Dane County reptile ban to be referred on 10/09/12

[ER12]

On Tuesday October 9th, The Dane County Public Works and Transportation Committee will bring up as a referral the ordinance to ban many reptiles and other "exotic" animals. Tuesday October 9th @ 5:30 PM in the Public Works Conference room 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way Madison WI.

Everyone please attend!!!! There is strength in numbers!!!

For those who cannot attend, call or write in!
Dane County Public Works and Transportation Committee:

Robin Schmidt: 608-221-0514 schmidt.robin@countyofdane.com
Kyle Richmond: 608/251-3171 richmond.kyle@countyofdane.com
Dave Ripp: 608/849-7643 ripp.david@countyofdane.com
Matt Veldran: 608-271-0722 veldran@countyofdane.com
Jeff Pertl: 608/772-2907 pertl.jeff@countyofdane.com

[gsarchie]

Post about this after the meeting if you would, please, and good luck with this! Who is proposing the ban?

[ER12]

Will do!

Two entities, the Dane County Department of Health, and the Dane County Corporation Council, which are the county's attorneys that draft ordinances much like city attorneys do on the municipal level.

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According to the ordinance, "the Dane County Board of Supervisors finds that exotic animals pose health and safety risks to the residents of Dane County". On 2/28/12, however, when questioned by members of the Health and Human Needs committee, representatives from the two aforementioned entities were unable to answer "how many people in Dane county Wisconsin have been killed or seriously injured by exotic animals vs. dogs and other domesticated animals?" To which by their own admission to both was "none"

[gsarchie]

Of course it was. I'm sure that some idiot or entity with an alterior motive (maybe someone "contracted" by the HSUS or PETA to be their puppet) that made a campafinancial contribution of some sort to the two entities proposing the ban is now trying to cash in their chips. One of the many reasons that I HATE government!

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Just did a little digging as I remembered hearing about someone "allegedly" seeing a loose snake near the Navarino Nature Wildlife Area. I say alleged because no actual snake was ever produced, nor was any evidence. I would not put it past the HSUS for even a split second to have someone make a bogus claim about seeing a 10' python in a park to use as a basis for getting new legislation restricting pet ownerhsip passes. I really wish someone would drop tactical nukes on every HSUS and PETA office around the country. With that said, I AM NOT advocating going out and hurting anyone. And with that said, I wouldn't be sad if anyone did.

[ER12]

**Update**

The Dane County Ordinance amendment 36, 11-2 to amend Chapter 47 barring possession and sale of reptiles and many other exotic animals has been postponed! After lengthy testimony, discussion, and Q&A of those registered to speak in opposition, Corporation Council, Dane County Animal Services, and Public Health Department, the measure can be expected to be postponed until the latter part of November, where it is expected that references to all reptiles listed under the ordinance (Crocodylia, venomous reptilia, and reptilia over 10 feet) will be removed and be dealt with separately under caging, handling and other best management practices. Discussions between Madison area Herpetological Society board members, Dane County Animal Services, and Dane County Environmental Health Division into implementing best management practices for keeping these animals as well as identifying enhanced enforcement mechanisms for Animal services can now be expected to begin shortly.

Early indications at the Public Works and Transportation committee on 10/09 were that that the ordinance would also be heard this Thursday Oct 11th by the Dane County Board of Health. However, this is now not the case. The ordinance has been pulled from the BOH agenda until the aforementioned changes have been made in November.

All indications are that the ordinance will not be expected back as an agenda item on *any* of the four committees it has been assigned to until November...

[gsarchie]

So it sounds to me like it was soundly defeated, but maybe not? From what you described it seems as if there will be regulations that will be discussed but not a ban.

[ER12]

Animal Service's stated reasoning for deciding to go with reptilia over 10 feet under Madison's ordinance actually had more to do with payroll and staffing shortages at their department. Animal service's intent with the ordinance was *not* to actually prohibit keeping animals, but rather to provide them an enhanced county wide enforcement tool for issuing citations and confiscating animals in situations when necessary. Unfortunately, the ordinance in its first two forms would have taken a blanket approach and was the wrong enforcement tool for the job. MAHS has offered to lend their expertise and assistance in crafting an improved mechanism for AS while also lending their assistance free of charge in dealing with any situations involving reptiles.

[gsarchie]

That's awesome that someone with knowledge about the animals will be taking part in the writing of the legislation. I wish that I had the time and resources to petition Colorado lawmakers to re-write the legislation in the state flat out bans venomous and "dangerous" reptiles.