THE PROVINCE (Vancouver, British Columbia) 17 September 03 Exotics debate gets under way (Lena Sin)
Pet-store owners and animal breeders blasted Surrey's proposed exotic-animal bylaw last night while animal activists insisted it wasn't enough.
As the two sides debated the merits of a bylaw that would prohibit the sale and purchase, but not the ownership, of exotic animals, there was only one clear consensus: Everyone wanted the bylaw redrafted.
"As exotic animals become more and more popular the result will be the problem will become greater" said Peter Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society. "Prohibiting the sale of these animals will not be enough. It is vital that the ownership also be banned."
But Ray Soh, who owns Central City Pets, said the law was too sweeping in including reptiles.
"A few of these reptiles are not endangered, such as the chameleon," he told the first public meeting on the issue, which was attended by 60 people.
Forty Canadian cities already have similar bylaws.
Exotics debate gets under way