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Md. Woman Forced To Give Up Backyard Birds

BRUNSWICK, Md. (AP) -- The city of Brunswick is forcing a resident to get rid of more than 20 quail and pigeons she keeps in a backyard coop.

She calls them pets. But city officials say the animals violate a prohibition on outdoor livestock.

Martha Caldwell told The Frederick News Post on Thursday that she's shipping the birds to a friend in Florida.

Caldwell says she doesn't eat or sell the birds. She likens them to fish in a backyard pond.

Mayor Karin Tome says the coop in Caldwell's yard violates an ordinance prohibiting livestock enclosures.

City Councilman Ellis Burruss is on Caldwell's side. He offered a proposal Tuesday allowing people to keep backyard animals as pets unless the city proves they're livestock. The motion failed for lack of a second.
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(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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