ENOSBURGH, Vt. (WCAX) – Concerns about loose livestock are hitting the Vermont Statehouse. Several communities around the state have had issues with farm animals escaping fenced areas and causing property damage. But proposed legislation aims to keep livestock locked up.
Enosburgh resident Riley Bockus says the last few years, cows from his neighbor’s property have been running wild and impacting his life.
“It’s extremely aggravating, stressful,” Bockus said.
Bockus told lawmakers on Friday that the cattle repeatedly get out and trample his lawn. Bockus says he has had no luck working with his neighbor, the town and law enforcement to stop the unconfined cattle.
“I don’t think I was asking very much when I asked someone to keep their cows in or maintain their fence,” Bockus said.
Timothy Lueders-Dumont of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs says there are already laws on the books dealing with loose livestock but they need to be brought up to date.
“So that there’s actually penalties involved for the individual because a $10 fine is not going to be a deterrent in 2024,” Lueders-Dumont said.
Ted Brady of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns agrees the current laws on the books are dated and this is an issue they hear about.
“A lot of towns contact us and say how do we handle livestock and domestic animals running afoul,” Brady said.
“The issue is quietly in many areas of Vermont, we just don’t hear about it,” said Sen. Bobby Starr, D-Essex-Orleans Counties.
Starr chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture. He hopes the issues between Bockus and his neighbor can be resolved outside the Statehouse.
“I don’t think it’s going to need a bill,” he said.
But Starr says it may be time to look at old agriculture laws and bring them into the 21st century.
“We got to go through those outdated laws and at least get them up to where they are meaningful,” he said.
