Ohio to ban exotic animal ownership

[Jade velly]

i do not think it should be illegal to keep exotic pets ... wild animals on the other hand, should remain wild ... such as bears ... that is utterly ridiculous to have a pet bear ... remember that guy who lived with the bears in the wild for years and eventually they ate him ... and if an animal dies in the wild due to being eaten by another animal, that is purely the circle of life ... but animals like fennec foxes ... they are bred in captivity and can be raised and trained like a dog should be fine ... a red fox, not so much ... chimps are also pets that should not be kept as pets, any primate really, as when they reach maturity their wild instincts kick in ... now the banning of sugar gliders, hedgehogs, snakes, i do not agree those should be illegal as all can be bred in captivity and kept as pets ... if you are suggesting bears, lions, tigers or wolves should be kept as pets to protect them from the wild or habitat or pollution, none of those reasons make those animals pets ... that is just the sad state of affairs in our world ... and your last comment that dogs are useless but you think bears should be pets, makes me question if you are 10 ... and usually people who need something to feel different, have personal issues that need to be dealt with and that can not be dealt with by owning an exotic pet ... a dog is the most loyal, trainable pet you can have ... i agree cats are useless )

[Gloryhound]

Sorry the poster was deleted from the site so no responce is needed, so I got rid of my coment.

Thank you moderators, and if you want you can delete this post!

[catawhat75]

Please make sure your voice is heard. The HSUS is doing their best to keep the ban in place

http://action.humanesociety.org/site...0&dlv_id=22673

[reptilegirl07]

I was just looking in Ohio craigslist and came across this post:
Is this for real? And I was going to go to the Columbus show to get some burmese!! Guess I'm not going now!

Horrible! Only show on the east coast worth going to now (IMO) is the one in PA!

Is there any way to get rid of this?



1501:31-19-05 Dangerous wild animals.
(A) As of January 6, 2011, except as provided in paragraphs (B) and (C), it shall be
unlawful to posses, sell, or transfer live restricted species. For purposes of this
section, "restricted species" means any individual animal of the following scientific
classifications:
(1) Class mammalia, order carnivora:
(a) Family canidae: coyote (Canis latrans), timber and gray wolf (Canis
lupus), excluding wolf-dog hybrids;
(b) Family felidae: lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), jaguars
(Panthera onca), leopard (Panthera pardus), clouded leopard (Neofelis
nebulosa), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus),
bobcat (Rufus rufus), lynx (Lynx rufus), cougars, pumas, or mountain
lions (Puma concolor), including hybrids thereof;
(c) Family ursidae: all species of bears.
(2) All species of Class mammilia, order primates excluding humans.
(3) Class reptilia:
(a) Order crocodylia: all species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and
gharials.
(b) Order squamata:
(i) Family atractaspidae: all species, such as mole vipers.
(ii) Family boidae: anaconda (Genus eunectes), Burmese python
(Python molurus), reticulated python (Python reticulatus),
amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus), scrub python
(Morelia kinghorni), northern African python (Python sebae),
southern African python (Python natalensis).
(iii) Family colubridae: boomslang (Dispholidus typus), twig snake
(Genus thelotornis).
(iv) Family elapidae: all species, such as cobra, mamba, and coral
snakes.
(v) Family hydrophiidae: all species, such as sea snakes.
(vi) Family viperidae: all species, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and
puff adders.
[ stylesheet: rule.xsl 2.14, authoring tool: i4i 2.0 Apr 9, 2003, (dv: 5, p: 77177, pa: 128939, ra: 263390, d: 323818)] print date: 01/06/2011 10:07 AM
(B) The prohibitions in paragraph (A) shall not apply to any person possessing restricted
species prior to January 6, 2011, provided that the following criteria are met and
continue to be met:
(1) Such person may not acquire additional restricted species after January 6, 2011,
whether by purchase, donation, trade, barter, gift, or breeding;
(2) Such person shall not have been convicted of an offense involving the abuse or
neglect of any animal pursuant to any state, local, or federal law;
(3) Such person shall not have had a license or permit regarding the care,
possession, exhibition, breeding, or sale of animals revoked or suspended by
any state, local, or federal agency;
(4) Such person must register with, and pay a registration fee to, the state
department of natural resources, division of wildlife on a form prescribed by
the chief of the division of wildlife by May 1, 2011, and annually thereafter.
(a) The registration materials shall indicate the number of animals of each
restricted species in their possession.
(b) The registry shall be housed by the department of agriculture, and the
registration data is to be forwarded to the department of agriculture
within thirty days of receipt by the department of natural resources,
division of wildlife.
(c) The department of natural resources will notify the department of
agriculture of any suspected dangerously contagious or infectious
disease or residue relating to animals registered with the department of
natural resources so that the department of agriculture may act pursuant
to its authority in chapter 941. of the Revised Code.
(5) Such person may not allow members of the public any opportunity to come into
physical contact with a restricted species;
(6) Such person may only sell or transfer existing restricted species to an institution
accredited by the association of zoos and aquariums, a wildlife sanctuary as
defined in paragraph (C), a family member with permission of the chief of the
division of wildlife or the chief's designee and meeting all other requirements
of paragraph (B), or, until January 6, 2016, to an out-of-state facility. At least
seventy two hours prior to sale or transfer, such person must notify the chief
of the division of wildlife, identifying the recipient of the animal. At all
times, possession, sale, transfer, and transport of the restricted species must
conform with all applicable state, local, and federal laws;
(7) It shall be unlawful to possess any restricted species not permanently implanted
1501:31-19-05 2
with a unique passive integrated transponder with a frequency of one hundred
twenty five kHz, one hundred thirty four and two tenths kHz, or four hundred
kHz in each.
(C) The prohibitions in paragraph (A) shall not apply to:
(1) Institutions accredited by the association of zoos and aquariums, and facilities
that have an active contractual relationship with an association of zoos and
aquariums species survival plan for breeding of species listed as threatened or
endangered pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1533.
(2) Entities licensed by the United States department of agriculture, provided that
such entities meet one of the following criteria:
(a) Operate as a circus, defined as a traveling show that features acrobats,
clowns, and restricted animals as an integral part of the performances,
that does not allow physical contact between a restricted species and
any member of the public, and that is temporarily in the stat for less
than forty five days per year.
(b) Operate an existing mascot program, defined as breeding or exhibition of
a single restricted species for the purposes of a live representation of a
mascot for a particular educational institution that established its
mascot program before January 6, 2009.
(i) Entities engaged in exhibiting of a particular restricted species for
purposes of an established mascot program are prohibited from
possessing, breeding, exhibiting, acquiring, selling or transferring
any restricted species other than that used in the established
mascot program.
(ii) Entities engaged in breeding for an established mascot program are
prohibited from possessing, breeding, exhibiting, acquiring,
selling, or transferring any restricted species other than that used
in the established mascot program.
(3) Research facilities, as defined in the animal welfare act (7 U.S.C. 2132(e)).
(4) Wildlife sanctuaries, defined as nonprofit organizations that the division of
wildlife certifies meet the following criteria:
(a) Operates a place of refuge where abused, neglected, unwanted,
impounded, abandoned, orphaned, or displaced animals are provided
care for the lifetime of the animal;
(b) Does not conduct any commercial activity with respect to restricted
species, including, but not limited to:
1501:31-19-05 3
(i) Sale, trade, auction, lease, or loan of restricted species or parts of
restricted species; or
(ii) Use of restricted species in any manner in a for-profit business or
operation;
(c) Does not use restricted species for entertainment purposes or in a traveling
exhibit;
(d) Does not breed any restricted species; and
(e) Does not allow members of the public the opportunity to come into
contact with restricted species.
(5) Wildlife rehabilitation facilities permitted by the chief of the division of wildlife
pursuant to 1501:31-25-03 of the Administrative Code, provided that such
facilities are engaged in the rehabilitation of native restricted species for
purposes of reintroduction into the wild. Notwithstanding 1501:31-25-03 of
the Administrative Code, such facilities may not possess, sell, barter, trade,
gift, or transfer restricted species unless another exemption in this paragraph
applies.
(6) Bona fide education and scientific institutions permitted under authority of
section 1533.08 of the Revised Code or division of wildlife approved research
projects under authority of section 1531.25 of the Revised Code.
(7) A person temporarily transporting a legally owned restricted species through the
state if the transit time is not more than forty eight hours, the animal is not
exhibited, and the animal is maintained at all times in a species appropriate
enclosure such that there is no opportunity for physical contact with any
member of the public.
(D) In the event that a restricted species escapes, the person or facility that possess the
restricted species must comply with the provisions of section 2927.21 of the
Revised Code and notify the division of wildlife.
1501:31-19-05 4
Effective:
Certification
Date
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1531.10
Rule Amplifies: 1531.08, 1531.01
1501:31-19-05 5

[ER12]

Crossposted from OAAO:

First of all, thanks to everyone who's called/emailed/sent letters regarding Emergency Rule 1501:31-19-05 currently in place in Ohio; also, thanks to everyone who's contacted us to be added to the List of Opposition. The encouraging news is, we are making some progress. On Tuesday of this week, the Governor's office instructed the ODNR *not* to file the permanent rule which the ODNR was planning to file with JCARR that day. Before anybody gets too excited about that -- it doesn't mean we've won. It does, however, mean the Governor is listening to our concerns, which is what we asked him to do.

The next order of business is for everyone to get on the ODNR website and enter your comments on this rule (refer to my earlier emails if you need suggestions on what to say). Again, be polite but firm. If the rule directly affects you or your business, explain that; if you don't live in Ohio but do business in Ohio, explain that. If it affects you as a non-commercial owner, explain that. The website address is:

ohiodnr.com/tabid/23166/Default.aspx

When you go to the website, you will see ODNR's "official position" at this time.

We cannot afford to let up; we must keep the pressure on. If you haven't called or emailed the Governor's office yet, please do so immediately. The person to contact in the Governor's Office of Constituent Affairs is:

Michael DuChesne (pronounced Doo-Shay)
Phone: (614) 644-0829
email: michael.duchesne@governor.ohio.gov