MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on June 17 to approve a reasonable accommodation for a resident to keep goats as emotional support animals in a residential area. Commissioner Craig Curry cast the lone dissenting vote.

Emotional support or farm animals?

Applicant Sheryl O’Connell requested permission to keep two goats on her 2.5-acre property in a single-family R-1 zoned area near SE 41st Place, just south of Maricamp Road and SE 36th Avenue. O’Connell, who described the animals as emotional support goats, said they help her cope with the sudden death of her husband.

“The reason that we got the goats, my husband collapsed in our living room and died,” O’Connell said. “We had to do CPR and we got the goats to bring happiness. We go out there, feed them and talk to them.”

Neighborhood concerns

Only one formal complaint was filed by O’Connell’s neighbor, Mike Bigelow, who previously raised concerns about a rooster that is no longer on the property.

“I know they had a loss in the family… it’s not that I want to deny them an emotional support animal,” Bigelow said. “I don’t necessarily want to live next to farm animals.”

Curry echoed that concern. “People have an expectation when they buy in a residential neighborhood, that they can expect certain things,” he said. “Then we come along with special use permits… and you end up with an animal farm next to you.”

Zoning exception or slippery slope?

County Attorney Guy Minter acknowledged the challenge of balancing the emotional needs of one resident with the expectations of neighboring homeowners. “The number of goats… isn’t excessive,” Minter said, adding that relocation and buffering could help mitigate the impact.

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