Exotic animal proposal raises concern
Dangerous pets face regulation By Luke E. Saladin
Post staff reporter
Once the Campbell County Fiscal Court reads its proposed dangerous and exotic animal ordinance into the record tonight, people like Damien Oxier plan to get themselves a copy.
That's because Oxier, who runs a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing displaced reptiles, wants to know just how far the ordinance goes in its efforts to regulate ownership of animals, especially reptiles that make common household pets.
Oxier said he has been in contact with a number of people who have concerns about the ordinance.
"It's a huge concern because, quite frankly, a lot of times lawmakers don't know what they are talking about," said Oxier, the executive director of the Liberty Township-based Arrowhead Reptile Rescue. "We realize a lot of reptiles do not belong in the homes as pets, but a lot of times these ordinances go far beyond any reasonable justification."
Campbell County officials decided to adopt the ordinance not because of any immediate threat from such animals, but because other communities have been enacting similar ordinances and officials didn't want people with such animals to look at Campbell County as a kind of save haven for dangerous pets.
According to a draft of the ordinance obtained by The Post, among the banned animals are lions, poisonous snakes, bears, hyenas, tigers, coyotes, foxes, kangaroos, gorillas, squirrels, coral snakes and cobras.
Josh Wice, a Campbell County administrative assistant who helped draft the ordinance, said the court took great pains to ban only animals that posed a serious threat to people's safety.
Non-lethal reptiles commonly owned as pets, including green iguanas, are specifically exempted, Wice said.
"We made specific reference to various animals that should not be affected by the ordinance," Wice said. "If it is on the list of banned animals you can be sure it poses a threat in some way."
Other communities, including Boone and Kenton counties, Newport, Covington and Bellevue, also have similar ordinances.
Oxier said that unlike other communities, he was encouraged that Campbell County consulted with animal experts at Northern Kentucky University while officials drafted the ordinance.
He still plans on looking over the ordinance once it becomes available for public comment after Wednesday night's first reading. The court is expected to have a final vote on the ordinance in December.
"If I see any problems with it, I would definitely speak up at their next meeting," Oxier said.
Campbell County's ordinance would make the crime of owning a banned animal punishable for up to 90 days in jail and/or a $250 fine.
