City couple fights to keep mini horse as pet
Horse owners scheduled to appear in court March 4
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer
ALong Branch couple is expected to appear in municipal court next month after receiving summonses for violations associated with Cocoa Puffs, their pet miniature horse.

ERIC SUCAR staff Long Branch resident Kathi Owens gives her pet miniature horse, Cocoa Puffs, some affection at her home on Feb. 16. The Owens family is going to municipal court to fight citations and is seeking permits to have the horse be a permitted pet on the property.

Kathi and Bruce Owens of Chelton Way retained an attorney and are seeking that the city amend its animal ordinance to allow Cocoa Puffs, who they say is smaller than a Great Dane, to remain at their home as their pet.

"Cocoa Puffs is first and foremost a domesticated animal," Kathi Owens said to the City Council at the Feb. 13 municipal workshop meeting.

"We had him for a year," she said. "He came from South Jersey. He was beaten with a stick. He was abused. We couldn't just leave him there.

"I fell in love with him," she added.

The miniature horse is 18 months old and full grown, according to Owens, who described the horse as being shorter than a Great Dane, but weighing more than one.

ERIC SUCAR staff Kathi Owens and her pet miniature horse, Cocoa Puffs, at her Long Branch home on Feb. 16.

The Owenses were issued two summonses by the city, one of which alleges the couple violated a city ordinance for having a farm animal on a nonfarm property, according to the Owenses' attorney, Cheryl L. Hammel.

Another summons alleges that the Owenses violated a city ordinance for keeping a horse on a tract of land less than 1 acre, Hammel said.

The couple is expected to appear in Long Branch Municipal Court on March 4 at 8 a.m., according to Hammel.

"Regardless of what the potential monetary penalty might be, the greater concern to my clients is the possibility that they might have to give up Cocoa Puffs," Hammel said after the workshop meeting.

"They are seeking a way to keep him," Hammel said, adding, "We are hopeful that the council was receptive to that goal … and we look forward to working with them to reach a mutually satisfying resolution."

Hammel appeared before the City Council at the workshop meeting to ask the city to amend its ordinance that calls for one horse to be maintained on 1 acre of property.

The Owenses are seeking to have the 1-acre requirement reduced, Hammel said.

The Owenses' property consists of 19,543 square feet, which is just under a half-acre, according to Hammel, who said an acre amounts to 43,560 square feet.

Hammel made reference to information gathered from the American Miniature HorseAssociation, which calls for one horse to be permitted on 1 acre of property and for up to three miniature horses to be permitted on 1 acre of property.

Hammel said the calculation amounts to one miniature horse per every one-third acre.

"The Owenses' property is clearly more than one-third of an acre," Hammel said. "It is certainly ample property for this horse to be maintained."

Owens said Cocoa Puffs is a wellknown and adored pet in her neighborhood.

"We only let him out of his pen to run around the yard twice a week," Owens said. "Miniature horses have sensitive stomachs. They cannot eat a lot of grass.

"We have a totally fenced-in yard and he doesn't make any noise," she said.

Hammel presented council members with signed letters from residents living in the Owenses' neighborhood who are in favor of the city couple keeping Cocoa Puffs as a pet.

A petition in support of the Owenses was also signed by more than 100 city residents, according to Hammel.

Long Branch Health Director David Roach said the Owenses were cited for keeping a farm animal on a nonfarm property, as well as for building sheds on the property without attaining the proper permits.

Roach added that he received complaints from residents in the area about waste and odor issues emanating from the Owenses' property.

"There have been numerous complaints," Long Branch Code Enforcement Official Kevin J. Hayes Sr. said. "What got us here is that complaints were received."

CouncilwomanMary Jane Celli said that council will discuss the matter with the city's health and planning departments. The matter is expected to be discussed before the council at theMarch 25 council meeting.

Hammel said that the Owenses are willing to work with the city.