bangor pa trying to ban exotics

[bob978]

I just read an article in todays Express times. 8/11/09. About a ban on exotics and a limit of three on things like cats and dogs. The vote was delayed till next council meeting but it seems like the bill will limit everything. I don't have all the details yet and I will follow this up as soon as I do.

 

[bob978]

as i said i will post more info as i have it so here is the article from the express times:


Bangor ban on exotic animals tabled for further review
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
By douglas b. brill
The Express-Times

BANGOR | Some of the borough's proposals for animals make horse sense: It's not OK to walk tigers, alligators or bears down Broadway.

Other proposals have pet lovers less than hog wild.

A proposal before borough council would prohibit more than three pets -- even cats and dogs -- in a home.

Council on Monday introduced the measure regulating animals, saying zoning officer Rick Fisher needs it to stop animal abuse and nuisances.

Council tabled it after two residents complained it allows too few dogs and police Chief Glenn Kerrigan said he wouldn't know where to begin if he seized a snake.

"I don't think we can pass this tonight," council President Craig Roberts said.

The ordinance is to be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.

The measure would ban deadly creatures, such as lions, tigers, coyotes, wolves, venomous spiders and man-eating fish. It would also ban wild animals, including monkeys, raccoons, porcupines, skunks and ferrets.

Also prohibited would be some largely harmless animals, such as farm animals and ferrets.

Snakes would be OK as long as they're not venomous or constrictors. That means "common garden snakes," the ordinance says, provided there's no more than one in a home.


and there is more


In its current form, the ordinance bans wild and deadly animals and also limits the number of traditional pets in a home to three. Lori Getz, who owns four dogs, says that is too few.

"I don't think the issue should be so much how many animals people have, but how people are taking care of them," Lori Getz said.

Borough Manager John Kasten said he and zoning officer Rick Fisher have been receiving an increased number of complaints about animals.

"I don't think we can pass this tonight," council President Craig Roberts said, adding the ordinance will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.


this "ban" is just more bad choices from a local government....this means the state or federal permits will mean nothing.....local comes first. i believe if its allowed to start here it will soon spred.

 

[bob978]

continuing the article

Three-dog limit panned

It makes an exception for carrier pigeons. But in short, the ordinance says residents are allowed to keep only traditional pets and only three of them.

That's too few, said Dan Getz, who said he owns four dogs on North Fifth Street.

"We don't want lions walking down the street," Getz said. "But if me and my mother-in-law have four dogs, who's it hurt?"

Getz's wife, Lori, said, "I don't think the issue should be so much how many animals people have, but how people are taking care of them."

Some people aren't taking care of their animals, borough Manager John Kasten said. He said he and Fisher have received an increasing number of complaints about animals.

Roberts cited one resident whose 11 cats have turned a pool in a basement into a rarely cleaned communal litter pan.

"We have to be able to deal with that somehow," Roberts said. 'We as a council want to give our zoning officer some teeth."

Enforcement questioned

Kerrigan expected most illegal animals would go to the police department and said the ordinance needs more thought.

"Once I have my hands on the animal, where am I going to take it?" Kerrigan said. "It's my problem when the ordinance is passed and I'm going to have to have a solution."

Council members planned to discuss the ordinance with Kerrigan at a public workshop meeting and they told one resident they would consider regulations for birds, which aren't included in the current proposal.

No one complained Monday about bans on exotic and wild animals.

But the director of the Pennsylvania Raptor and Wildlife Association in Upper Mount Bethel Township said a borough ban would likely sink anyone who wanted a state or federal permit for uncommon pets.

Hope Amwyll said she needed Pennsylvania Game Commission permits for two wolves and a coyote she keeps on her 7 acres on Allegheny Road, plus U.S. Fish and Wildlife permits for her hawks, vultures and owls.

Both agencies ask applicants if local laws prohibit the animals, she said. If they do, she said, the agencies won't issue permits.

Amwyll didn't like the parts of Bangor's ordinance banning ferrets and skunks. But, she said, "A wolf, a coyote, a cougar really shouldn't be kept in Bangor."