Family refuses to give up goats

FORTVILLE, Ind., June 5 (UPI) -- Members of a Fortville, Ind., family -- fined by police for keeping pet goats in the city -- say they plan to plead their case to the City Council.

Joshua and Sarah Brown said they have two female goats, one that provides milk for the couple and their seven children and one that serves as a companion to the milking goat, the Indianapolis Star reported Thursday.

"They're friendly. They're pets," Sarah Brown said. "They're the size of large dogs. We take our goats for walks just like dogs. All the kids in the neighborhood come out and pet them. Everybody thinks it's kind of cool there are goats in the neighborhood."

However, police said a complaint was lodged by someone who heard the goats bleating and an officer was sent to investigate. The complainant was not identified, but police said it was not a close neighbor of the family.

The Browns said they paid the first $25 ticket they were given by police, but refused to get rid of the animals after discovering that the law they were cited for violating bans "cows, bulls, pigs, horses, chickens, bees or rabbits," but does not mention goats.

They said they plan to plead their case at the next meeting of the City Council, scheduled for June 16.