There will be no squirming around the issue of exotic animals during a special meeting pertaining to the Responsible Pet Owners bylaw.

While the date has yet to be set, this was the decision of the Finance and Administration Committee recently after reviewing the report and talking with Debbie Grills of D&D Exotics in Oshawa. Committee stated the meeting would happen before the summer recess.

Grills says she would like to see experts speak to the committee and staff about exotic animals and how these creatures should be regulated in the city.

"While I appreciate their (staff's) hard work on this bylaw, I still have a problem with a group that does not understand the classifications of animals; making rules as to what should and should not be allowed," she says. "Bylaws should not be based on fear or ignorance."

Grills is referring to a specific section of the pet owners bylaw that deals with what exotic animals are permitted in the city.

During a previous finance meeting in April, a report from staff recommended several changes to the bylaw, including allowing certain exotic pets to be owned in the city like pythons, boas and tarantulas.

The pythons and boas have to be a certain size, however, banning those that can reach three metres or more.

"By trying to impose length restrictions, the matter just gets too confusing," Grills says.

"A three-metre rule for snakes means that you would be allowed a yellow anaconda -- trust me this animal you don't want in your city. On the other hand, you would be allowed a male Columbian boa but not a female."

The report also states some animals are still off the list, like anything that is venomous or poses a danger. No Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs or flying phalangers are permitted in the city either, as the report states staff are not trained or equipped to handle these animals and proper care facilities do not exist.

"Everyone needs to understand that banning animals has not worked so far," Grills adds.

"If someone says you can't do, what do you do? You do it anyway. You impose doable restrictions."

The issue surrounding the pet owners bylaw began in March 2010 when it was adopted by the former council. This bylaw addressed issues such as animal care, exotic animals, enforcement and introduction of administrative penalties.

But local residents came out in droves in opposition to several aspects of the bylaw, namely the list of exotic animals that were prohibited to own in Oshawa.

At that time, the bylaw prohibited multiple animals, but where most people were concerned, it dealt with exotic animals like certain reptiles and arachnids. While the list of animals includes elephants, whales and a variety of unlikely pets, pythons, boas, tarantulas, gila monsters, bearded dragons, monitors, pigs, sugar gliders and chinchillas were just some of the animals that citizens wanted to see removed from the list of prohibited animals.

This spurred council's direction to form a committee.

From June 2010 to April 2011, the Responsible Pet Owners Consultative Committee (RPOCC) met to discuss the bylaw. The committee, made up of specialized stakeholders, and community members, considered nine items and brought forth eight recommendations.

Other recommendations brought forth, but not supported by staff include: Council establishing a permanent animal services advisory committee, the re-examination of regulating pet shops and kennels and the extension of hours of operation at the Animal Services facility.

Staff supports establishing a volunteer support program at Oshawa's Animal Services Facility and increasing awareness through advertising about adopting animals.

Grills says she also objects to the fact that her store will not be exempt from the bylaw, which was also listed in the report.

The RPOCC states the exemptions to the list of exotics outlined in the report would help D&D meet its business objectives.

But Grills says she deals with the SPCA and Humane Society regularly and therefore needs to be exempt so they can fully operate as a rescue facility.

"We've been working with the Humane Society and the SPCA for five years," she says.

"Right now anybody can call themselves a rescue."

Grills says it's important to have this meeting so staff and committee can get a better handle on exotic pets, as she says when she spoke to bylaw enforcement they told her they get about 16 calls a year pertaining to exotic pet complaints.

"We're really getting the whole pet industry wrong," she adds.

Councillor Roger Bouma moved the motion for the special meeting, which will also include an independent expert who was not involved with the bylaw to comment on the report.

"I don't think we have the proper information yet," he says.
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