ORLANDO SENTINEL (Florida) 18 February 08 Deltona could back off ban on pet poisonous reptiles (Denise-Marie Balona)
Deltona officials may be backing off the city's ban on poisonous snakes as pets.
Tonight, the city commission will discuss changing its rule on what kinds of pets are allowed in neighborhoods. Officials had tried recently to force a resident to get rid of the 54 cobras, vipers and other venomous serpents he was keeping at his home on Snow Drive.
It was the first time the city attempted to enforce the rule. But after researching the issue, the city learned it cannot do anything about the reptiles because Brian Radenberg is a snake handler licensed with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The state agency has sole authority over who can have venomous reptiles as well as other exotic animals such as tigers and bears.
State officials have said Radenberg had to meet strict requirements to get the license, including completing 1,000 hours of training and passing surprise inspections.
Deltona commissioners will discuss adding a sentence to the city ordinance saying that dangerous animals and venomous reptiles are allowed if they have permits from the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
If the change is approved tonight, it will go before the commission for second public hearing and a second vote on March 3.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-bk-snakes021808,0,3303414.story
NEWS-JOURNAL (Daytona Beach, Florida) 18 February 08 Licensed snakes may get to stay in Deltona home (Bob Koslow)
Deltona: City officials say they can't force Brian Radenberg to get rid of 50 venomous snakes from his home on Snow Drive if he has a state permit and follows state guidelines.
As a result, the City Commission is expected to amend its animal control ordinance tonight to allow residents to keep captive wildlife if permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
"That's cool," Radenberg said Friday. "I had a lawyer send me some ammunition to use, but the city's decision is not shocking. I'm glad they are being understanding."
The commission is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2345 Providence Boulevard.
Animal control officers cited Radenberg in December for having venomous snakes at his home, which violates a city ordinance prohibiting venomous snakes inside city limits.
Radenberg, 37, said he's kept venomous snakes since he was 5 as a hobby and has owned some for 20 years. His snakes include cobras, vipers and rattlesnakes. He said he doesn't sell snakes, but sometimes donates snakes to labs for venom extraction.
He researched state regulations on snakes before moving to Deltona from New York about 1 1/2 years ago, he said.
"I passed state inspections and requirements," he said. "I spent over $1,000 to reinforce some cages with plywood and thicker glass."
Animal control officers say they never received a complaint about the snakes. They found Radenberg's name and Deltona address on a list of state permit holders.
Many of Radenberg's neighbors don't mind the snakes. Twenty neighbors signed a petition urging the city to let him keep his snakes. They presented the petition to the City Commission two weeks ago when Radenberg sought a waiver of the animal control ordinance.
A waiver is not needed, said Acting City Attorney George Trovato. The state constitution empowers the wildlife commission to regulate wildlife and local governments cannot infringe on that power.
Radenberg was also cited for having 10 non-venomous snakes, five more than the maximum number of pets allowed in the city. He said he is working to find homes for five of those 10 so he is not violating city codes.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newWEST01021808.htm
