Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement handed rescue ratio

An Albertafarm animal rescue facility is slowing its expansion plans after a single false complaint was made by a concerned citizen.

The Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement (FARRM) started as a pot-bellied pig re-homing network, but soon started taking in other abandoned animals, including goats, chickens, sheep and horses.

"We're finding that people are just taking them in or purchasing them and then can no longer care for them and they're finding their way to us," said founder Melissa Foley.

"We do have handfuls of animals that are just being abandoned and lefton acreages more your farm-type of animals, as well," she said.

"We never have to go looking for animals."

For two years now, FARRM has been a full-time job for Foley, and throughout it all, she has stayed in touch with the county and with neighbours to make sure no feathers are ruffled or regulations ignored.

She had planned to expand the operation this summer, however, a recent falserumour the centre would be taking in a tiger has complicated the situation.

"We've never had any issues but [since] we've kind of been getting out into the public now, we did have bylaw want to come out and impose new rules for us, as there isn't actually a bylaw with the County of Wetaskiwin either limiting or restricting the amount or type of animals that you can have," she said.

Now, the county has assigned a ratio of large to small animalsthat FARRM will have to meet to in order to comply with the property's development permit.

The county saysFARRM is not at risk of being shut down as long as it doesn't break those rules, and there are no plans for further enforcement on the property at this time.

The 60 animals FARRM is currently caring for on its 6 acres is over the new restrictions, Foley said, but not by much.

"We're doing OK," she said. "Essentially, animals are always coming in and out, it gives us room to work with."

Regardless, Foley said the group will have to limit its operation somewhat in the future to comply with the ratio.

She does plan on going forward with the barn construction started last summer, though, and has plans to redo fencing and expand animal pen areas this summer.

Anyone with practical carpentry skills who wants to help out this summer is welcome, she said.