.

A political dispute and legal battle is mounting over llamas.

Yes, llamas.

Armada Township officials are asking Macomb County's top jurist for a court order moving or disposing of most of a small herd of llamas belonging to a retired couple on residential farming property.

The lawsuit, brought this week against Raymond and Susan Marah, is the culmination of a dispute with township officials over an alleged violation of a zoning ordinance for livestock. The Marahs have maintained as many as 20 animals on their six acres. Officials refuse to allow more than five.

"It doesn't say any of that in the ordinance, and they didn't tell us any of that prior to when we got them," Susan Marah said. "But they graze on our property and they are part of the (camel) family, so they don't require water often like other animals, and we feed them a special mix. They aren't bothering people."

Township officials brought a civil lawsuit this week before Macomb County Chief Circuit Judge Peter J. Maceroni. A hearing is scheduled Aug. 30 to decide on issuing a court order to remove the llamas.

"(The) waste from 20 llamas has emitted foul odors into the surrounding neighborhood. The number of flies that are attracted by 20 llamas in an area close to a residential neighborhood is a sanitation concern ... ," the lawsuit states. "The Marahs' blatant violation of the Armada Township Zoning Ordinance constitutes a nuisance."

Township Clerk Gail Hicks said the board has taken complaints from one or more neighbors about noise or property damage. The basic concern of the board is the number of animals. The Marahs and the township differ on whether the llamas are legally pets or livestock.

"Even if a llama is considered a pet, which they are not, they would still be regulated by the township ordinances," Hicks said. "The owners initially did make efforts to sell off some of them, but they aren't having a lot of success at that."

The livestock ordinance sets limits on the number of animals a landowner can keep on any property according to size. For an area the size of the Marahs' land, the township argues, that means no more than five llamas.

The Marahs have kept llamas as a retirement pastime since 1998, but do not live on the property. Officials said neighbors have complained that the llamas trample or destroy fences and foliage. Mrs. Marah said the dispute is fueled by one angry neighbor.

Records indicate the township has been trying since 2002 to get the Marahs to take action, and a zoning code enforcement officer has issued at least one citation about the llamas. Hicks said the problem seems to be growing because the llamas are reproducing.

Mrs. Marah said she fears the township's action could lead to destroying the animals.

At the hearing, the township will ask Maceroni to order the removal of the excess llamas, and to authorize the township to get rid of them if the Marahs won't do so.

Shelby Township filed a similar lawsuit against Martin and Vikki Papesh, owners of land in the northwestern part of the township along Dequindre Road who maintain a chicken and turkey coop.

Shelby officials maintain the coop doesn't comply with accepted farm practices and that the waste from the fowl there could be a sanitary concern. The township is asking for a court order finding the Papeshes in violation.

The Papeshes could not be reached for comment and a relative declined to comment.