Exotic Pet Ban In Consideration In Arlington County, Virginia, The County Board agreed to hold a public hearing in June concerning the proposed ordinance that would ban wild or exotic pets (snakes that weight over ten pounds). – via Herp Digest

by Cameron Luttrell (Patch Staff) - 3/21/17- ARLINGTON, VA — The County Board agreed to hold a public hearing in June concerning the proposed ordinance that would ban wild or exotic pets within the Arlington County boundaries. The ban would prohibit the presence of wild and exotic animals — such as monkeys, raccoons, foxes, lions, wildcats, crocodiles and snakes — weighing over ten pounds in Arlington County.

The Board voted 5-0 for a new hearing after County staff received several comments, many from individuals and organizations outside Arlington, during an initial public process, the Board announced March 18.

Arlington's current County Code does not expressly prohibit exotic animals, except poisonous reptiles, to be kept as pets or companion animals.

The Virginia Code does not expressly prohibit ownership of exotic animals.

A local ban would enable Arlington Animal Control officers to enforce the law, rather than having to defer to state enforcers, which can cause enforcement delays.

The measure is backed by the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, as well as the Humane Society of the U.S. 

“This issue has stirred a great deal of public interest and valuable comments. Staff has incorporated enough changes into the proposed ordinance that it needs to be re-advertised and we need to give people an additional chance to provide feedback,” County Board Chair Jay Fisette said.

With this ban, residents would be able to register the exotic animal under "specific circumstances," the Board notes.

According to WTOP, residents who currently own exotic pets would be able to keep them if the ban passed, as long as they register them with county animal control officers. If residents failed to register the animal, they would be charged with a misdemeanor and carry a $250 fee for each offense.

“The animal advocates in our community thought it was time to do this,” Kurt Larrick with Arlington County’s Department of Human Services told WTOP.

Officials said the potential exotic animal ban would be similar to rules across Northern Virginia and D.C.

The Board has not yet specified when exactly the public hearing will occur in June.

Ohio Exotic Animals Ban To Fix 'Entirely Unacceptable' Lack Of Laws

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A state legislator said Wednesday that he hopes a bill that would ban new ownership of exotic pets will prevent situations such as the one in eastern Ohio last year that led to 48 animals being shot to death after their suicidal owner let them loose.

In a prepared statement for the first hearing on the bill, Republican state Sen. Troy Balderson said he crafted the proposal after meeting with animal professionals, pet owners and animal welfare groups.

"The goals ... are simple: To protect our citizens, to preserve legitimate, law-abiding individuals who care for wild animals and to put standards in place to ensure the safety of these animals," he said.

The bill was getting its first hearing before a Senate committee following its introduction last week. Ohio has some of the nation's weakest restrictions on exotic pets.

Balderson is from Zanesville, near the farm where a man released dozens of wild animals before killing himself in October. Authorities fatally shot most of the pets to protect residents.

"This terrible incident brought to light this fact: Ohio has no laws to govern the ownership of animals such as lions, tigers and primates. When considering the safety of our neighbors and the standards of care we offer to our animals, it is quite clear how this is entirely unacceptable," he said.

The bill would ban new ownership of exotic animals, allowing current owners to keep their pets by obtaining a permit by 2014. They'd be required to pass a background check, obtain insurance, microchip their pets and show that they adhere to care standards and have taken safety measures, such as fencing property. Zoos, circuses, sanctuaries and research facilities would be exempt.

Read on:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/ohio-exotic-animals-ban_n_1344617.html?ref=weird-animals