Is a sheep a legal pet?
September 5, 2013 10:47 AM Subscribe
Despite my best googling I can't find out if it's legal to own a sheep as a pet. I live in a residential neighborhood in Morehead City, North Carolina. I'd like to own a sheep and keep it in my backyard. To love and pet and cuddle. Thanks for any help!
Please note I intend to do plenty of research on responsible sheep owning.
Please note I intend to do plenty of research on responsible sheep owning.
You'll need a permit issued by the Animal Care & Control Division, so I'd look them up. This link gives some possible considerations.
posted by Specklet at 10:55 AM on September 5, 2013
posted by Specklet at 10:55 AM on September 5, 2013
magnetshphere is right - zoning codes usually do not allow for farm animals in a residential zoned area. You need to call your local planning office/zoning code officials to find out what your area is zoned as and what types of animals are allowed.
posted by lasamana at 10:55 AM on September 5, 2013
posted by lasamana at 10:55 AM on September 5, 2013
This doesn't answer your question, but just FYI: lambs can be cuddled; adult sheep have no interest in your love, petting or cuddling. My sister had a pet sheep. It was cute as a lamb. It was a pain in the ass as a sheep. Come to think of it, that sheep wasn't around long...
posted by bricoleur at 11:05 AM on September 5, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by bricoleur at 11:05 AM on September 5, 2013 [11 favorites]
Is you are zoned/legal for sheep, please get more than 1, as they are herd animals.
posted by Halo in reverse at 11:06 AM on September 5, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by Halo in reverse at 11:06 AM on September 5, 2013 [8 favorites]
Some urban areas do allow farm animals. I live in Savannah, we're allowed to have up to 5 chickens but no roosters.
posted by mareli at 11:12 AM on September 5, 2013
posted by mareli at 11:12 AM on September 5, 2013
P.S. This breed [babydoll southdown sheep] is the cutest, smiliest sheep I have ever seen.
posted by Halo in reverse at 11:16 AM on September 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
My immediate reaction is that sheep are herd animals and would be...well, not lonely, but at least unhappy by themselves.
Here is a thread with some other people weighing in on solitary sheep.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:41 AM on September 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
Here is a thread with some other people weighing in on solitary sheep.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:41 AM on September 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
According to the municipal code, no livestock are to be kept within city limits.
"Sec. 3-3. Keeping livestock.permanent link to this piece of content
No livestock, as defined in G.S. section 68-15, shall be penned or kept within the city, except on vehicles passing through. "
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:45 AM on September 5, 2013
"Sec. 3-3. Keeping livestock.permanent link to this piece of content
No livestock, as defined in G.S. section 68-15, shall be penned or kept within the city, except on vehicles passing through. "
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:45 AM on September 5, 2013
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, most (if not all) of them have specific prohibitions against livestock which would override the city or county ordinances. Backyard chickens, for example, might be OK inside the city limits, but HOAs are allowed to prohibit them.
Anecdotally, my grandparents had a solitary sheep for awhile in their yard and it also grew up to be a colossal pain in the ass.
posted by jquinby at 11:46 AM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Anecdotally, my grandparents had a solitary sheep for awhile in their yard and it also grew up to be a colossal pain in the ass.
posted by jquinby at 11:46 AM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
So funny enough, I have actually been curious about this before and I found this site to be really helpful. Apparently sheep really need company. Not just human company, but company from other sheep. Also, don't forget to check out their page on diseases.
posted by donut_princess at 11:48 AM on September 5, 2013
posted by donut_princess at 11:48 AM on September 5, 2013
Sheep are assholes. They do not want to be petted or cuddled or loved. They will kick you hard. Source: family owns a sheep farm.
posted by holyrood at 11:59 AM on September 5, 2013 [19 favorites]
posted by holyrood at 11:59 AM on September 5, 2013 [19 favorites]
I'm a volunteer shepherd for my local council (we use them for conservation grazing) and I'm afraid I'm going to have to join with the sheep are arseholes side*. Plus, they pretty much have two goals in life - escape or die, mostly in really awkward ways. (Also, man, they get gross diseases and have horrible teeth)
*seriously, if I am ever found dead or injured at the grazing site, it was probably the sheep.
posted by halcyonday at 12:22 PM on September 5, 2013 [12 favorites]
*seriously, if I am ever found dead or injured at the grazing site, it was probably the sheep.
posted by halcyonday at 12:22 PM on September 5, 2013 [12 favorites]
I had a pet sheep for 10 years. While he didn't want patting or hugging, he liked to come and lay down next to me if I sat in his paddock with his head on my lap, he was raised with goats though and thought he was one. Wool makes patting awkward, and trying to get a single sheep shorn which you have to do for health reasons once a year is a pain in the neck especially if you don't live in a rural environment. Also sheep are easy prey for stray dogs.
I honestly think you'd be happier with a pet goat, they do love hugs and patting and keep that lamb like sense of fun and happiness pretty much all their lives. Also you can walk them on leads like goats. I also at one point when transitioning between farms, lived with 2 goats and a sheep in a suburban back yard for 6 months very illegally, luckily I had great neighbours. It is a lot of work to keep the smell down and hand feeding is expensive hay was 12 bucks a bale due to drought at the time and I went through 3 a fortnight, not including straw for bedding.
On the zoning side my MIL lives in what I would call a heavily suburban environment and due to zoning laws is classes as rural and so can have chickens, rabbits and I guess even sheep if she wanted. I live 5 minutes away and can't have any of them. If you are in a normal suburb I can't see you being allowed to, but you might be lucky and live in a weirdly zoned area like my MIL so check it out with your local council.
posted by wwax at 12:40 PM on September 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
I honestly think you'd be happier with a pet goat, they do love hugs and patting and keep that lamb like sense of fun and happiness pretty much all their lives. Also you can walk them on leads like goats. I also at one point when transitioning between farms, lived with 2 goats and a sheep in a suburban back yard for 6 months very illegally, luckily I had great neighbours. It is a lot of work to keep the smell down and hand feeding is expensive hay was 12 bucks a bale due to drought at the time and I went through 3 a fortnight, not including straw for bedding.
On the zoning side my MIL lives in what I would call a heavily suburban environment and due to zoning laws is classes as rural and so can have chickens, rabbits and I guess even sheep if she wanted. I live 5 minutes away and can't have any of them. If you are in a normal suburb I can't see you being allowed to, but you might be lucky and live in a weirdly zoned area like my MIL so check it out with your local council.
posted by wwax at 12:40 PM on September 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
Margato Epps has your answer. No livestock anywhere in your city, and sheep are specifically called out in the state code along with "goats, llama, and swine."
posted by epanalepsis at 1:31 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by epanalepsis at 1:31 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I suppose you have your answer at this point, but for anyone else pondering this in jurisdictions where owning a sheep is legal:
I had neighbors with a pet lamb when I was young. They lived around the corner from us in an older middle-class neighborhood, and kept it mostly in the back yard, surrounded by a wooden privacy fence. Sometimes it grazed on the front lawn where there was a lower, decorative fence. They brought it to neighborhood meetings in the park, and the kids all thought it was awesome.
Then dogs swiftly attacked and killed it one day when it was grazing on the lawn. So make sure all your fences are dog-proof.
posted by katieinshoes at 2:07 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I had neighbors with a pet lamb when I was young. They lived around the corner from us in an older middle-class neighborhood, and kept it mostly in the back yard, surrounded by a wooden privacy fence. Sometimes it grazed on the front lawn where there was a lower, decorative fence. They brought it to neighborhood meetings in the park, and the kids all thought it was awesome.
Then dogs swiftly attacked and killed it one day when it was grazing on the lawn. So make sure all your fences are dog-proof.
posted by katieinshoes at 2:07 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
A sheep would not be happy living in your backyard. They are herd creatures and grazers- they need room and sheep pals.
They are also not cuddly. I used to work on a sheep farm. They aren't the snuggly fluffballs you're imagining. They're skittish and kinda mean, sorry.
posted by windykites at 7:47 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
They are also not cuddly. I used to work on a sheep farm. They aren't the snuggly fluffballs you're imagining. They're skittish and kinda mean, sorry.
posted by windykites at 7:47 PM on September 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
One of my neighbors had a sheep. It was raised with dogs and though it was a dog. Thinking that it was a dog, it chased cars, nearly causing several accidents.
But cuddly? No. A stuffed sheep is much more cuddly.
posted by dws at 8:02 PM on September 5, 2013
But cuddly? No. A stuffed sheep is much more cuddly.
posted by dws at 8:02 PM on September 5, 2013
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This is why I wasn't allowed a pig as a child. And yes, I made my parents actually show me the zoning ordinance.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:51 AM on September 5, 2013 [3 favorites]