NEWS JOURNAL (Mansfield, Ohio) 08 February 05 Law says little about deadly pets - Crawford County wants state action after viper-bite case (Jennifer Kowalewski)
Bucyrus: County and township officials said Monday they lack the manpower to enforce exotic animal regulations.
So Crawford County Commissioner Ron Hoeft has asked the state to regulate exotic animals, such as the rhinoceros viper snake that bit its owner Sunday morning.
"What we feel is the big problem with this man getting bit is when the emergency personnel arrive," he said. "EMTs (respond), but they don't know if the snake is loose. We need to keep our people safe."
Crawford County Sheriff Ronny Shawber said his department received a 911 call Sunday at 3:52 a.m. Phil Gallant, 43, of 1940 Broken Sword Road, Lykens Township, had been bitten by one of the most venomous snakes in the world. The rhinoceros viper's bite can be lethal.
"He was taking care of it," Shawber said. "He was changing the water. These were his pets. He treated them that way."
Lykens Township Trustee David Young said the township has no way to enforce an exotic pet law even if trustees enacted one. He said trustees likely will discuss the incident when they meet Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
Gallant was flown to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, which had anti-venom. Gallant remained in fair condition Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Shawber said deputies knew Gallant kept poisonous snakes, including two cobras, a diamondback rattlesnake and a western rattlesnake.
Gallant has more than 20 snakes, including a dozen poisonous ones, Shawber said. When deputies arrived, they did not know if the snake was loose. Gallant's wife told deputies the viper was caged in a separate building.
"He's not violating the law," Shawber said. "I personally don't see why anyone would want a poisonous snake around. I want to see some type of regulation."
Young knows of no one else in the township who owns exotic pets.
Hoeft said he created a task force last summer to look into the issue of exotic animals in Crawford County after a mountain lion escaped from a home, attacking a neighbor's dog.
Thunder, a 180-pound mountain lion, escaped and attacked a neighbor's dog. Deputies were called to the area of Ohio 19 and Olentangy Road at 8:27 a.m. Aug. 20 to investigate Thunder's escape from the home of Charles Cox.
The commissioners cannot create a law regulating these types of pets, Hoeft said. Townships can regulate animals through zoning or the commissioners can pass countywide zoning.
Animal laws In Ohio
- There are no federal laws in the United States governing the care of exotic pets. Many state and local governments have enacted laws to protect animals and the public.
- States that ban possession of exotic animals by private individuals: Alaska, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.
- Ohio has no statewide ban, but some cities and counties have them.
Source: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
- Under Ohio law, no person may bring into the state a non-domestic animal without an entry permit; a health certificate certifying the animal is free of infectious diseases; and a certificate of veterinary inspection.
Source: Animal Protection Institution
Crawford County wants state action after viper-bite case