Redlands City Council upholds approval of emotional support chicken

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands City Council ruled Tuesday in favor of Feather, the emotional support chicken at the center of a surprisingly heated neighborhood dispute, denying an appeal that sought to have the bird evicted.

The appeal, filed by next-door neighbor Tara Bird, challenged the Development Services Director's Dec. 4 decision to grant a reasonable accommodation to Zayanne Thompson, allowing her to keep a single chicken as an emotional support animal at her home on South 4th Street.

During the public hearing, Brian Foote, representing the city's development department, explained that the city is legally obligated under state and federal law to grant reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including requests for support animals. The application, he said, met all the requirements, including a letter from a licensed healthcare provider attesting to the need for the chicken.

"Due to state and federal law, there is very little room for discretion in this case, which means the request had to be approved by the city," Foote said.

Bird, however, was not convinced. She argued that the chicken was not a legitimate service animal and claimed its presence attracted rodents and other pests.

"This is a health concern. It always has been," Bird said, alleging that the chicken’s living conditions contributed to an ongoing rodent problem in the neighborhood.

Thompson, who described Feather as a quiet, mostly indoor companion, maintained that she followed all the proper procedures and that the city had reviewed and approved her request fairly.

"Different kinds of animals can serve as support animals, including chickens," Thompson said. "I worked with city staff, and after an anxious four months, my request was approved."

A neighbor on the opposite side of Bird defended Feather’s right to remain. He dismissed her complaints, saying he had never noticed any noise, smell, or evidence that a chicken even lived there. He also took the opportunity to criticize Bird’s behavior toward her neighbors.

"This appeal is Miss Bird's attempt to exercise control over and cause harm to her neighbor," he said. "This has nothing to do with Feather."

Despite a brief discussion on whether the city should clarify how much outdoor time Feather should be allowed, the council ultimately found little room for debate under the Fair Housing Act.

"I don’t find a basis where we can sustain the appeal," council member Eddie Tejeda said, acknowledging that such neighborhood disputes rarely end with both sides satisfied.

Council member Denise Davis made the motion to deny the appeal and uphold the reasonable accommodation, which was seconded and approved unanimously.

With the council’s decision, Thompson is officially permitted to keep her emotional support chicken under the previously approved conditions. Feather, at least for now, remains legally perched at home.