Hog-tied

To the editor:

Through the pages of The Osceola News-Gazette, I'd like to address the subject of feral pigs (hoggus horribilis) which plague much of Poinciana.

Our home backs onto the swamp and we are delighted to be so close to an untouched part of old Florida — we love it here. However, for the past 15 or 16 years, since we put down roots, there have been periodic visits by wild hogs which do their best to plow up our front and back yards. The damage has to be seen to be believed and over the years we have spent considerable sums of money and many sweaty hours in an effort to repair the damage.

Osceola County's Animal Control is unable to help — hogs are outside their terms of reference and considered an inconvenience rather than a menace, like an alligator or bear. Over the years, we have employed trappers and hunters, who have been ineffective, worthless and expensive. The cost of bait alone would have fed a large family plus their pets.

A few months ago, we decided that enough was enough and installed an electric fence to keep the pigs off our property. This is a solar-powered installation, unobtrusive and inexpensive. The fence is properly marked with signs in three languages to warn human trespassers. There is a wire at about snout level and another at shoulder level, which seems most effective in keeping the brutes out. By the way, all our neighbors have admired our handiwork and some are considering similar action

This week, however, we received a warning from snitches of the Association of Poinciana Village (APV) Community Patrol to the effect that we had offended against Paragraph 12.7.4 of the Design Control Criteria, to whit, "Improper fencing — electrified fence — (is) not an approved fencing."

As you might imagine, this warning puts me in something of a dilemma in continuing to protect my property from the ravages of the feral pigs.

Do I ignore the warning as if it had never happened? Not a good idea given that I am now on the patrol's radar and they will be back sooner rather than later and a citation and fine would be almost a certainty in my future.

Or ... should I appeal to the APV manager and her staff for special consideration? I could try it but their hands are tied as they are required to enforce the rules and regulations and have little or no discretion in these matters.

Or ... could I appeal to the board of directors at its next meeting and hope that, since they are my neighbors and possibly similarly plagued, they would look kindly on my request for an exception? That might work but it would be a stretch and I am almost sure that the vote would be for retaining the status quo. But I'll give it a try, soon.

Or... should I accede to the demands of APV and rip out the fence leaving the property open to yet more pig damage? Would I then be in jeopardy of further warnings and citations for having an unkempt landscaping?

Now, Lord knows I am not a student of constitutional law but there seems to be a disparity between what I am permitted to do to protect my property against human intrusion (up to and including the use of lethal force) and what I am not permitted to do to protect that same property against the forces of nature using humane and non-lethal means.

Perhaps you, Mr. Editor, or one of your esteemed readers could offer some guidance, please.

Allan R. Collins
Poinciana

Editor’s note: If you have a suggestion for Mr. Collins, please reply with a Letter to the Editor. No calls, please.