CHICAGO SUN-TIMES (Illinois) 09 August 03 Leapin’ Lizards! (Stephanie Zimmermann)
A proposal to ban exotic pets in Chicago is drawing the wrath of reptile owners, who worry their pet iguanas, monitor lizards and snakes will get swept up in the public's concern over monkeypox.
Prairie dogs and Gambian rats, two exotic pets blamed for the monkeypox outbreak earlier this summer that sickened dozens of people across the Midwest, are the main targets of a city ordinance proposed by Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and co-sponsored by Ald. Shirley Coleman (16th).
But the proposed ordinance also seeks to ban a wide range of reptiles that can't spread monkeypox. Pet reptiles who'd be shown the door in Chicago include garter snakes, iguanas, ball pythons and boa constrictors--presumably because of the risk of salmonella bacteria.
PROHIBITED PETS?
Some of the exotic pets that would be banned in Chicago under a proposed ordinance:Iguanas
Ball pythons
Boa constrictors
Snakes with Duvernoy glands, including garter snakes
Monitor lizards
Tarantulas
Scorpions
Ducks
Sugar gliders
Hedgehogs
Monkeys
Ferrets
Prairie dogs
Ferrets, monkeys and tarantulas also would be banned, as would a wide range of wild animals rarely thought of as pets, including grizzly bears and, believe it or not, hippopotamuses.
The proposal doesn't provide for existing pets to be "grandfathered" in.
"If they enact this, what happens to all these animals, these thousands of animals that are out here?" asked Mike Dloogatch, a Northwest Side resident who owns several harmless pet snakes. "This ordinance is just, 'Let's ban everything, and we'll look good.' "
Critics of the proposed ordinance say dangerous animals, such as the wolves, lions and venomous snakes mentioned in the proposed city ordinance, already are banned by the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act.
Reptile fans say the risk of salmonella poisoning is easily eliminated by washing one's hands thoroughly after handling the animal.
If the ordinance passes, educational programs run by members of the Chicago Herpetological Society at schools and area museums would come to a halt, said Lori King, the society's president and owner of seven reptiles that would be banned, including a pair of rock iguanas named Windsor and Astor.
"We're literally known globally for our education," King said of the society. "They're doing this blanket thing, but they don't realize they're shutting down quality children's education by doing this sort of thing.
"We want the rest of the world to know they're as fascinating as we think they are," King said.
Burke and Coleman could not be reached for comment Friday.
The proposed ordinance was patterned after a new law passed in New York City, which has less restrictive state laws, said Dr. Byron De la Navarre, a veterinarian and owner of Animal House of Chicago.
"The state of Illinois is one of the most restrictive states," De la Navarre said. "We already regulate what we really thought needed to be regulated."
