By Bryce Abshier – Contact Bryce@VoiceofSouthMarion.com
In a Christmas miracle for Summerfield’s Orange Blossom Hills, Dinky, Winky, and Kinky, the neighborhood’s beloved goat trio, are staying put. After a months-long battle that rallied neighbors and warmed hearts, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a special use permit, allowing the goats to remain on owner Steve Fredriksen’s property. The decision is the gift Fredriksen and his supporters had been hoping for, ending what could have been a very bah, humbug holiday season.
Fredriksen, who has raised generations of goats on his land for 18 years without issue, was initially blindsided by a Marion County Code Enforcement letter demanding the removal of his furry friends due to zoning rules. The saga began earlier this year when the goats were flagged for violating livestock restrictions in the R-1 residential zone. No complaints had been filed; the goats simply caught the eye of an official during routine patrol. Cue the community uproar.
Neighbors sprang into action, proving that the holiday spirit, and a love of goats, could unite the subdivision. Petitions circulated, funds were raised to help cover a non-refundable $1,000 special use permit fee, and heartfelt letters poured in to defend the goats’ right to stay.
Dinky, Winky, and Kinky aren’t just pets, they’re the neighborhood mascots, a symbol of what makes Orange Blossom Hills unique amid its growing suburban sprawl. Kids adore them. Adults smile at the sight of their frolicking antics. Even the grumpiest Grinches couldn’t deny the joy they bring.
The Board’s decision puts an official bow on what has been a rollercoaster year for Fredriksen and his goats. Now, instead of facing eviction, Dinky, Winky, and Kinky can look forward to munching on treats and spreading holiday cheer as only goats can – by staying put in the place they call home.
For a community that rallied like a scene straight from a Hallmark movie, this outcome is more than just a victory for three goats. It’s a reminder of what neighbors can accomplish when they come together.
