Surprisingly good city by-laws

[KitaCat]

I live in a relatively unknown city, in Canada, so I don't expect this to be useful to many, but... I thought I'd share, because it makes me happy to find that my city has bylaws that protect more than just dogs and cats from cruelty and neglect.

The full document is located here: http://www.stjohns.ca/bylaws.nsf/nwByLawNum/1514

Here are the highlights. There is an excellent section on outdoor enclosure standards too, but since it's so cold here, I can't imagine it ever applying to reptiles.

2. In this By-Law:

(a) Animal means all species of fauna excluding humans, fish and aquatic invertebrates;

3. (1) Every owner of an Animal is responsible to ensure that the Animal is provided with the following:

(a) clean, fresh drinking water and food of sufficient quantity and quality so as to allow for normal, healthy growth and the maintenance of normal, healthy body weight;

(b) clean food and water receptacles located so as to avoid contamination by excreta;

(c) exercise sufficient to maintain good health; and

(d) necessary veterinary medical care.

I've seen people mention a few times in different areas that the local by-laws have essentially nothing in them that would protect any reptiles from neglect. The fact that our laws refer to ANY animal, and set out the requirements for caring for them properly in such clear terms, makes me very happy.

Mind you, I know that in a case of suspected neglect, the officer would still need to possess knowledge of exactly what constitutes good husbandry for the reptile in question, but it's a good start, right?