A request by the Weyburn Legion about using chickens for a fundraiser at the upcoming car show in Weyburn had staff at city hall digging through the archives. They were on a mission to find out what the exact rules were for having livestock in Weyburn, and if there were any exceptions. While it was common knowledge one couldn’t keep a cow or horse, or chicken in their backyard, the specifics weren’t handily available.

Donette Richter is the City Clerk. She explained they had to go back more than 50 years, to 1963, to look at records which haven’t been digitized, to get the answer. There was also a follow up to the bylaw from 1970.

“The amendment in 1970 allows people to make an application to council for an exemption,” she said. She then explained what the bylaw specifically banned within Weyburn.

“The original bylaw actually prohibits horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, swine or any other similar animals within the city limits.”

There were exemptions included in the original bylaw for the Weyburn Agricultural Society. This would allow for events like the rodeo, 4H shows and more to happen with little red tape.

“This is more geared towards people having livestock living in their backyard,” Richter explained. With the amendment from 1970 allowing for the council to make an exemption, she said the Legion did things by the book.

The request from the Legion was to be able to have chickens in the city limits for a fundraiser, which would see the chickens in a pen marked down with a grid. If the grid used by the chicken to defecate was the one you purchased, you win the prize.

The motion was granted by Weyburn City Council unanimously, with Councillor Dick Michel pointing out the fundraiser had been done by other organizations in the past with great success.

Weyburn doesn't have an exotic animals bylaw at this time. Richter pointed out for those, there is provincial legislation which covers the topic.