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Reptile owners - Stay away from Mooresville, NC

SnakeLadyK

SnakeLadyK

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*SORRY - EMOTIONAL POST*

Just a warning to anyone contemplating moving to North Carolina. Stay out of Mooresville. They've made it VERY plain they don't want reptiles in their town.
After decades of dedication, all the hard work was for nothing. Now, my husband is gone, my vehicle is gone, and because of cowardly neurotic nut jobs that don't have the juevos to talk to me, my animals will be gone.

We moved here 4 months ago because after raising 4 children and working for years in physically and emotionally demanding jobs (we were body wranglers for the ME's office) our youngest finally graduated high school. We had saved as much as we could and decided when she graduated, we were going to move to NC to start our reptile center in a state that was SUPPOSED to be one of the most reptile-friendly in the US.

WRONG!! Maybe the STATE laws are good, but as for Iredell County and the Town of Mooresville, they are making crap up as they go!

The continuing list:
1. You need a second set of locks on the Vision cages (that would be 2 showcase locks on each cage that houses a red tail boa)

2. Any constrictor will need to have a second locking system on the cage. (The law- not only State, but County- clearly states only the big 5 need these locking systems and its only 1, not 2 locks.)

3. Totes on a rack system are not considered approved housing for any constrictor snakes, even baby ball pythons. They must be in a secured enclosure with 2 locking mechanisms, either combination or key.

4. The 4 foot long Savannah Monitor that just walked in front of the Animal Control Officer is fine. He doesn't need locks on his cage. Heck! He doesn't even need a cage!

5. I must have an approved Plan of Action in plain view at all times, along with a copy to be transported with any animal that leaves the premises AND a copy submitted to Iredell County to be APPROVED and kept on file. (Something that the law states is ONLY required for the Big 5 and venomous)

6. I must turn in yearly inventory of my animals. Complete species list of what I have, whats been brought in, whats gone out. To do this, they supplied me with a form that clearly states FOR NATIVE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ONLY. I don't have any native species. The law says to fill out the form for natives species, yet I have none, but they want it filled out... I'm confused!

I've jump through every hoop I can. I've done what it takes to comply with their demands.

Now, even though I make no money from these animals, at all, I get the phone call yesterday from Town Hall's Zoning and Planning Dept. Because I have a website and a phone number, I have to get a home occupation license and a business license.

So the website has been changed. The animals will be sold or rehomed (with the exception of 3 of them). There will be no more get togethers, events, free workshops, rescue assistance, troubleshooting, etc.
Thanks to the ignorant old bitties of Mooresville and the politicians that bend over to kiss their butts, children will hear the term "Herpetology" and think its the study of venereal diseases.

I have arthritis, MS and a heart condition. These animals are the one thing that has kept me going. This is the killing blow. I'm too weary to fight anymore. I can't defeat an ignorant, angry mob.

~SnakeLady out
 
That sucks!! I know you said your too weary for a fight, but perhaps just a few kicks as you go down... call all herps soceities around for help. Perhaps a call to a lawyer as they aren't following written codes/laws. Perhaps you can find a lawyer that will handle the case for a cut of damages. How about a call to a news station to see if someone there wants to run the story and/or help you muddle through the hoops.

Sometimes if the law is on your side, throwing a fuss will get results. If you've got the fight in ya, time to posse up.
 
I agree with Melinda. This is harassment and blatant misunderstanding of their own regulations. Any lawyer would jump all over this!
 
Thank you. :)
After a few hours and a good crying fit or three, I feel a bit better. (And to be honest, a bit vindictive)

I'll be contacting as many agencies, new stations, lawyers, etc as I possibly can. Please feel free to pass around the news about Mooresville being Anti-Reptile. Anyone can contact me at [email protected] to ask more questions or get more information.

Thank you for the words of encouragement. They truely helped.
 
As far as I see it, you are being punished for trying to obey the law. Good luck and get a lawyer! Document everything!
 
Got an email tonight from the son of one of my accusers! I finally have a name to file a harassment suit against!


Titled: "My apologies for what my mother did"

Yes I know my mother is a massive idiot who fought with me twice
tonight and is probably mostly responsible for what happened. I'm
sorry she's such a bitch who lets her stupid fears get in the way of
intelligent decision making. I was looking forward to seeing you and
all the animals and maybe even learning to overcome my fear of
spiders. I read your website tonight after my mother pointed it out
and I was greatly saddened by it. While she celebrates her stupid
victory I regret the loss of the educational value that you and your
animals provided. My mother gave me a choice of siding with you and
moving out or siding with her and being able to live here. My
response was it was better to be wrong and live here then be right and
move out given I lack the skills the be indepandant and another place
to live. I get the feeling we're gonna have another fight before I go
to bed tonight. I only hope that wherever you go next is much more
tolerant then this hellhole.

Sinceraly,
Frank Easton
 
I don't know if this is relevant or even 100% true, but I seem to recall a thread about a man in a similar situation. He was able to fight it, because essentially the state law superceded the county/city laws, hands-down. I.E. if the state says its okay, it didn't matter what the county said.

I dunno...might be worth the fight?
 
MDC_Ophiuchus said:
I don't know if this is relevant or even 100% true, but I seem to recall a thread about a man in a similar situation. He was able to fight it, because essentially the state law superceded the county/city laws, hands-down. I.E. if the state says its okay, it didn't matter what the county said.

I dunno...might be worth the fight?
Click to expand...

A city or county can be more restrictive but not less restrictive than the state. If the state says it's OK, the county can say it is not OK; but if the state says it is not OK, the county can't say it is OK.

SnakeLadyK said:
WRONG!! Maybe the STATE laws are good, but as for Iredell County and the Town of Mooresville, they are making crap up as they go!
Click to expand...

That is worth a fight, if they were truly making up the restrictions as they went along, just for your case, ex post facto.

Katherine, EXACTLY who gave you the list of restrictions that you posted?
 
Thank you, Elizabeth. I appreciate it. :)

Lucille, the restrictions were relayed from Iredell County Animal Control. I have checked now, both on Iredell County AND the town of Mooresville and I cannot find ANYTHING about the care and housing of reptiles. I have only found the state requirements, which I not only meet, but exceed.
 
If the county or city can't show city or county codes/laws in writing then they don't have a leg to stand on. They cannot make stuff up. Ask for codes in writing. If they can't show it, I would continue to do what is allowed and make them come up with code/laws to stop you. If they decide to pass code after you've been doing business, be sure to get grandfathered in. Show up at all city/county meetings to keep up with whatever they are planning on doing.

And I'm a bit vindictive when it comes to getting hosed, so I would do a bit of research on who owns what in the city/county to possibly dig up info to use against them.

How about a call to your local governor? They would want to know about cities/counties trying to enforce codes/laws that don't exist.
 
I'm right there with you, Melinda. Now that the hurt has passed, the pissed has kicked in.
I'm going to take your advice and get as involved as possible. I'll put in a call to the governor's office also. Hopefully the state positions aren't "ornamental" like the town ones are.

I also found out that if I go ahead and get the licenses that they are wanting now, my lovely neighbors could complain all they want, but it won't accomplish anything. But the best news? Theres a good chance I could get animals that regular residents would not be allowed to have.
Baby Caimans, anyone?

(Just kidding... But, its tempting to put something like that on the website just to make the old bitties have a heart attack, you know?)
 
You can call the city and countyand ask them to cite the statutes on which they based their requirements to you. You can let them know that not only are you contacting the state, but you are giving this matter as much publicity as possible. (Call some reptile publications, local papers, etc.)
If in fact there are no statutes behind their requirements you can bite back hard now.
Sometimes small town officials have delusions of grandeur and will step all over anyone who lets them. Don't let them.
If I can help, let me know.
 
Thank you, Laura.
All laws pertain to venomous and constricting snakes over 10 feet in length.
My largest is 7'10" and I STILL have her in a large, locked and secured Vision cage.
I'm going to print these out and highlight the specific areas pertaining to my animals.
 
Well... Found the fly in the ointment.
The legal term that can kill anything: includes, but not limited to

(2)
Exotic animals dangerous to humans and property. Exotic animals are also considered to be inherently dangerous for purposes of this chapter. Like wild animals, exotic animals are dangerous because of their vicious propensities and capabilities, the gravity of harm inflicted by their attack, and unpredictability despite attempts at domestication. The category of exotic animals includes, but is not limited to:

a.Reptiles which are poisonous or constricting reptiles more than ten (10) feet in length.

b.Nonhuman primates weighing greater than twenty-five (25) pounds.

c.Members of the feline family other than domestic house cats, including, but not limited to lions, tigers and leopards.

d.Reptiles that are members of the crocodile family, including, but not limited to alligators and crocodiles.
 
And the drama continues

Now we are getting threatening letters from the property manager even though our reptiles are ON THE LEASE.
This has gotten completely out of hand. After today's fiasco, this is the letter I've sent to Mayor Chris Montgomery and the Town Commissioners.

I've contacted the newspaper. They don't want to listen. If anyone knows of any media avenue that could get our story out there, please have them contact me. If this can happen to me, it can happen to any one of us. This is SUPPOSED to be one of the most reptile friendly states in the US.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

To whom it concerns:

Seven weeks ago, we moved into a new house here in Mooresville, and ever since then, it has been a living nightmare. The day after we moved in, we were called by the property manager who stated they were called because we had a 10' alligator unattended in the front yard. We don't even own an alligator, much less a 10' long one. What the anonymous person saw was my Savannah monitor, Rocko, on a leash, being brought from the moving truck, into the garage. Rocko is 3 feet long and weighs a whopping 10 pounds.
Not even a week later, we were sent a letter from the property manager that we were leaving reptiles unattended in the front yard. We immediately called them and they told us it was a second call, they wouldn't say from whom, but since it was a complaint, they had to follow through with written notice. ALL of our reptiles are on the lease and we are in compliance with everything. There was not, nor was there ever, ANY reptiles unattended ANYWHERE.

Since then, we have had Iredell County Animal Control called on us, because we have reptiles. The officer came out, saw what he needed to, and deemed that we were "above and beyond the legally accepted requirements" for housing our reptiles. Since that didn't work, the anonymous accuser(s) went to the next step and complained to NC Fish & Wildlife, who also came out and found us to be above and beyond what was acceptable for safe caging requirements. (F&W here is only really concerned with indigenous species anyways and we don't have any)
That didn't work, so they went to the town Planning & Zoning. I was contacted by a very rude and unprofessional woman named Tammy that informed me since I have a website and a phone number, and the map on the "Contact Us" page might lead someone to our doorstep (which it doesn't) and that I need to get a home occupation license and a business license for a business that doesn't exist. Simply because I have reptiles and I have a web site. (Which she so eloquently referred to as "creatures, because they aren't even animals." Is it alright for personal biases to interfere with your job when you work for Mooresville?)
Today, we received a letter from the property manager again stating that we are in violation of HOA standards and we have until October 1st to get rid of ALL the reptiles to be in compliance. Also, that my son driving for a cab company is also in violation of the HOA standards. Other people are allowed to bring their work vehicles home, but he isn't.

Again, ALL the reptiles are specifically listed IN THE LEASE. The only reason our accuser(s) know we have reptiles is because they have come to the foot of the driveway and looked into the garage when I had it opened for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

I am at the end of my rope with this. Everything I've spent years building and working for, in the last seven weeks has been completely destroyed.

It amazes me that just a couple of nasty, narrow-minded, ignorant individuals that are too cowardly to come forward can be given enough power to destroy people they know nothing about.

My advise to anyone is to stay as far away from Mooresville, NC as you possibly can. This town has destroyed my purpose, my family and my life.

Sincerily,
Katherine Brouse
 
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