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Saanich goat pilot project gives new meaning to kids next door

Jillian McCue is one tenacious kid. At nine years of age, she started pleading and petitioning with Saanich to allow miniature goats in residential backyards — and at 12, she’s finally getting her wish. “I’m so excited,” said the Grade 7 grad.
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Jillian McCue, 12, working on the goat condo in the family's Gordon Head backyard. Jillian spent three years seeking permission from Saanich to have miniature goats in urban backyards. She expects the goats — Gabbie and Baby — to move in within 10 days.

Jillian McCue is one tenacious kid.

At nine years of age, she started pleading and petitioning with Saanich to allow miniature goats in residential backyards — and at 12, she’s finally getting her wish.

“I’m so excited,” said the Grade 7 grad.

Her mini-goats, Gabbie and Baby, will have unique status within the municipality. Jillian’s family filed the only application to Saanich, despite months of advertising for 10 households to take part in a pilot project on urban goats.

The bar was set high to protect neighbours from odours and noise. That included the need for written permission from all neighbours within 50 metres of the affected backyards.

“We are delighted that she will be able to fulfill her dream,” said Coun. Susan Brice, the municipality’s acting mayor.

“Council didn't know what to expect, but we feel we held an open process and did not simply react to a one-off situation.”

The pilot project, with Jillian as the lone participant, will last at least 18 months, Brice said.

“If at the end, the decision is to not proceed to allow further mini goats, there will be an opportunity to grandfather Jillian’s goats.” That means Jillian would likely be allowed to keep her charges.

The McCues have started converting the human kids’ playhouse into a shelter and are building a pen for the pets, currently ensconced at a North Saanich hobby farm.

Jillian expects them to be frolicking in her Gordon Head backyard within 10 days.

Further rules allow two goats, dehorned on a minimum property size of 557 square metres with a predator-proof indoor shelter and an outdoor enclosure of at least 37 square metres.

No sale of goat milk, products, manure or meat is allowed. No more than three cubic metres of goat manure can be stored and fencing between 1.5 and 1.9 metres high is required.

Saanich planning director Sharon Hvozdanski said there were several inquiries about the pilot program, but only the McCue application came through.

Jillian had to consult with 14 neighbours and, at one point, Saanich was going to require consultations within 100 metres.

Neighbourly consultation is required to get such a pilot off to a good start, Hvozdanski said.

“Two goats moving into a neighbourhood is going to be noticed, so it is best practice for potential applicants to chat with their immediate neighbours first,” she said.

The time and money needed to keep goats may have been a concern for some potential applicants, Hvozdanksi said, adding that keeping goats is an “unknown reality” for most people.

The space requirements could also be a deterrent, she said, as the animals’ shelter and outdoor enclosure would take up some of a homeowner’s usable backyard space.

“Even though there is only one participant in the pilot, we still have a valuable opportunity to learn real lessons about keeping mini goats in a suburban/urban setting,” Hvozdanski said.

kdedyna@timescolonist.com