That's Just Wrong: Loud Roosters

WSVN -- Enter Southwest Ranches in Broward County, and be prepared to take a step back in time.

It's a rural way of life in this town. It's why Tony Vincent's family planted roots here 35 years ago.

Tony Vincent: "All I did as a kid was ride my horse and we had the dog with us."

These days, Tony not only raises different birds, he runs a nursery on his five acre property.

Animal sounds are part of his daily life. But it's the sounds of roosters next door that he claims are just wrong.

Tony Vincent: "When you have one doing it, it's pretty bad, when you have twelve doing it, that's torture."

The roosters belong to Tony's neighbor. In the last couple of years, farm owners moved out, divided their properties, and sold the land to homeowners looking for large lots.

Tony says because his neighbors aren't farmers, they shouldn't have the roosters in the first place.

Tony Vincent: "It's a noise that goes right through you. It's tantamount to having an ice pick in your ear. It's terrible, terribly annoying, terrible sound."

Now just about anywhere else in Broward County, the crowing would be illegal.

But in the town of Southwest Ranches, the law doesn't apply. After incorporation four years ago, the town made its own rules.

So no matter if you own a farm or not, horses and other barnyard animals are allowed, and so are the noises they make.

Attorney for Southwest Ranches Keith Poliakoff: "The town council has made it clear at almost every council meeting that the sounds that barnyard animals make shall not constitute a nuisance, but instead actually enhance the rural lifestyle of the community."

Tony however, would like the town to consider nuisance complaints on a case by case basis. The town's attorney says that would be discrimination.

Keith Poliakoff: "Even on a case by case basis, it could almost be considered selective enforcement, and because of that it would be unlikely that there could ever be a case by case basis distinction on something such as the sounds that barnyard animals make."

Tony's neighbors couldn't agree more. They tell us they've done nothing wrong but plan to move out at the end of the month; ending this neighborhood feud once and for all.

Tony Vincent: "I would hope that neighbors when they live close, as it's happening now, properties are being divided, they have more consideration for their neighbors."

Tony's neighbors also say their roosters are the required 50 feet from the property line and are kept properly. In fact, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff's Office says the roosters are not being abused or neglected and the family will not be cited.

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