To the majority of people across the United States, the term “pet”still means owing dog or cat. But in the past 15 years, the definition of this term has expanded to include animals of an exotic or wild nature. Because of a county’s responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, more counties are developing ordinances to regulate the possession and/or ownership of these types of pets.
The Sedgwick County, Kan., Board of Commissioners, with the help of the Sedgwick Animal Care Advisory Board, has developed a comprehensive exotic animal ordinance. In Sedgwick County, an exotic animal is “any animal which is not native or indigenous to Kansas, or does not have an established wild population in Kansas.”
The county’s regulation of exotic animals is divided into two categories: inherently dangerous exotic mammals (i.e., non-domesticated dogs, non-domesticated cats, and bears), and inherently dangerous reptiles (i.e., venomous snakes, snakes greater than 10 feet and/or weighing 15 pounds, crocodiles, and alligators).
A license to possess an inherently dangerous mammal is granted only to those persons whose facilities are licensed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, or to those individuals who owned or possessed this type of mammal on or before the day the ordinance went into effect.
In order to own or possess an inherently dangerous reptile, a person has to be at least 18 years old and meet the licensing requirements set forth in the ordinance.
Standards for housing, including the dimensions and the types of materials used in constructing and maintaining the housing, are very specific, and are provided for each type of exotic animal. Care standards, (i.e., water, food, sanitation, medical needs, transportation, and restraint), are also given for each specific species.
The ordinance establishes license regulations, and grants the licensing and inspection authority to the county animal control officer.
Jefferson County, Ky.’s wildlife ordinance prohibits the possession of primates and venomous reptiles (unless owned prior to March 1988). In Jefferson County, wildlife is defined as any animal which occurs naturally in a wild state, including any animal which is part wild.
Individuals who own or possess wildlife are required by state statute to obtain a permit from the Kentucky State Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The county ordinance also requires a second permit from the Jefferson County Division of Animal Control and Protection and a health certificate from a veterinarian stating that the animal is free of infectious diseases.
Although specific, sections of both these ordinances do not apply to accredited zoos and aquariums, and licensed theatrical exhibits or circuses.
(For more information on the ordinances discussed above, please call 202/942-4279. If you would like to share your county’s ordinances with NACo regarding exotic and/or wild animals, please send information to the attention of Peggy Beardslee.)
(Research News was written by Peggy Beardslee, research assistant.)