Teh One Who Knocks
08-12-2013, 11:13 AM
By Pamela Lehman, Of The Morning Call
http://i.imgur.com/G7HrkUL.jpg
Armstrong Millien has three pet chickens that Bethlehem police say are "prohibited fowl."
No problem, Millien told police. He plans to eat the chickens this weekend.
Millien, 43, lives in the 1900 block of Renwick Street. He was cited Thursday by police for violating the city ban on prohibited fowl.
Millien told police they soon won't hear a peep from the flock because "he intends to eat his three pet chickens this weekend," according to the police news release.
Bethlehem police animal control officer Benjamin Hackett said Friday his department was contacted by a "confidential informant" because the person could hear a rooster crowing at 5 a.m. in Millien's backyard.
The rooster and two other chickens were free range and roamed Millien's backyard, Hackett said. Millien told police he kept the animals as pets and also has four doves in cages.
The seven animals put Millien over the city's limit of six animals per household but, since he planned to get rid of the fowl, there wasn't an issue, Hackett said.
He said as long as Millien kept the dove cages clean, Millien was allowed to keep them.
Bethlehem officials approved the fowl ban in 2006 after concerns about chickens and roosters spreading diseases such as salmonella and West Nile virus.
Hackett said there have been no other animal-related issues at the home in a residential neighborhood near Stefko Boulevard.
Millien couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
http://i.imgur.com/G7HrkUL.jpg
Armstrong Millien has three pet chickens that Bethlehem police say are "prohibited fowl."
No problem, Millien told police. He plans to eat the chickens this weekend.
Millien, 43, lives in the 1900 block of Renwick Street. He was cited Thursday by police for violating the city ban on prohibited fowl.
Millien told police they soon won't hear a peep from the flock because "he intends to eat his three pet chickens this weekend," according to the police news release.
Bethlehem police animal control officer Benjamin Hackett said Friday his department was contacted by a "confidential informant" because the person could hear a rooster crowing at 5 a.m. in Millien's backyard.
The rooster and two other chickens were free range and roamed Millien's backyard, Hackett said. Millien told police he kept the animals as pets and also has four doves in cages.
The seven animals put Millien over the city's limit of six animals per household but, since he planned to get rid of the fowl, there wasn't an issue, Hackett said.
He said as long as Millien kept the dove cages clean, Millien was allowed to keep them.
Bethlehem officials approved the fowl ban in 2006 after concerns about chickens and roosters spreading diseases such as salmonella and West Nile virus.
Hackett said there have been no other animal-related issues at the home in a residential neighborhood near Stefko Boulevard.
Millien couldn't be reached for comment Friday.