Pet rooster falls foul of legal system in Michigan

[July 03, 2010]  PETOSKEY, Mich. (AP) -- Beaker the rooster can't beat the man.

The northern Michigan fowl whose address has been the focus of at least two court challenges is passing on the chance to crow before the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Andy and Sharon Peters, Beaker's owners, have instead opted to send the animal to the Second Chance Ranch and Rescue in Petoskey.

Authorities in September said the couple violated a county ordinance by having a farm animal on residential property. The Peters unsuccessfully fought the decision in Emmet County 90th District Court and 57th Circuit Court.

Resigned to their legal fate, the couple has begun Beaker's transition to the rescue ranch, where executive director Dr. Pam Graves tells the Petoskey News-Review that he's settling in and "acting like a chicken."

___

Information from: Petoskey News-Review, http://www.petoskeynews.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.