(Photo: Submitted by Bill Steele)
A battle continues to brew in the Village of Dorchester over three goats, who are living in an enclosure next to the former Dorchester Jail.
Owner Bill Steele says he was served with a lawsuit this week from the Village of Dorchester, “they’re accusing me of running a farm and having farm animals. I am not running a farm and I don’t have farm animals. I have a house and these are my companion goats now.”
This dispute started back in June last year after the Village sent a letter to Steele informing him that his goats and his five chickens would have to be removed because the zoning by-law only permits pets including cats, dogs, birds and rabbits.
“I never expected this at all. A village of 400 people taking me to court to remove my three goats in the middle of eight acres. We are in the middle of nowhere,” Steele says.
Steele refused to comply. After being served this week, he has taken to social media asking for support so he can keep his goats.
He’ll appear in court on May 6th, and he says he’ll be representing himself.
“I have to make a court appearance. They are asking for cost and an order to remove the goats. What are they going to do, put me in jail? I live in a jail,” Steele says.
Steele purchases the old jail almost two years ago. He has since turned it into a Bed and Breakfast.
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