Posted by:
EricWI
at Fri Aug 7 12:36:11 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by EricWI ]
JEFFERSON CITY -- The discovery of a three-foot long alligator underneath a car in Jefferson City has sparked a debate over whether city residents should be allowed to own exotic animals
The gator's owner Shawn Burton, got a $50 fine from the city for having his animal on the loose. But he contends someone tried to steal the gator, and that's how it ended up in the street.
Regardless, several council members agree that an exotic animal ordinance needs to be discussed.
But others who work with exotic animals have different ideas when it comes to creating an exotic animal ordinance.
Dick Frederick's been selling pet supplies and exotic animals in the Capital City for almost 20 years, everything from fish to ball pythons and even alligators.
"Those animals, when they're properly cared for, make perfect pets,” said Frederick.
Frederick believes he sold the gator that got loose Wednesday to it's owner about a year ago. Frederick is against an exotic animal ordinance saying the responsibility of pet ownership should fall on the owner, not the city.
"Personally, I don't think we need one,” said Frederick. “What we need is maybe education."
Education would help, but shelter director Karen Jennings thinks more needs to be done.
"We're gonna have to address the issue of non-traditional pets that are becoming part of Jefferson City,” said Jennings.
And that could include an exotic animal ordinance, which the city currently does not have, and hasn't considered in several years.
"There's no restriction currently on what we're terming 'exotic animals,” said Drew Hilpert, city attorney for Jefferson City. “Alligators, obviously being the one currently in vogue."
Shelter director Jennings says the kinds of animals people want in Jefferson City is changing from dogs and cats, to more unusual pets, and the city code needs to reflect that.
"We're going to have to address the alligators and the monkeys that could come into town,” said Jennings.
It's a call that Frederick gets from time to time from people wanting to buy monkeys.
“I can get them, but I usually try to talk people out of them,” said Frederick.
Which is why Jennings believes a discussion needs to be had among residents and council members on how the city will handle exotic animals.
“I think eventually we're going to have to have a definition of an exotic animal and then if we have to make a case to talk about the care of those animals, we can do that,” said Jennings.
"I'm sure that that will be discussed in light of the alligator incident,” said Hilpert. “The council will need to decide whether it's something to take on."
Columbia has an exotic animal ordinance that makes it illegial for residents to own those types of animals.
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=334021
[ Hide Replies ]
 Loose gator sparks exotic animal debate - EricWI, Fri Aug 7 12:36:11 2009
|
