C-Jay Martin’s neighbors in Bangor, Maine rallied to help him keep his backyard chickens, which were not allowed by city ordinance.
Amy Martin researched emotional support chickens for her son C-Jay, and learned that chickens like Berry, above, became emotional support animals during the pandemic. C-Jay Martin has had significant physical and cognitive challenges his entire life, but has generally gone about his days happily.Amy Martin researched ways to help her son, who is 25, and decided based on his abilities, she wanted to get him an emotional support animal.
C-Jay Martin is missing one-third of his brain and half of his right lung, and his heart is on the right side of his body rather than the left. He also has autism, epilepsy and ADHD. C-Jay is a social person, his mother said, and pandemic-induced isolation took a toll on his mental health.“He just loves animals, and he is unbelievable with them,” said Amy Martin.
The process to be granted an exception to the law, Amy Martin learned, was more challenging and complicated than she anticipated. She first contacted city officials in the Department of Housing and Urban Development in February to ask forto the rule — meaning she would be given an exemption and allowed to keep chickens.
Jeff Wallace, the director of code enforcement for the city of Bangor, also spoke at the hearing, and said that the chickens are not a public health threat. Some neighbors expressed worry that the chickens could attract rats, though Wallace said “I have no reason to believe” the chickens would create a rat issue in the neighborhood.Since Amy Martin got the chickens in April, Wallace said he has not received any complaints about them.
Amy Martin said she is grateful for the outpouring of support from her neighbors, and she hopes her family’s story will help set a precedent, so that others in their position have an easier time getting through the process.Two days after the hearing, “we got our first egg,” Amy Martin said. “It’s so exciting.”
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