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Here is the text from the blanket ban on all exotic animals typed word for word!

thecaiman Jul 25, 2003 09:12 AM

Thank you jfmoore of ksnake for typing this out! anyone who wants the origanal scan of this is welcome to email me and Ill foward it to ya. Its a large file so may take some time. This will effect all of us, it started in NYC and is now being pushed in Chicago! Your city could be next! Take action now!! Thanks
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ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government as defined in Article VII, Section 6(a) of the Illinois Constitution, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to it government and its affairs; and

WHEREAS, the protection of the health and welfare of its citizens is a matter pertaining to the government and affairs of the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Illinois State authorities, along with the United States Centers for Disease Control authorities, have determined that an undetermined number of prairie dogs held by an exotic pet distributor in Illinois have been infected or may have been infected with an orthopox virus, which virus has been determined by the CDC to be monkeypox or a closely-related infectious agent; and

WHEREAS, these prairie dogs have been held in close proximity with other animals of numerous species, some of which may be susceptible to infection with orthopox viruses, and these animals include Gambian rats which previously have been associated with transmission of orthopox viruses; and

WHEREAS, recently, there have been twelve humans in the State of Wisconsin and at least one person in the State of Illinois where the individuals have exhibited symptoms consistent with an orthopox virus; and

WHEREAS, there is reliable information that some of these individuals have had contact with prairie dogs from the exotic pet dealership in question; and

WHEREAS, at the time of this outbreak, there were no known human cases of monkeypox in the United States; and

WHEREAS, bites from wild animals and contact with a infected wild animal have led to serious illnesses and death of persons; and

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago seeks to further protect the health and welfare of the residents of Chicago;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHICAGO,

SECTION 1. Section 7-12-360 of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the underlined language and deleting the stricken through language as follows:

7-12-360. Wild animals prohibited.

(a) No person shall sell or give to another person, possess, harbor or keep wild animals identified in subsection (b) of this section or in regulations promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section other than in:

(1) A zoological park or aquarium; or

(2) A circus or native wildlife rehabilitator licensed by federal or state agencies; or

(3) A place which has received the approval of the Department to exhibit or use such animals, and which has protective devices, which are adequate to prevent such animal from escaping or injuring the public. The Department may impose reasonable conditions and time limits on the granting of such approval.

(b) For the purposes of this Code, wild animals are deemed to be any animals which are naturally inclined to do harm and capable of inflicting harm upon human beings and are hereby prohibited pursuant to subsection (a). Such animals shall include: (i) any animals specified by the Commissioner in regulations promulgated pursuant to this section; (ii) any native or exotic wildlife whose possession or sale is prohibited because they are designated as protected or endangered pursuant to any federal, state or local law, regulation, or rule; and (iii) any of the following animals:

(1) All dogs other than domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris), including, but not limited to, wolf, fox, coyote, hyaena, dingo, jackal, dhole, fennec, raccoon dog, zorro, bush dog, aardwolf, cape hunting dog and any hybrid offspring of a wild dog and domesticated dog.

(2) All cats other than domesticated cats (Felis catus), including, but not limited to, lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, puma, panther, mountain lion, cheetah, wild cat, cougar, bobcat, lynx, serval, caracal, jaguarundi, margay and any hybrid offspring of a wild cat and domesticated cat.

(3) All bears, including polar, grizzly, brown and black bear.

(4) All fur bearing mammals of the family Mustelidae, including, but not limited to, weasel, marten, mink, badger, ermine, skunk, otter, pole cat, zorille, wolverine, stoat and ferret.

(5) All Procyonidae: All raccoon (eastern, desert, ring-tailed cat), kinkajou, cacomistle, cat-bear, panda and coatimundi.

(6) All carnivorous mammals of the family Viverridae, including, but not limited to, civet, mongoose, genet, binturong, fossa, linsang and suricate.

(7) All bats (Chiroptera).

(8) All non-human primates, including, but not limited to, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, gorilla and lemur.

(9) All squirrels (Sciuridae).

(10) Reptiles (Reptilia). All Helodermatidae (gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard); all front-fanged venomous snakes, even it devenomized, including, but not limited to, all Viperidae (viper, pit viper), all Elapidae (cobra, mamba, krait, coral snake), all Atractaspididae (African burrowing asp), all Hydrophiidae (sea snake), all Laticaudidae (sea krait); all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if devenomized; any member, or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae, including, but not limited to, the common or green anaconda and yellow anaconda; any member of the family Pythonidae, including but not limited to the African rock python, Indian or Burmese python, Amethystine or scrub python; any member of the family Varanidae, including the white throated monitor, Bosc's or African savannah monitor, Komodo monitor or dragon, Nile monitor, crocodile monitor, water monitor, Bornean earless monitor; any member of the family Iguanidae, including the green or common iguana; any member of the family Teiidae, including, but not limited to the golden, common, or black and white tegu; all members of the family Chelydridae, including snapping turtle and alligator snapping turtle; and all members of the order Crocodylia, including, but not limited to alligator, caiman and crocodile.

(11) Birds and Fowl (Aves): All predatory or large birds, including, but not limited to, eagle, hawk, falcon, owl, vulture, condor, emu, rhea and ostrich; roosters, geese, ducks and turkeys prohibited or otherwise regulated pursuant to §161.19 of this Code, the Agriculture and Markets Law or applicable federal law.

(12) All venomous insects, including, but not limited to, bee, hornet and wasp.

(13) Arachnida and Chilopoda: All venomous spiders, including, but not limited to, tarantula, black widow and solifugid; scorpion; all venomous arthropods including, but not limited to, centipede.

(14) All large rodents (Rodentia), including, but not limited to, gopher, muskrat, paca, woodchuck, marmot, beaver, prairie dog, capybara, sewellel, viscacha, porcupine, gambien rats and hutia.

(15) All even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) including, but not limited to, deer, antelope, sheep, giraffe and hippopotamus.

(16) All odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla) other than domesticated horses (Equus caballus), including, but not limited to, zebra, rhinoceros and tapir.

(17) All marsupials, including, but not limited to, Tasmanian devil, dasyure, bandicoot, kangaroo, wallaby, opossum, wombat, koala bear, cuscus, numbat and pigmy, sugar and greater glider.

(18) Sea mammals (Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia), including, but not limited to, dolphin, whale, seal, sea lion and walrus.

(19) All elephants (Proboscides)

(20) All hyrax (Hydracoidea).

(21) All pangolin (Pholidota).

(22) All sloth and armadillo (Edentata).

(23) Insectivorous mammals (Insectivora): All aardvark (Tubildentata), anteater, shrew, otter shrew, gymnure, desman, tenrec, mole and hedge hog.

(24) Gliding lemur (Dermoptera).

(c) In addition to domesticated dogs and cats, an animal may be kept, possessed, harbored or sold in the City of New York provided that possession of the animal is not otherwise prohibited by law, including federal, state and local laws regulating domestic animals and livestock or protecting wildlife and endangered species. Such animals include, but are not limited to, gerbil, hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), guinea pig, domesticated rabbit and fowl or small birds such as parakeet, parrot, canary and finch.

(d) An animal whose possession is prohibited pursuant to this section may be seized by any authorized employee, officer or agent of the Department or of any other agency of the City of New York, and the Commissioner shall provide for such animal's appropriate disposition.

(1) An order issued by the Commissioner pursuant to this section shall contain a notice that the owner of such animal may, within three business days of receipt of the order, request an opportunity to be heard with respect to whether the animal is a prohibited animal and its appropriate disposition. The Commissioner shall provide such an opportunity to be heard as soon as practicable, but no later than 15 days after receipt of such request.

(2) With the written consent of the Department, an owner of any animal whose possession is prohibited pursuant to this section, may remove such animal to another jurisdiction where its possession is not prohibited pursuant to any local or other law.

(e) The Commissioner may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to add to the list in subsection (b) any animal which the Commissioner determines is naturally inclined to do harm and capable of inflicting bodily harm upon human beings.

(f) If provision of this section is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this section.

SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication.

___________________________________ ____________________________________
Alderman Edward M. Burke, 14th Ward Alderman Shirley A. Coleman, 16th Ward

This is the person sponsoring the ordinace:
Alderman: Edward M. Burke Ward Office: 2650 W. 51st Street
Chicago, IL 60632 Ward Phone: 773-471-1414 E-Mail: eburke@cityofchicago.org City Hall Office: 121 N. Lasalle St.
Room 302
Chicago, IL 60602 City Hall Phone: 312-744-3380
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Jason & Danica
A hit man for the order-when you couldnt go to school-had a skin job for a hair do-yeah you looked pretty cool-had a habit doing mainline-watch the dragon burn-no regrets, youve got no goals-nothing more to learn--now I know you wont refuse-because weve got so much to do-we got nothing more to lose-so take this number and welcome to-Operation : Mindcrime-were an under ground revolution working overtime...Operation Mindcrime, Queensryche.
Classic Dums

Replies (4)

Antegy Jul 25, 2003 12:28 PM

While reading through this I couldn't help but think, "...why don't they just ban pets altogether?!". Then I got to the parts that said dogs, cats, and horses are ok; along with a handful of others noted at the end. Seems like little to me, consolation at best - maybe.

While the proposal mentions on more than one occasion that the ban is, in so many words, directed at keeping people from owning animals that may be harmful to people - it still allows dogs! How far are they willing to go to insult our intellect?! Do they really think that we don't know how many, many more injuries are caused annually by dogs than any 'Boidae'?!

And this may be nit-picking, but, the editor has really got to be fired! I'm sure that anyone who has bothered to read this horrid proposal in it's entirety will have noticed that the editor wasn't even able to edit out all the references to "New York City". Talk about cheap and lazy! Maybe they should try actually writing their own proposal - at least then they may be forced to do some actual research before they put anything to print.

This is making me very upset to even think that something like this has a chance, and a good one at that, of becoming law. How can we fight back against such unreasonable people without becoming unreasonable ourselves?

- Mark

thecaiman Jul 25, 2003 01:23 PM

The address at the very bottom of the post use it! let them know your feelings foward this info to your local herp society see if you can get them to foward this to their memebers write as many letters as you can they dont take emails serious and I would imagine by now the volume of emails they have received they have thier filters set to block them. Keep those phone numbers ringing, you will get the run around so leave messages as to why you are calling and spread the word anyway you can. This was passed last year in NYC they are not trying to pass it in chicago next. These are strategic moves my the animals rights groups to knock off a few of the larger cities because once they get them inline with their agenda the rest will simply follow. This ordinace is being sent through the "police and fire" committee. Why? its a sneaky way of getting it passed unaposed. How amny people are keeping track of that comittee for bills concerning animals? Not many. There are comittees meant for that. On top of which the police and fire comittee could care less about this so they will all vote one way to get it over with so they can move onto buisness they care about. I have the origanal scanned copy here Ill foward to anyone who wants it. TAKE ACTION NOW!!!! Write as many letters as you can!
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Jason & Danica
A hit man for the order-when you couldnt go to school-had a skin job for a hair do-yeah you looked pretty cool-had a habit doing mainline-watch the dragon burn-no regrets, youve got no goals-nothing more to learn--now I know you wont refuse-because weve got so much to do-we got nothing more to lose-so take this number and welcome to-Operation : Mindcrime-were an under ground revolution working overtime...Operation Mindcrime, Queensryche.
Classic Dums

tango Jul 25, 2003 01:26 PM

Your last question deserves an answer but we probably only have parial answers. How do we fight people who are unreasonable without appearing unreasonable ourselves? Partly through education. We can teach by example and through informal interaction. It doesn't have to be a formal education although those formal lectures in nature centers and on special activities help reach a lot of people. It also involves policing ourselves. And perhaps policing pet stores as well. In Florida we have licensing requirements before a person can legally obtain a crocodilian or venemous. Still anyone can walk into a pet store and purchase a reticulated python for less than $100. Will the pet store owner say "No! You don't have experience!" More than likely he or she will ask "Will that be cash or credit?" You mention the greater percentage of victims to dog bite wounds but there are many more dogs than exotics- probably more dogs than all exotics combined but they are also being hounded by groups with special agendas. Anyone owning a Rottweiler try to obtain a rental apartment or homeowner's insurance lately? Everytime something happens, someone gets the idea of banning the cause and trying to eradicate all potential future problems. This one took a huge leap from Prairie dogs to Burmese and other exotics which shows, imo, the lack of awareness of exotic species and a futile attempt to regulate something. Only through education can we really keep our priveleges. Writing calm informative letters to our elected officials helps....
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Marcia Pimentel
Tango River Reptiles
GiantFeeders

Highlander1 Jul 27, 2003 10:42 PM

In alot of ways is a very good idea.Now this is all just my opinion and i could very well be wrong but there are alot of people in those 2 cities as well as all other towns,cities,countries,or wherever else they may roam that just DO NOT under any circumstances deserve the right to own any kind of animal.They dont even deserve to have kids but can anyway.Take for instance the snakes and lizards that were mentioned in the proposal,most monitors,only the big snakes were mentioned like burms,anacondas,scrubs,etc. with good reason in mind, once these animals mentioned reach full grown they can and will kill you/mangle you if given the right opportunity,feeding error,bad day,not in the mood,etc.Everyone doesnt need to have these animals.Now for the ones mentioned like hippoes,giraffes,elephants,etc. That part was just plain stupid in itself.For one not everyone without the means and money to get the animal can have one.

As for the others mentioned like monkeys,they need to stay just where they are at and thats in the wild not in some collectors outfit just for people to oooh and ahhh over.They are not in danger of extinction so leave them be.Also they carry many diseases that can be passed to humans and you might wind up dead,any ?s.Thats not including their aggressive behavior during breeding season.Just what everyone needs a pissed off horny baboon trying to kill you.

Alligators and any croc namely caimen,salties,american,freshies,etc. shouldnt be able to be bought by your average everyday joe just because he/she has the money to do so.That much of the proposal should be strongly regulated to the point of having a license and having to take a 6 week coruse on the care and proper handling of either of these species as well as the size and feeding requirements.If you cant take the course or just plain dont want to take it and they find you with either of the specimens mentioned without the required necessities then you should be fined and possibly jailed for up to 60 days.Then maybe people would start doing all the necessary research they need to kepp these animals safely.

Now the venomous snakes,lizards,tarantulas,scorpions,and bugs,is another part of the proposal that should be well regulated.For one reason most people i know have kids and all kids from my experience want to touch anything that seems like it should be touched.Thats where the strick laws would come into play for the parent.If you have any kids(s) and one should happen to get bit/stung by one of the mentioned above then you should be fined and jailed for up to 1 year.If you cant provide the necessary means to house them properly away from kids then do yourself a favor and either get rid of the kids or the animals mentioned and there wouldnt be a problem.

Mainly what the whole proposal is for, is to ensure the safety of other people not just one individual(s).If they let everyone run loose with dangerous animals then people get hurt,not just from the bites or injuries from the individual animals but also from the overwhelming number of people that are taking them out into the public and giving people that are afraid of them a reason to put an ordinance on them in the first place.Also if you cant keep the snake in cage and you live in a 20 floor highrise then dont buy it. Regards Bill McLeod

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