LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Hens squawking since early 1990s
by MELANIE E. CALDWELL, Rome
Oct 23, 2012 | 1103 views | 1 1 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
SURELY I’M NOT the only one to remember that in the early 1990s a beloved city commissioner, who lived across the street from an important city employee (both unnamed), was keeping his son’s Malamute dog, who ate a chicken belonging to the across the street neighbor.

It was never clear to me as to why the beloved city commissioner had to go to court over this issue, when it was against city rules for anyone to have a flock of chickens in the city in the first place. After all, the dog didn’t eat the entire flock...just one. Apparently, there were some flaws in the rule made by city officials “to keep farm animals out of the city in order to promote health, safety, peace and tranquility” as stated in a recent letter to the editor.

Draw your own conclusions, but I will welcome any explanations for this situation that happened so long ago.

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Casey1991
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October 23, 2012
Mrs. Caldwell – on behalf of the owner of Alaskan Malamute – she was a very good dog that simply could not resist temptation. Yet, both animal and human seem to suffer from – poor choice. As it was a poor choice for this to ever go to court and even poorer a choice to allow emotion to prevail over common sense. The commissioner you referenced was more than beloved – he was adored by his children and those who claimed his friendship. He would find great pleasure in knowing that this “error in judgment” was referenced long after the act. History has proven to take time, but always strives to be known. Regardless, the owners of the chicken did have their day in court, and it proved that the great American experiment does work. You can take someone to court over a damn chicken. People will say and do whatever they feel because they think they can, not because they are right. Again, this Commissioner lived as we should all strive to live and act as if we are always being seen by those we wish to influence. The city employee was redeemed later by actions that were magnanimous – thus demonstrating that the influence of doing right was far more attractive and appealing than the influence of simple gratification. Justice is tricky and as Mark Twain said: "None but the dead are permitted to speak truth."

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