July 10, 2014: Iraq war veteran Darin Welker, 36, holds one of his ducks at his home in West Lafayette, Ohio. (AP)
An Ohio Army veteran who says his pet ducks help relieve his post-traumatic stress disorder and depression has been convicted of a minor misdemeanor for keeping them.
Darin Welker was cited for violating a ban on keeping farm animals in West Lafayette, a village 80 miles east of Columbus. He was found guilty Wednesday and was fined $50 plus court costs.
A prosecutor says the ordinance is clear and the judge's hands were tied.
The Coshocton Tribune reports Welker recently gave away eight of the ducks but still has six.
Welker argued for a change in the law. He said in court the ducks are fenced in his yard but sometimes have been in his house or sitting on a recliner.
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