Owner of Neighborhood Peacocks Going to Trial With City of Midland

They've been a feature in a local neighborhood for over 30 years but now animal control in Midland has a problem with a resident's peacocks.

If you've ever driven the neighborhood around Trinity Estates in Midland, you've probably seen a peacock or two. The beautiful birds reside behind Trinity School and are a amiliar sight to all who live in the neighborhood.  George Lohmann's estate has been their home since the 1940's.

That could change though, because Midland Animal Control has begun sighting the owner of the birds because of a recently passed city ordinance. The owner says he's been slapped with about 30 misdemeanor charges for breaking an animal ordinance.

'They are not a nuisance. They bring such beauty and life to our neighborhood. A real uniqueness. So it would just be a shame if something happened to them and they just took that away,' said Kimberly Cowan, a Trinity Estates resident.

According to NewsWest 9: 'The head of animal control came out and threatened me that they were going to take pictures of any peafowl outside my fence and charge me with a misdemeanor, and they have charged me with about 30 of them,' said George Lohmann, the owner of the peacock property.

He says no one has ever gone this far to get rid of the peacocks at his home.

'I think it's targeting. I think it's intentional. There's a neighbor that's been targeting me regularly,' said Lohmann.

It's unclear if that's the case but a jury trial has been set for Tuesday. The city says that's because he has violated a recently passed animal ordinance.

'You know people of three generations have enjoyed these birds,' said Lohmann.

Lohmann says he plans to fight the charges.

'Yeah they want me to pay a fine which I'm not going to do. And they want me to clip the wings of these creatures who roost in trees at night. If the wings are clipped they're dead,' said Lohmann.

You may remember the story recently where some of Mr. Lonmann's birds were bludgeoned to death by suspected gang members.

Do you think the city is targeting Mr. Lonmann unfairly?