For two decades, a flock of 50 sheep has gone virtually unnoticed in southeast Edmonton. They lived together on 3.5 acres of land, grazed on neighbours’ yards to keep grass short, and every now and then a renegade would escape.
Fortunately, owner David Koch was there to herd them back, wooing the wayward sheep with calls of “Come here, baby!”
But after a recent crackdown from the city, Koch may lose his secret flock all at once.
The urban farmer faces a fine of $500 per sheep, or $25,000, after a bylaw officer visited his property at Anthony Henday Drive and 66 Street. The city does not permit livestock – any animal over 10 kilograms -- to be kept on residential property.
“It’s obviously not good for me and not good for the neighbours,” Koch told CTV Edmonton’s Kim Taylor, insisting that neighbours rely on the sheep for lawn maintenance.
Koch now faces a tough decision: sell the flock, give them away or move out of Edmonton. He could also apply to have his property rezoned to allow the livestock to stay. He hasn’t yet made a decision.
The city says it plans to work with Koch to find a solution.
“We’ve been dealing with this particular property for a number of years but mostly for some stray livestock that have gotten out,” said Keith Scott, the city’s animal control co-ordinator.
While keeping sheep is against city regulations, Edmonton allows residents to keep other creatures, including bees. A pilot project involving hens is currently underway, and city council is expected to analyze the results and make a decision about urban chicken coops this fall.
Koch insists that neighbours enjoy having the sheep around, and that no one has complained to him about the flock. In fact, a few have built makeshift paddocks on their properties so the sheep can graze freely.
“I had one neighbour fence an area [that] he wants the sheep to keep under control, and then the other neighbour and the other neighbour,” Koch said.
With files from CTV Edmonton
