Town Approves Exotic Pets Bylaw

2006-11-06

Jennifer Wilson, Hunstville Forester

The Town of Huntsville is wasting no time dealing with reports that two local residents are keeping exotic animals as pets. Having passed an exotic pets bylaw on November 27, the Town can now legally apprehend any exotic, wild or non-domestic animals being kept in the municipality.

The Muskoka Wildlife Centre’s trained staff would help seize and, if required, temporarily house the animals. “We haven’t entered into agreement with them yet,” said Sara Brown, Huntsville’s director of physical services. “We did want to get the bylaw passed quickly because we have reports of a couple of animals that we have concerns about which are listed in the bylaw. We would likely ask the Muskoka Wildlife Centre [if the animals are apprehended before they enter into agreement with the bylaw] to honour the basic terms of the agreement. We would just do it as a one off with the centre.”

Included in the bylaw is an amnesty period for current owners of animals classified exotic.

“An amnesty period for current owners will be in effect for two months commencing immediately upon this bylaw being passed,” reads the clause in the exotic pets bylaw. “This will allow current owners of prohibited animals to find alternative and lawful accommodations for the animals.”

The onus of passing a bylaw to deal with the keeping of exotic pets is on municipalities in Ontario.

According to Jody Gienow, the director of the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, collectors or “hoarders,” as she refers to them, are well aware of where these bylaws exist.

“It is a very serious problem. These people will actually move specifically so they can keep their collections of inappropriate animals,” said Gienow. “They [animal hoarders] are very well connected. It is like any hobby group. People who collect antique cars like to show off their antique cars to other likeminded people. It’s the same for people who collect exotic creatures.”

Huntsville’s bylaw is modeled after a similar bylaw from the municipality of Gravenhurst.