Warren County Planning Commission members’ discussions of how to help a Tidioute family keep goats on their property has been interesting to hear over the past couple of months.

As county officials research the matter, one thing is becoming clear – it would be better if the county deals with the issue head-on rather than trying to find a workaround that helps the Tidioute couple while also keeping existing setback requirements in the county’s zoning code.

If neighbors aren’t complaining and there is no true health or safety impact, perhaps a one-off use variance is the answer. Perhaps there is an amendment to the zoning code that needs to happen regarding setbacks, an option that was discussed last week. .

But we’re not sure classifying the goats as emotional support animals under a new ordinance is the right answer. Jeff Zariczny, one of the planning board’s members, noted – correctly, in our view – that using the emotional support animal law as a work-around to the county’s setback requirements is a slippery slope.

If county residents can simply claim animals as emotional support animals, then the county’s zoning code really means little.

“What about the guy up the street who has Mr. Ed in his garage?” he said. “Setbacks are still going to come into play.”

We can’t disagree.

It’s time for common sense to take over in this discussion. Legislating for single cases is how books of regulations grow endlessly to the point that regulations and ordinances contradict each other and leave everyone confused as to what is and isn’t allowed. If no one but the government has an issue with the goats, then why are we creating this issue in the first place?