A warning to all urban chicken owners: they can be a "gateway farm animal."  One day you have a small flock, and may be contemplating installing a beehive, and then suddenly you find yourself the proud owner of several goats and an ironclad milking schedule. It's a slippery slope.

Now I understand that in today’s economy everyone is struggling to deal with the hardships of trying to survive. But now things have gotten out of hand - or I should say “out of hoof.”

On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council approved $250,000 and an additional $1.5 million in Wildfire Prevention Assessment District funds for goat grazing. Yes, you read correctly, “goat grazing.”