'Waffle' the pet rooster at the center of a township dispute allegedly receives death threats

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - The pet rooster at the center of legal action is now getting threats according to his owner.

Action News brought you the story of Waffle the rooster earlier this week, and the civil infraction its owner received for having the pet.

Now Waffle's owner says the rooster is being threatened by the next-door neighbor and Brownie the Yorkie.

Kendra Wiedbusch, Waffle's owner, says her neighbor Christine Laurell told Brownie to "kill the chicken and rip its head off."

"All I said was 'get it', not rip its neck off," Laurell tells Action News.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which happened after our initial report Monday night.

The issue is not just dividing a street, but a family.

Wiedbusch and Laurell are first cousins.

Neighbors have filed complaints about Waffle's crowing since the Wiedbusch family took Waffle from another owner in October.

"The rooster's a nuisance," says Laurell. "It doesn't shut up."

The township cited the Wiedbusches for having a farm animal. It's against township ordinance to have a farm animal on less than five acres.

But a magistrate sided with the family, and the township is appealing.

In case they lose the court case. they are looking for a shelter or farm that would take Waffle, but because he's been raised as a pet it's difficult to find a place willing to take him.

"The flock will likely kill him," says Wiedbusch. "I'm afraid for Waffle's safety."