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Posted on Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 5:57 a.m.

Pest or pet? Ypsilanti Township appealing court ruling on controversial rooster

By Tom Perkins

Waffle_Rooster_2.jpg

Kendra Wiedbusch holds her pet rooster Waffle outside her Ypsilanti Township home.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Editor's note: The name of Judge Charles Pope has been corrected in this article.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Kendra Wiedbusch hugged her rooster, Waffle, with the love that anyone would show an ordinary pet.

But neighbors say Waffle isn’t a pet, but a loud nuisance that belongs on a farm. And in three weeks, a Washtenaw County District Court Judge will determine if Waffle is a pet or, under Ypsilanti Township ordinance, an animal only allowed on a farm.

The township first was alerted to Waffle from a complaint by a neighbor who lives across the street. That neighbor, Chris Cascone, filed a complaint with township officials on May 11 that alleged Waffle is noisy, crows around the clock and is disturbing his family.

He later said he has an 18-month old and he can’t leave the windows open during nice days because of Waffle’s crowing.

“The No. 1 big thing is that it’s all about respect for your fellow neighbors,” Cascone said. “We have to be hearing it crow all hours of the day — including 1, 2 in the morning.”

But Wiedbusch says she keeps Waffle inside during “quiet hours." She added that she puts Waffle in the car and takes him to her job as a crossing guard with Ypsilanti Public Schools, so he isn’t outside most of the day.

“He’s a beloved family pet,” Wiedbush said. “We took him in because we fell in love with him. He even knows his name.”

She said Waffle isn’t as loud as neighbors allege.

“I keep him inside most of the time, I keep him in over night, he’s never outside during quiet hours. If he cock-a-doodle-do’s, then it bothers us, not anyone else,” she said.

But the township asserts that is irrelevant and roosters simply aren’t allowed in dense residential zones. The case has nothing to do with a backyard chicken ordinance that is making its way to the Ypsilanti Township Planning Commission for consideration.

Mike Radzik, Ypsilanti Township’s director of community standards, said an ordinance officer contacted Wiedbusch, who lives on Hull Avenue near Harris Road and Grove Road, after the initial complaint. The officer informed her that a rooster wasn’t allowed in a dense residential area.

Township zoning laws state that single-family residences are only permitted to engage in farm activity if they are on at least five acres of land. The township’s definition of farming includes the raising of livestock or poultry. Poultry are defined as chickens or roosters.

Waffle_Rooster_3.jpg

Waffle is a "bantam silkie" breed.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

“There are no exceptions - there is nothing in the code that permits anyone to raise a rooster on less than five acres,” Radzik said.

But Wiedbusch contends that Waffle is not laying eggs like a hen and Waffle is a family pet that “thinks he is a dog and acts like one”. She says that means there is no farm activity on their property, which is a parcel much smaller than five acres.

Wiedbusch refused to give up Waffle on those grounds and asked the ordinance officer to write her a ticket so the case could go in front of a magistrate at the 14-B District Court.

Radzik said the magistrate agreed with Wiedbusch and dismissed the case based on the reasoning that Weidbusch is not farming because the rooster is not laying eggs.

Radzik said the case was then forwarded to the township’s legal department, which is appealing the ruling.

“We on the ordinance staff were not happy because it could open the door to allow people to have a whole variety of animals on their property while claiming they are just pets,” Radzik said. “There’s a reason they are not permitted in dense, urban residential areas. Obviously, noise is one of them.”

The township could cite Wiedbusch under animal control law, which would carry a criminal misdemeanor penalty, but officials have opted to go to civil court first, Radzik said.

Radzik said the township received a second complaint on July 23 about an increase of mice in the area. Neighbors and relatives living directly next door to Wiedbusch said they are fed up with the noise Waffle has made since he became part of the family in October.

Todd Laurell, who lives in the home, said his family has lost sleep because of Waffle's noise and it disturbs their kids.

“It makes a lot of noise,” Laurell said. “I don’t think it belongs there. You have got to have five acres in Ypsilanti Township (to own a rooster) and it belongs on a farm.”

Cascone expressed similar thoughts.

“You have to have five acres to farm, so why can’t they just follow the law?” he said. “Why make a big stink over a chicken, which obviously isn’t a pet?”

Wiedbusch charged the complaints from Cascone were from an over-sensitive neighbor who has also complained about noise from the Wiedbuschs' convertible, motorcycle and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

“I’ve had him since October and it took them until May to complain,” she said.

Wiedbusch said she has already contacted an animal sanctuary and was told that Waffle would likely be bullied and killed if put with other roosters because it was raised by a family of humans and not in a flock.

“His demise would not be positive,” she said.

The case will be heard by Washtenaw District Court Judge Charles Pope on Aug. 8.

Comments

joe

Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.

I also live on the same street, about 7-8 houses away. I have heard the rooster for several months. I can't wait to get out of this neighborhood. Too many inconsiderate people like this live around here. In reading all the comments I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how they like to park their vehicles in the front yard (like many others in the neighborhood). Mr. Weidbush and his service dog tour the schools teaching kids to respect nature and the importance of taking care of nature, yet parks on his lawn? The motorcycle is horrendously loud. The convertable is the same way. Now the rooster. They are both employed by the schools and seem to want to teach kids to "respect" and "do the right thing", yet they set a very bad example. I personally really don't care as I've had my fill of this neighborhood and the downfall it has experienced over the last several years. I'm tired of the smart butt kids that roam the streets knocking over garbage cans, throwing rocks at parked cars, the foul language, breaking bottles in the street, neighbors parking in their front yards, loud cars, kids riding the mini bikes/dirt bikes/mopeds on the street, in lawns, running stop signs, with very young siblings on the back, none wearing helmets, loud disrespectful neighbors like the Weidbushes, etc. People can continue to support this non sense, but just remember that when your taxes go up, and services get even worse because you are driving people out of this neighborhood by your actions. Soon, you will have yet another house sitting empty for god knows how long, and losing even more tax revenue. Like I said, very soon I won't have to bother with this problem, but all these people condoning this disrespecfull behavior, think about what this causes. your going to drive even more people out of this neighborhood, and drive your home values down even more in the process.

Donald Wilson

Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.

Actually, if you actually READ the zoning and ordinance code, you'll see that LIVESTOCK is prohibited in residential areas of the township. In the rural zoned areas, Livestock and Poultry are listed separately. Thus: Poultry are NOT Livestock and are NOT prohibited, despite what the township board says.

chris crawley

Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.

This is just a typical example of why most of our ancestors migrates to Ameica. We were tired of & disgusted by lords and petty govt official ruining our lives. so they came here to escape just this sort of harassment. Seems like a lot of "anit-Americans" need to return to Europe & live under opressive regualtions that they seem to like.

Woman in Ypsilanti

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.

I have to admit that I think people get way too upset about things their neighbors do. I hate all of the late night fireworks and babies cryings and dogs barking and loud cars and so on as much as anyone but that is the price one has to pay to live in a community with other people. It seems like people expect to never hear a sound coming from their neighbors. But come on. Babies cry and dogs bark and some cars are loud and people like things like fireworks. If it really bothers you, buy some ear plugs. They are a cheap and easy solution to the problem.

swcornell

Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.

I wonder who they complain to when crows come and caw or wood peckers bang on stuff?

jcj

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.

But then you can't hear the person breaking into your home!

Brad

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.

I commented that he should be in the "Chicken Protection Program" and that got yanked? Which "guideline" did that one violate? Sheesh.

Brad

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.

Sorry, wrong thread...my bad

Lac Court Orilles

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.

Ypsi Township Supervisor needs to know that chickens do not attract mice, they eat them! Chickens are predators that control both rodents and insects. What do dogs do? Dogs lay large piles of smelly poop that people step in walk into their homes. The miniscule chicken feces can be used for fertilizer, but the much larger piles of dog poop can't. It kills grass and plants. Dogs bark and bite. I never saw anyone in the emergency room after being bitten by a chicken.

jcj

Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.

Agree about the dogs. But only someone that has not had chickens roaming their yard would say they don't do damage!

Judy

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.

TO: leezee Yes I have a daughter, as a small child and even today she can sleep even if a freight train is next door. Why? Because we never made things noiseless for her. In college she could sleep no matter or how much noise was going on. Second I know for a fact chicken and roosters can't be outside in freezing weather and I am sure a a beloved pet Waffle is not outside after dark because birds are pretty much defenseless from a dog or large cat. Talking about cats how many cat fights go on at night making noise or use my flower bed as their toilet space. TO: toofmullets and f4phontomii Some people just like to complain about everything and my feeling is the neighbors who are complaining are doing so because there is an underlying problem. One rooster can't make that much noise, some people's radios and TV's make more noise in my neighbor. Yes, I have I have heard a rooster.

toofmullets

Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.

Thankfully, the Weidenbusch's also have a very large dog that does its fair share of barking. How many times have I heard Storm @ my house? Zero. How many times have I heard Waffle @ my house? Many more than zero. Just because a neighbor's TV makes more noise than a rooster (which is a laughable proposition on its face) doesn't justify everyone to disrespect everyone else. With respect to radios, we have ordinances & reporting phone numbers for those in our neighborhood.

Lindsay Passmore

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 6:01 a.m.

In 2010, the Community Observer published a story I wrote about Lucy Silverio, whose rooster got her in trouble with the law, too. But every city is different. The people of Takoma Park, MD loved their rooster so much they erected a statue in his honor when he died! You can read about both of these cases in my blog at http://oneheartbeating.wordpress.com/articles/. Lindsay H. Passmore

Tru2Blu76

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 5:36 a.m.

Seriously: when I was a kid, me and another neighborhood boy decided we wanted chickens. Chickens: AS IN EGG-LAYING HENS - which don't cause neighbors undue disturbance. Learning to build a coop, learning what to feed our hens - was an education few kids get. And collecting the freshest eggs imaginable was a bonus - from nest to breakfast in under 10 minutes. Just trade the rooster for a hen - or two or four, you won't be sorry - they make pretty good pets.

Deborah Broomham

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.

I didn't read all the comments. But if they are in a zoned rural area ( agriculture) then they are allowed to keep it. BUT they "can" close it in in darkness at night, that will keep it *( or should) from crowing at odd times. My guess is car lights or some light is awakening him middle of night. I live rural ( and gave up my OWN roosters) as IM tired of being awakened at 5 am! The middle of the night is a predator, or lights. close him in a darkened space ( cage at night with a sheet on it) and it should settle down :)b Yes you do not put a bunch of rooster in together. they will fight. (usually spring a male thing). Sorry he is a farm animal not a pet! (I was a zoning administrator!)

Krista Boyer

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.

I would much rather hear a rooster crow than a dog bark, a couple fight, and children cry. I would rather hear a rooster crow than gun shots, or loud music with vulgar lyrics. I would rather have a rooster in my house than a pit bull, or a ball python. I'm all for having a goat or a miniature pony in your backyard. We could take our goats and miniature horses out and let them graze on the unkempt lawns of all the deserted houses around here! The Wiedbusch family is an amazing, kind, and generous family. Leave them alone, and let them have their pet!

Urban Sombrero

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.

Waffle is an awesome name for a pet. I love it. And, I see "rooster" and I immediately think, "Coq au vin". And then I get hungry. Because...yum!

Michlady45

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 10:21 p.m.

I also live one street over. I have heard Waffle only a few times. And it was certainly not at 1 or 2 a.m. I also heard fireworks from all over the neighborhood between July 1 - 6. I think this is nothing but a case of bulllying from the Wiedbusch's neighbors.

Lynn Glazewski

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.

Neighbor problems are awful. Who to believe? She sounds inconsiderate, not only with the rooster, but with the car and fireworks, but the neighbors sound like people who feel "overly entitled". too. I wonder how dangerous and painful it is to decrow a rooster. if safe, that would be a good compromise. I love my pets and would be heartbroken if I had to give one of them up, and after all, it is not the rooster's fault. Found on the internet from a vet: First, it is not a "simple" procedure. The syrinx--voicebox--of a rooster is deep in the chest, where the trachea (windpipe) divides in to the two major branches to the lungs. It is NOT at the top, like yours or a dog. This is a major chest surgery. "De-voicing" is impractical, usually lethal, and nearly impossible surgery. It is also a painful procedure if it is actually attempted; very cruel, and the bird will succumb to secondary problems. No surprise a good vet will refuse this procedure.

Not_The_Enemy

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.

Why does this woman want to make enemies with her neighbors? This guy Chris was NOT the only person to make a complaint, there were two other neighbors that called to complain. The other neighbors on the block do not want to make a complaint for a couple reasons. #1 they prefer to remain anonymous. #2 there has already been enough official complaints to get the livestock out of the neighborhood. Those of you whom say just let the animal stay DO NOT live next to the obnoxious animal! The animal has only recently been brought indoors because of the up coming Aug 8th court date. This woman has blatantly and spitefully been disrespectful to her fellow neighbors. The fire works were NOT only lit on the 4th of July. They were lit for weeks and weeks before. Again, they have only stopped because of the upcoming court date. The car would NOT pass inspection. I implore all of you to ask this woman to start the car up for you. It's obnoxious! The motor cycle is straight piped, will not pass inspection. If you do not live next to the woman's home you have no reason to say it isn't disruptive. It's all about respect for your fellow neighbours. Are we not supposed to be a community that looks out for one another? Are we not supposed to respectful, sensitive to each others lively hood? I ask this woman to please stop this drama. Please acknowledge your neighbors legitimate non-spiteful concerns. Her children are grown, some of us have little ones. She works for the school system, obviously loves children. So why be disrespectful to our little ones. Please, Kendra, stop this drama. There have got to be a hundred people on at least 5 acres of land that would love to adopt your livestock. Roosters crow at all hours of the day because they are calling a hen to mate with. So adopt him to a family who has some pretty girlfriends for him! He doesn't want to live alone, he wants to be free to get his game on! Thanks for reading.

Judy

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.

Just what I thought the "Rooster" is not the real problem but this is the way of her neighbors can get even with her for other things. It also sounds like Kendra has been in the neighborhood longer then most of her neighbors! As far as fireworks I don't like it but they are now "legal" in Michigan.

a2citizen

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.

She works for the school system? That explains a lot.

In doubt

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.

I wish I could vote for your post many, MANY times!

Dutch Thomas

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.

this is yet another case that highlights the problems with Ypsitown's bloated "community standards" office. They have lawyers sucking on the taxpayer dole to hassle the taxpayer for what they do with their own property? What country is this? These ordinances and the officers who enforce them are part of the "Broken Windows" theory of community policing which is why Ypsitown hired a former Police Officer to run the Community Standards Office. This theory is widely regarded as a thinly veiled assault on the poor and people of color. Ypsilanti Township used to pride itself on its rural heritage and now we seem to be turning our back on that and creating a stifling suburb where a small Urban Farm could be hassled by one person. These ordinances actually do more harm than good as bullies can then use the ordinance to hassle their neighbors. I live near this woman and did not know she had a rooster until I read this article AND I live near a back yard organic farm with several chickens ( I will not say where as I get some of the produce and the Community Standards Polizei may show up). It is time that the Office of Community Standards of Ypsilanti Township was DOWNSIZED from the top down. They are behind the times and passing/enforcing ordinances that are ignorant, ill-advised, fear based and even Unconstitutional. BUT their lawyers get lots of our tax dollars. I smell bad government coming from Huron River Dr.

Judy

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.

I agree 100% my township and most townships in the state are the same the only winners are the lawyers. TO: a2citizen I believe Dutch Thomas is talking about the Ypsitown's Bloat not the women in the photo.

a2citizen

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.

"...regarded as a thinly veiled assault on the poor and people of color..." Take a real close look at the photo of the woman holding the rooster. Notice anything? That's right...the rooster is white.

leezee

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.

It took them until May to complain because during the fall and winter months their windows were shut and they were inside most of the time. Get rid of the bird.

monin

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.

I really enjoy hearing Waffle's crowing, it gives me a sense of normalcy.

In doubt

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.

If they bend the rules for them, they have to bend them for everyone, and then what have we got? No control and a real mess. There was a reason the township made the rule and the rules apply to everyone! Kind of arrogant to think they are above the rules, maybe they should have checked before getting this animal.

swcornell

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.

If it is a pet, why isn't it treated like a barking dog. The township must have ordinances about annoying barking dogs? As to the issue of quiet hours, who decides what are quiet hours. I used to work midnights and my neighbors never respected my sleep time. I just got some very good comfortable ear plugs (molded by an audiologist). They work great and kept me from getting really pissed at my neighbor who liked doing yard work (lawn tractor, weed wacker, chipper shredder and even a chain saw) during my sleep time!

J

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.

Thanks for sharing your point of view. As you've alluded to, there's likely no perfect "quiet hours;" but your post will make me reconsider when I think "everyone should be awake by now."

Roger Dodger

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.

These comments about "respecting your neighbors" go both ways and we should learn to live with one another. I don't see anyone experiencing any actual hardship here. It's just neighbors fighting in the courts because they can't talk to one another and actually come up with a solution that satisfies both of them. I call selfishness on both sides.

a2susan

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.

It's easy for you to write about getting neighbors to talk to each other, but have you seriously tried to talk to a neighbor who thinks of their pet as a family member and doesn't even hear the noise they make anymore? When I tried to talk to a neighbor about the incessant barking of her dog, she told me to go in my house and close the door and all the windows. A second attempt didn't go any better. So now we haven't spoken in two years. It was much easier to deal with these problems when there was an animal control officer, but here in Ann Arbor that position has been eliminated.

Jaelle

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.

Wow! For those of you that say it's okay to have a farm animal as a pet, I guess you wouldn't mind if I bring my miniature horse home. He's about the size of a Doberman Pinscher and doesn't take up much space. Doesn't make anymore of a mess than a large dog either and he is accustomed to roaming inside. Recently moved here and didn't think I could do this at my new place, but if she gets to keep her pet rooster, i should be able to keep my pet mini horse too. Don't you agree?

Roger Dodger

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.

I absolutely agree.

Bertha Venation

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.

Aw. He's cute. Let the rooster stay!

mkm17

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.

It's good that there's a process for obtaining a variance for the rooster (and any other) ordinance. The petitioner, however, would have to show a practical difficulty that would exist if they were not granted the variance. What is the practical difficulty here, besides "I wan it." I'm dismayed that the rooster's owner puts her own wants and selfishness ahead of the public's right to peace and quiet. As a long time poultry farmer, I can assure you that roosters crow all the time. I'm a big time chicken and animal lover, but in this case, the rooster has to go.

Amber

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 4:02 a.m.

Then I would like to ban people from using lawn mower in the morning and as for weed whacker and leaf blower they should be ban at any time

nickcarraweigh

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.

One man's poison is another man's meat, and the best way to solve this may be to make noise with a dinner bell.

reh

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.

Roosters are designed to crow. It is what they do. I understand the frustration of neighbor. Not long ago I was in Puerto Rico where chickens run loose without anyone owning them. Speaking from personal experience the roosters starting announcing day break at 2am, and did so about every ten minutes. There is a point after dawn when the roosters quiet. It would seem there are alternatives available to the owners. One of which would be to have the rooster surgically altered to remove the voice. The other seems reasonably obvious, which is to keep the rooster inside except during those times when it is quiet. Lastly, if none of these work, transporting the rooster to a farm would also work. Lastly, it seems that the definition of what constutes farming is confused. Thinking of farming as only raising hens with the purpose of collecting eggs seems to be a very non-farm view of what constitutes farming. Farming is a business that constitues many things including raising all sorts of livestock including but not limited to chickens, and in this instance roosters. This is a fairly dumb use of court resources. Let's start acting like adults.

vinnie22m

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.

Those in support of changing the ordinance to allow backayrd chickens in ypsilanti township can join our facebook group. Search: Ypsi chicken supporters! this group keeps growing day, by day... :)

Jaelle

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.

If you expand to allow goats and mini horses, I'll consider.

vinnie22m

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.

There is nothing wrong with her pet rooster. However, being able to keep it because it doesnt lay eggs "not farming" is ridiculous! This township has lost their minds. I was the lady who was taken to court over my five hens that i had for almost two years, thus starting the group of Ypsilanti township backyard chicken supporters. People need to understand that keeping a few HENS in the backyard is OK! you don't need 5 acres to properly care for your flock. 4-5 hens with their coop need as much space as a kitchen table would take up in your yard to live happy lives. As far for the complaint about there being more mice in the area....come on! really?? I have to laugh. One rooster is not peter piper! If she is allowed to keep her rooster, then i want to bring back my hens that were my pets too!

Vera

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.

I live the next street over from Waffles. I've never heard him myself, but my husband has. I have heard the fireworks and motorcycle, however, and am glad there were complaints on the fireworks since we live in a densely populated neighborhood and the fireworks can be dangerous- especially when we've had drought conditions! The Wiedbusch's seem like good people, but have a history of being inconsiderate neighbors.....

clownfish

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2 p.m.

Fireworks, dogs and motorcycles are all legal, but there are noise ordinances that apply.

vinnie22m

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.

fireworks are legal in Michigan now...get used to it.

jcj

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.

Should be no more annoying than having dogs barking! Keep the rooster!

beeswing

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.

jcj--I would put my next door neighbor's up against a rooster any old time!

Ann English

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.

Makes me wonder if there's a rooster breed that cannot crow. Basenjis can't bark. Sandra, it sounds like if someone in your neighborhood wants more than one dog, vizslas should be considered. Vizslas have no undercoat, so they can't be kept outside in the winter.

toofmullets

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.

@sandra: "I would love to hear a rooster crow once in a while" Good luck finding one that only crows once in a while.

Sandra Samons

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.

I agree! I would love to hear a rooster crow once in a while. In fact, if I could trade that for the dogs that a neighbor leaves outside all night, all winter, so the constant barking not only annoys me, but distresses me, I would gladly trade. And then there's that flock of crows that sometimes hold a convention right outside my house. There is no way to get rid of them! When I lived in town and had napping babies, the neighbor kids woke the baby often with loud playing. Babies sometimes got woken. That's life. But wouldn't it be sad for a child to grow up never knowing what the crowing of a rooster sounded like? A child would read about it in stories and wonder what s/he was missing.

toofmullets

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.

He's much louder than a dog.

Andy

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.

The answer is simple. Have the rooster's voice box surgically removed. Either that, or find him a nice farm family.

vinnie22m

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.

horrible thing to say.

jcj

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.

There are plenty of dogs in my neighborhood that could use that procedure!

a2citizen

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.

I heard pit bulls are quiet.

Brad

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.

My pit bull comment got yanked.

toofmullets

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.

So I live very very close to these houses.... share a back yard fence with one of the folks mentioned. I have exchanged pleasantries with all of the combatants, but hold no biases. That said.... I'm honestly shocked that they've had this rooster this long. I never knew they had it until about 2 months ago or so, when I was in Nancy Park and heard the rooster for the first time. Since then I have heard him sporadically, but not that often. I'm outside every morning before 7am, and more often than not, I do not hear him, but I definitely have heard him pre-7am. From my perspective, it seems as though for the last year plus, they did a good job making sure he wasn't a noise issue for neighbors, but perhaps have become more lax in that recently. I have definitely said to my wife numorous times that I'm very, very glad I don't live closer to him, and I feel for those that do live close to him. And, the convertible is loud as heck. And if they're the ones that were lighting fireworks off at all hours of the night for about 3 straight weeks around July 4th, then they deserve that complaint too. I fully believe the Weidenbusch's are good people, I know they do a lot... a lot for the local community - and I feel horribly that they may have to surrender their beloved pet, but I agree w/ the neighbors, its not appropriate for our neighborhood.

richardfry

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.

Sounds like the rooster is either in the car or in the house, how noisy can that be? I think he adds a little culture to an otherwise boring neighborhood. SAVE THE ROOSTER WAFFLE!

Madeleine Borthwick

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.

richardfry, I agree. I have heard roosters crow and I doubt that they are much of a disturbance. MERCY FOR WAFFLE!!!

LA

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.

Agree!! If he's in the house at night how can others hear him?

Judy

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.

Chris Cascone said he, has an 18-month old and he can't leave the windows open during nice days because of Waffle's crowing. Fellow neighbors better mower or weed whip there yards because of Mr. Cascone 18-month old and by the way can MDOT move US23 because the semi-trucks wake me up at 1 and 2 in the morning! What about respect for your fellow neighbor and her pet? Good Luck if the pet owner has Connors.

Woman in Ypsilanti

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.

You know what else is obnoxious and disturbs the peace of a neighborhood? An 18 month old child!

Judy

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.

Yes I have a daughter and as a small child and even to day she can sleep even if a freight train is next door. Why? Because we never mad things noiseless. Second I know for a fact chicken and roosters can not be outside in freezing weather and I am sure a a beloved pet Waffle is not outside after dark because birds are pretty much defenseless from a dog or large cat. Talking about cats how many cat fights go on at night making noise or use my flower bed as their toilet space. Somepeople just like to complain about everything and my feeling is the neighbors who are complaining are doing so because there is an underlying problem. One rooster can not make that much noise, some people's radios and TV's make more noise in my neighbor. Yes, I have I have hear a rooster.

fairfield

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 5:17 p.m.

Judy: I agree with you. No rooster can be as much a nuisance as lawn mowers, or dogs (several of my neighbors have dogs and when they are out at the same time, they can bark at one another for hours; others bark every time someone walks past the house). Other unavoidable nuisances: neighbors who work at night; if you sleep with the window open, they wake you up at 4:00 am when they come home.

leezee

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.

What? No kids of your own?

toofmullets

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.

Not only that, the neighborhood being discussed isn't even near US23.

f4phantomII

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.

US-23 was probably there before you. The zoning ordinance prohibiting roosters was certainly there before Waffle.

toofmullets

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.

Speaking as his neighbor, he's highly respectful of his neighbors.

clownfish

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.

Pest. Be a good neighbor, get rid of him.

northside

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.

Lemme get this straight: she thinks the rooster is a dog and the ordinance doesn't apply? This doesn't top yesterday's stranger-than-strange piece on the guy who hits baseballs at people for Jesus, but it's impressively close.

dading dont delete me bro

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 11:13 a.m.

i think waffles is an imposter. previously reported story the rooster was red, black, & white. glad the rooster isn't in my neighborhood.

Robo

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.

I smell a mystery!

green1

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 10:57 a.m.

Judge Timothy Pope? Maybe Timothy Connors....or Charlie Pope at 14B.

Tom Perkins

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.

A correction has been made. Thanks.