Farm animals a city nuisance

My elderly parents live behind a neighbor who houses a menagerie of animals, and now includes a chicken coop. The coop has attracted a family of rats that have invaded the neighborhood. My 83-year-old father was recently hospitalized after a rat bit him, causing a life-threatening infection.

After returning from the hospital, we hired a pest control company to help rid my parents’ home and yard of the disgusting rodents. The pest-control professional indicated that rats will continue to enter our yard as long as the chicken coop and their main food source remain.

I understand that Lexington allows for such farm animals inside the city limits and that our neighbor is not violating an ordinance. But am I alone in believing those who wish to have farm animals should move to a farm and not be allowed to house them in the middle of a peaceful neighborhood if it creates such a danger?

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Farm animals a city nuisance."