A Marion County family is asking for permission to keep three goats, four geese, and two ducks as emotional support animals at their nearly 1-acre property in Dunnellon, with county staff expressing concerns over the high number of animals and inadequate water filtration.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, May 19, to consider a “reasonable accommodation” request from William and Karen Loges, the owners of the 0.95-acre property located at 6500 SW 202nd Court in the Rainbow Acres subdivision.
The Loges are asking for formal permission on behalf of their tenants, Ryan and Jennifer Jones, and their two young daughters, to house three goats, four geese, and two ducks at the site.
According to a letter submitted by the family, the animals serve a vital therapeutic and emotional support function for both the adults and children, who struggle with symptoms of trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
The family states that daily interaction with the animals provides routine, emotional regulation, and mood stability.
A supporting letter from Ursula Patrice Crews, an APRN with UF Health Family Medicine, states that Ryan Jones is under professional care for medical conditions that meet the definition of a disability.
“A reasonable number of support animals is a necessary and therapeutic component of his treatment plan,” Crews states in her letter, noting the animals help alleviate symptoms and enhance a patient’s ability to live independently…