By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Officials at a Niles animal rescue shelter have been told they have until Monday to remove all of the livestock animals, which they have rescued from abuse and neglect.
Nancy Barrows and Jennifer Boyer established Twisted Oaks Animal Rescue as a no-kill animal sanctuary three and a half years ago and have since taken in and adopted out hundreds of animals.
On Sept. 29, an officer from the Berrien County Animal Control visited the farm and checked on the welfare of the animals and said there was nothing wrong with the animals they had and everything seemed to be fine, both ladies said.
Finally, on Oct. 2, the code enforcement officer from Bertrand Township came to the farm. Boyer and Barrows said he told them the facility is out of compliance with township regulations and must remove all of the animals classified as livestock because the facility is not zoned for livestock.
That means Boyer and Barrows are scurrying to find homes quickly for about 50 rescued goats, chickens, geese, ducks, horses and pigs.
The animals have now been moved temporarily to foster-care providers.
For Twisted Oaks to have just one chicken, they must have a total of at least five acres of land, Boyer and Barrows said.
Boyer said they asked the Bertrand Township code enforcement officer what their options are and he told them they could apply for a special use permit which would allow them to have all of the animals on their property.
At this point, Boyer and Barrows began soliciting help from others in the community, by either having them donate funds or to have them write letters of support to the Bertrand Township Board.
The funds which Twisted Oaks took in to help feed and care for the animals are now being used to pay for the boarding of the animals at local foster care homes where they were taken as a result of the non-compliance.
Both Barrows and Boyer said they enjoy what they do in helping the rescued animals and want to stay in the Niles community.
Boyer added she and Barrows are also looking at the situation as something which is making them a bit stronger.
One of the hardest things besides having to take all of the livestock animals off the property, is having to say no to those who call reporting an animal in need of help.
Boyer and Barrows would like to thank the community for all their support and they continue to take donations to help care for the animals while they are at their foster homes.
Donations can also be made directly to the Buchanan Feed Mill to help pay for the animals' feed.
For more information on Twisted Oaks Animal Rescue, go to www.twistedoaksanimalrescue.com.