The City of Thorold's mailbox may overfloweth in the coming weeks.



An international animal welfare organization has launched a campaign encouraging people to write the mayor and council imploring them to approve a ban on exotic animals as pets.



The World Society for the Protection of Animals Canada (WSPA) sent out an e-mail alert Monday asking ban supporters to break out their pens to counter the arguments of exotic pet collectors who asked council to spike the proposed bylaw at a public meeting last month.



"We want to make sure our supporters in the region know about the bylaw and make sure that council was aware that there is a strong sentiment in Thorold to pass this," said Melissa Tkachyk, WSPA Canada programs officer.



Council began considering a ban earlier this fall after three lions, a jaguar, parrots and monkeys were found during a marijuana grow-op bust at a rural Thorold property.



The property was the site of a proposed roadside zoo that council turned down in 2007.



Tkachyk and the WSPA spoke out against the zoo proposal two years ago.



Tuesday, she said she is "encouraged" by Thorold's consideration of a bylaw banning exotic pets.



It's estimated between 500 and 2,000 big cats are kept as pets in the province, which has no legislation requiring the licensing of exotic animal possession. Ontario is the only province without such rules.



The WSPA campaign is aimed at Thoroldites and asks non-residents who receive the e-mail to forward it to people who live in the city.



"City council and the mayor are more likely to take the views of local residents more seriously than views from surrounding communities," Tkachyk said. "However, when people keep these dangerous animals, such as tigers and lions, it is a concern for people in other areas as well. We've done polling to show that people across the province care that these animals are treated humanely and kept safely."



City clerk Susan Daniels expects the bylaw to be ready for a council vote Dec. 15.



She said she has received about 40 e-mails from people supporting the bylaw, though she didn't know how many were from Thorold.



Mayor Henry D'Angela said he welcomes the input from residents.



"It makes for a better bylaw," D'Angela said.



As for Thorold garnering the attention of a national organization on this issue, D'Angela said "it does put a little bit more emphasis that we do the right thing by making sure we get as much input as possible and have a good, fulsome debate on the issue."



But he said it's most helpful when people comment on specific parts of the bylaw instead of just offering support.



The draft bylaw can be read online at www.thorold.com.



tmayer@stcatharinesstandard.ca

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