Councilmember wants to let Seattleites license goats as pets

In what he is calling one small step for sustainability, City Councilmember Richard Conlin wants to legalize miniature goats in Seattle.

His proposal, which extols the goats for their "friendliness, faithfulness and hardy constitution," would permit pygmy goats as licensed pets. Minigoats, according to Conlin, have many positive qualities as human companions, weed eaters and a source of dairy products and natural fertilizer.

"They are already a common pet, and they have some sustainability benefits in that you can grow your own milk and cheese," said Phyllis Shulman, legislative assistant for Conlin, who is out of town. "Some of these are small sustainability steps. Richard thinks it's the small and big things in sustainability that add up."

Until now, the Seattle City Council and Conlin have mostly talked about sustainability in terms of recycling, composting and protecting city trees. But goats are in — especially as Earth-friendly lawn mowers. The University of Washington recently hired a herd of full-size goats to eat blackberry bushes and English ivy.

Conlin's proposal would make a different breed of goat part of city living. About the size of a large dog, pygmy goats grow up to 24 inches tall and weigh 50 to 100 pounds. Portland and Everett already have granted residents the right to these ruminants.

The proposed law, which Conlin plans to discuss at a public hearing Sept. 18, points out that goat hair "is a renewable source of fiber," and that "numerous cultures worldwide keep goats, and more people worldwide drink goat milk than any other animal's."

A Madrona resident who keeps minigoats approached Conlin after her neighbors asked the city to investigate whether the pets posed a danger to public health. The woman has been allowed to keep her goats temporarily, pending the outcome of Conlin's proposal.

Under current land-use code, farm animals cannot be kept on lots smaller than 20,000 square feet. The new law would classify minigoats as a small animal rather than a farm animal, and it would require that they be licensed, just like dogs, cats, exotic animals and potbellied pigs.

Although goats can be trained to walk on leashes, they would have to be confined to an owner's property or other property where permission has been given for the minigoats to roam. That way, Shulman said, they won't eat neighborhood or park plants.

"We're not going to have goat off-leash areas," she said.

Conlin's office researched health issues and said the disease risk is low. Some goats, however, smell bad.

An unneutered male "does tend to have a smell about him," said Ray Hoyt, president of the National Pygmy Goat Association. He described it as "musky." Male goats would have to be neutered, under the proposed law, and all goats would have to be dehorned, a practice Shulman called common.

Minigoats are friendlier than dogs, said Hoyt, who lives in Minden, Nev. "They wag their tails and come and meet you, and they know their names."

He said the goats are outside animals but need shelter to keep them dry. Minigoats, which start at $100 each, do better in pairs and herds than alone, he said.

"They do real well interacting with others," he said. "They play and butt heads with each other, and play king of the mountain and do goat things."

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com