Clawson family says city is forcing them to get rid of pet chickens

CLAWSON, Mich. (WJBK) - A chicken owner in Clawson is crying "fowl" tonight as the city is telling him he must give his birds the boot.

While some may consider these chickens farm animals, they are family pets for the Gaglios. They've also been legally owned for seven years - or, at least they thought. Now the city says the hens have two days to find a new home.

"These are my pets," says Jeff Gaglio. "My children have raised these animals from the egg." He introduced us to his family's three chickens: Marcella, Larry and Chicken McChicken Face.

They come when they are called, love their treats and even go to the vet.

"The biggest thing that people need to understand is they look at these and say, 'These are chickens," he says. "No, these are pets. They have names; they have personalities; and yes we do get eggs on a daily basis. But for the most part, they are no difference than having a dog or a cat."

Jeff may look familiar. He saves lives with Detroit EMS. Now he is trying to save his chickens.

"They are giving us 14 days to get our chickens out of here," he says. 

Jeff was shocked to receive the letter that his chickens are illegal and, on top of that, that his house has been monitored since 2017, which he believes is a violation of his 4th Amendment rights.

"A city code enforcement officer has been out to people's houses who have had chickens," Jeff said. "She's never said there was a problem, she actually gave people consent to own them."

So why now? 

Jeff has been told Clawson residents are blaming a rat problem on the hens, which he says is not the case. In fact, the animals are known for cleaning up waste because they eat practically everything. Jeff says he was unsuccessful getting in touch with the city. But FOX 2 wasn't.

Clawson City Manager Mark Pollock tells us it's an old, vague ordinance that needs to be updated. At Tuesday's City Council meeting chicken owners will be able to fight to own their hens, which will be taken under consideration.

"Of course we're upset and we're angry and we're hurt. We want to be proactive, though. We're not going to sit here and burn down city hall. We've come up with some plans and some ideas, and we're hoping that [Tuesday] night at the city council meeting they'll be receptive to some ideas we have for a new ordinance that really defines how you can own chickens in Clawson."

That meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at Clawson City Hall. Gaglios and other chicken owners plan to be there to plead their case.