Thanks to an 11-year-old in Oro Valley, folks in the town can now raise certain livestock on their property like chickens, miniature goats and bee colonies.
It all started when Savanna Randall asked the town if she and her family could raise chickens in May 2023. What she, and her dad Ben who accompanied her, didn’t expect was that her simple request would lead to the Oro Valley Town Council changing its rules on small livestock.
“I’m like, ‘Oh man, are they going to pass it? What are they going to do? Are they going to reject it?’” Savanna said.
Much to her surprise, on September 18 the council voted unanimously to approve the new ordinance. Savanna’s push for change also goes beyond just her love for animals.
“It teaches responsibility to kids by taking care of them, making sure they have food and water, cleaning up after them,” she said. “It aligns with the town motto, ‘It’s in our nature,’ because how would it be in our nature if we didn’t allow it?”
According to Savanna, those were just a few of the 25 benefits of owning animals, which she also shared with the town council during her request.