Did you know that in Chillicothe, Ohio you can't have a cow in the backyard, but you can keep a cougar? You must obtain permits for unusual pets such as alligators, goats, raccoons and even horses, but the law is often ignored , permits not obtained, and officials respond mostly to complaints according to the health department.How insane is that!
In reality, city ordinances prohibiting ownership of potentially dangerous animals are uncommon and ownership in rural areas is also a significant problem. A state wide bill is long overdue. Police Chief Roger Moore is urging the city council in Chillicothe to take action now to keep the city free of lions, tigers and bears. Following the disaster on Terry Thompson's farm where he freed dozens of exotic animals from their cages outside Zanesville, Ohio on October 18, 2011, this should be a "no-brainer" for city council. Immediate passage of a city ordinance would make possession of a dangerous animal a fourth-degree misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. In my opinion, the penalty should be more like a $1000 fine and 60 days in jail. The Ohio house Bill which Jack Hanna and other advocates have endorsed will prohibit the private ownership of exotic animals. Hearings on this bill begin in about 30 days. Stay tuned.
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