ORILLIA - An exotic-pet ban that bars Orillians from owning ball pythons and other snakes slithered its way back into city hall this week.
Council committee agreed to add the dreaded anaconda to the list of reptiles prohibited under the recently approved bylaw, while contemplating a possible easing of the rules for harmless snakes.
“We have acted maybe prematurely on it, banning all animals, maybe not having the pet folks here, I certainly will admit that,” said Coun. Michael Fogarty.
Local pet stores and residents generally support the majority of the bylaw, staff said.
However, industry representatives have voiced concern over a ban on snakes from the python and boa families.
“These individuals are of the position that some of these snakes are docile and appropriate as pets,” said Shawn Crawford, manager of legislative services.
Were council to consider easing the regulations to allow some pythons and boas under three meters in length, Crawford recommended hearing from a representative of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada.
The organization can address the implications of allowing ownership of non-venomous snakes from both families, Crawford said.
Corn snakes, milk snakes, bull snakes and king snakes are permitted under the bylaw, provided they were not captured in the wild.
Staff recommended the anaconda be added to the list of prohibited pets, noting the sizeable reptile “is not an appropriate pet due to its non-docile nature.”
“They are an aggressive snake and therefore not appropriate as a pet,” said Crawford, adding “there are individuals in the city of Orillia that do own anacondas.”
Residents who possessed exotic pets prior to the ban are allowed to keep them so long as they register their animals with the city.
To date, one person has registered a red-tail boa.
Nine others say they intend to register their pets, one of which is a crocodile.
www.simcoe.com/news/article/1528098--exotic-pet-rules-revisited

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