A proposed regulatory crackdown on owning roosters as pets in Akureyri has at least one local farmer up in arms with what he considers a waste of municipal resources.
As reported, the town proposal stipulates that no one will any longer be allowed to own a rooster as a pet unless they own a legally registered farm. People will also be required to apply for a licence for a chicken house, and receive permission from neighbours to own such animals. Chairman of the environmental department of Akureyri Jón Birgir Gunnlaugsson told reporters that the ordinance was necessary after the town council received a number of complaints from townspeople about the noise made by their neighbours’ roosters.
But not everyone is convinced, least of all farmer Sigurvin Jónsson, proud owner of Hrófli, an 18-month old rooster – actually the only rooster in Akureyri old enough to crow, RÚV reports.
“It’s not like there’s a chicken in every house, and no one has complained about Hrófli, so I don’t understand why they need this regulation,” Sigurvin told reporters. “Shouldn’t we then ban all animals that make noises, like dogs and cats?”
Sigurvin believes town council’s energies could be better focused on other matters, rather than set up rules against rooster crowing that he believes no one has complained about. If the regulation is passed, he says that while he’s uncertain of Hrófli’s fate, he intends to fight to keep him.
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