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EricWI
at Sat Jan 8 22:38:18 2011 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by EricWI ]
Banning exotic animals won’t prevent another death
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP — An emergency executive order banning new ownership of exotic animals will not prevent another incident like the one that killed 24-year-old Brent Kandra months ago, Sam Mazzola said.
Kandra, of Elyria, was mauled to death by a bear at Mazzola’s Columbia Township home, 9978 N. Marks Road, more than four months ago.
“I mourn Brent’s death every day. He was a very close, special friend to me,” Mazzola said. “Every day I pray for him and he’s in my thoughts every day. Nobody lives with it more than me. I was there.”
Outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland’s order prohibits the new ownership of animals and requires anyone who owns exotic animals to register them with the state. Owners are not allowed to breed, sell, trade or barter their dangerous animals, according to the order.
But that alone, Mazzola said, won’t prevent an animal trainer from getting in a cage with an animal.
“This isn’t going to prevent anyone else from getting killed,” Mazzola said. “Pretending it will is a boldfaced lie. It will not and it’s not going to prevent the private ownership of animals ... It’s a worthless law.”
Mazzola, who still has animals on his property, said he will continue to own animals until they all die. The animals still in his care, he said, have been with him for 20 or 30 years.
While the order allows Mazzola to maintain control of the animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called for Strickland to “seize bears, tigers, wolves and a lion owned by notorious animal exhibitor Sam Mazzola.”
Kandra’s father, John Kandra, said he and his ex-wife are happy that the governor has signed the order.
“We’re happy that there’s a bill in progress,” John Kandra said. “Also, and the thing is, at least more and more people are more aware of the things that are actually going on.”
The order fulfills the governor’s responsibilities in an agreement between Ohio’s agricultural leaders and the Humane Society, according to the governor’s office.
“This rule will help protect Ohioans from deaths and serious injuries caused by attacks from dangerous wild animals held in private ownership,” Strickland said in a statement.
John Kandra said he and his ex-wife are hopeful no one else will be hurt.
“The thing is, it’s like anybody. If you have a chance to pet a baby tiger or baby lion or baby bear, boy, that would be neat, but now you’re dealing with an adult and that’s a whole other ball game,” John Kandra said. “The thing is, the bill talks about having competent and trained people, and not just anybody (working with the animals). Right now, anybody could have a bear or lion or tiger without controls. At least they’re trying to have some semblance of order.”
The order goes into effect immediately, but is only effective for 90 days. It is up to Gov.-elect John Kasich whether to keep the restrictions in place.
“I’m just at a loss for words,” John Kandra said. “It’s an empty feeling not having my son. It’s just something that no father wants to experience.”
The ban will be carried out by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
morningjournal.com/articles/2011/01/07/news/mj3928711.txt?viewmode=2
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Banning exotic animals won’t prevent ano - EricWI, Sat Jan 8 22:38:18 2011