Veteran's family sued for $112K over pet pigs
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We are the Ferrier Family -- Marine Corps veteran Dave, Brianna and our 5-year-old daughter Regan.
Egg Harbor Township, NJ is actively pursuing a lawsuit against our family for $112,000 in fines for having pet pigs and chickens when we lived in EHT. We lived there for barely more than 1 year.
Thousands of EHT taxpayer dollars are being used to pursue this lawsuit against our family -- even after we remedied the situation by selling our home, taking our pets with us and leaving New Jersey. We highly encourage residents to attend local government meetings and to question township officials why your money is being spent this way, when there are much more pressing issues facing your city.
In order to fight this injustice, we have been compelled to hire an attorney for our pets, and have accumulated just over $6,000 in legal fees so far.
We are asking all of our friends, family and supporters help us stand up to this bullying by this tyrannical township.
100% of donations will go towards paying our legal fees.
This township has a long history of using intimidation tactics in the form of ridiculous fines, community service and even jail time for anyone who dares to stand up to their outdated and contradictory zoning codes. Many residents have been forced to give up their beloved pets because they couldn't afford to pay thousands in fines or appeals or variance requests (which could be denied for any reason even after paying all the fees).
However we chose to not be silent and instead to fight for our beloved pets, as well as many other residents in EHT who own pet pigs and chickens. The township has chosen to make an example of our family with their lawsuit -- which will have the intended effect of making EHT residents think twice about daring to stand up to them.
Since our ordeal began in December 2022, we tried every method to work with the township. For example, we spoke in front of the mayor and township leadership multiple times to hear our concerns after they threatened to take our pets. We wrote detailed letters to point out contradictions and omissions in the township zoning code regarding the keeping of pet pigs and chickens.
Here are some examples of how unreasonable and underhanded this township has acted.
The township claimed we refused them access to inspect our property and yet when asked, cannot produce a single record of them making any such access requests. Contrary to this false claim, recorded township meeting minutes show Brianna inviting township officials multiple times to come visit our pets and get educated. Only one township official came out to our home. An EHT police lieutenant also visited our property, noted how we moved our chicken coop 200 yards into our woods, and wrote in his report: “Both (Brianna and Dave Ferrier) were cooperative and respectful while speaking with me and expressed their wishes to rectify the situation so everyone could live in peace."
The township gave us the following "choices:"
1. Get rid of all our pets
2. Apply for a variance (thousands of dollars and the last time one was granted was 35 years ago)
3. Leave the township -- which is what we ultimately chose
We notified the EHT Solicitor that we were selling our home and even provided a copy of the signed sales contract, showing the exact date we were leaving the state for good. Apparently he thought we were bluffing and wouldn't actually sell our house to keep our pets.
They chose to use EHT taxpayer dollars and sue our family.
Thank you for reading and sharing and thank you for any donations. We will do routine updates so you the contributors can see this fight in real time.
Our family thanks everyone who continues to fight the good fight because animals need a voice too, and we will continue to be that voice.
The Ferriers
Below are links to the news coverage of our story.
The Press of Atlantic City stories (PAYWALLED)
Organizer
Dave Ferrier
Organizer
Hebron, VA