By Andy Sevilla
Shorty and Spot, a mini-horse and mini-donkey, will soon return home to their human parents in Kyle after officials gave the pets the boot a few months back.
The Kyle city council Tuesday night unanimously approved changes to the existing animal ordinance on final reading, making way for Shorty and Spot to join their family in the city.
“Having Spot and Shorty back will mean our family will again be complete!” Jennifer Cross, the mini animals’ human mom, and co-owner of Cross Plants and Produce told the Hays Free Press. “Just like any other pets, they have become part of our family and are a great source of joy and love.”
The mini-horse and mini-donkey were removed from their home at Cross Plants & Produce in May after the owners, Jennifer and Nathan Cross, learned their property on Old Highway 81 was not zoned properly to house them, Jennifer Cross said.
The city’s animal ordinance, before Tuesday night’s changes, prohibited livestock within the city unless the property is zoned agriculture. The Cross’ business property is zoned commercial.
“We voluntarily complied with the city’s request for their removal in early May 2014,” she said. “We then filed paperwork with the city of Kyle to change the animal ordinance to allow miniature livestock within the city limits.”
“The past few months without them have been sad, but also a blessing,” Cross said. “Of course we missed them and seeing their empty pen was a sad sight. However, the overwhelming community support to bring them back home has been humbling and heartwarming.”
That community support was evident at council’s Aug. 5 meeting, when city leaders first took a vote on the matter. Many in the packed council chamber encouraged council to amend the city’s animal ordinance to allow mini livestock within the city’s borders.
Council member Samantha LeMense, who sponsored the revisions to the ordinance, said the changes are good.
“It will allow business to grow in this community, through sales, through having pets and mascots on their properties,” she said at the Aug. 5 meeting.
Cross said she and her family first saw Spot and Shorty last year at the Little America Miniature Horse Ranch in Buda, and acquired them in January. Since their removal, the pets have been housed at a Cross friend’s ranch in Wimberley.
Spot and Shorty are very sweet, friendly and lovable pets, Cross said, and though they are classified as miniature livestock, she said they’re much like dogs. Mini-horses often are used as guide animals for the disabled, she said.
“They are a source of entertainment, affection and joy,” Cross said. “Families will have a unique opportunity right here in Kyle, to visit and watch a miniature horse and miniature donkey. That’s not something you see everyday.”
Under the new rules, two head of miniature livestock can be kept at a qualified residence (single-family, 8,190 square-foot lot) or qualified-zone property (agriculture) if they’re kept in a pen, corral, barn or other secure enclosure overnight, pastured on no less than one-third acre of land, and the property is fenced in.
Miniature livestock may not be used at a residence as “performing animals,” nor part of commercial animal enterprise, unless they are kept at a qualified-zoned property, the new rules state.
Also, there is a $50 permit fee per head of miniature livestock.
“Our customers of all ages were enchanted by [Shorty and Spot’s] cuteness and small size,” Cross said. “It will always be free to visit Spot and Shorty at Cross Plants and Produce. Families can stop in just to see them or make it part of their weekly farmers market shopping trip at CP&P.”
During business hours, the mini pets will be in their pen, but can be petted or fed if they happen to approach the fence. Cross said eventually they’d like to have their mini animals participate in Kyle parades and at school events where it would be appropriate and safe to have them.
