Maine Goat Brush-Clearing Business Suddenly Ruled Illegal, Owner Claims Scapegoating

Heather Lombard for a decade has offered up her goats for clients needing a good brush chomping.

Suddenly, Lombard says, she’s being scapegoated – accused of operating an illegal animal sanctuary on her West Kennebunk property.

“There’s an abundance of animals that need to be rescued, and we are basically just trying to give these animals a space and peaceful time for the rest of their lives without any threat of being euthanized or treated poorly,” Lombard said.

But recently Lombard says she was told to get rid of all of her goats and pigs.

Code Officer Brian Paul told her in a citation:

The act of Keeping of Livestock is not a Permitted Use in the West Kennebunk Village Residential Zone and therefore is prohibited.

Based on this interpretation of the ordinance, please take the necessary steps to bring your property into compliance with the local zoning regulations.

Failure to do so may result in the Town of Kennebunk initiating an enforcement action against you that could involve fines and penalties.

Lombard is appealing.

“We are being threatened by the town of Kennebunk’s code office,” she said. “They have mailed us a certified letter telling us we would have to get rid of our animals immediately,”

The Maine Wire has reached out to town officials for clarification.

Lombard owns and operates Scapegoats, a brush-clearing service that uses goats for the task, and Mousam Misfits Sanctuary, a place for farm animals needing shelter.

“The town of Kennebunk is working against its own people and established small businesses,” she posted online. “This isn’t just me, it’s a much wider problem that will be coming to light. Follow the full story at Mousam Misfits Sanctuary.”

Livestock, including horses, ponies, and certain rescue animals, is heavily regulated by Kennebunk zoning ordinances.

Permits are required through the code office and animals can only be kept on appropriately zoned lots of a minimum size.