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Township strengthens bylaw to restrict pet
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by tigers9 on October 27, 2008
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http://www.elmiraindependent.com/news.php?id=1023
Township strengthens bylaw to restrict pet snakes
Published - Oct 22nd, 2008
By Chuck Kuepfer Staff Reporter
In an effort to strengthen its animal control bylaw as it relates to exotic pets, Woolwich Township is looking to prohibit all constrictive snakes as well as those not indigenous to North America.
It’s yet another chapter in the township’s dealings with the Waterloo Herpetological Society, which has been holding a twice a year Reptile Expo in St. Jacobs since 2001.
Last year, the annual show was jeopardized after a township bylaw officer recommended that council not approve the usual exemption.
However, council rejected the idea and instead placed restrictions on what kinds of animals could be sold at the show.
This year, organizers recently approached the township to request a bylaw amendment that would allow residents to keep snakes from the boa and python families, that are less than two metres (6.6 feet) in length, as pets.
Mark and Lisa Pawley, organizers of the Reptile Expo, indicated in an email to the township that “there is a growing interest in captive care of these snakes.” They also stated that “some individuals residing within the township have an interest in keeping them in their homes as pets or possibly in local schools for educational purposes.”
The email goes on to suggest that with only eight confirmed deaths in North America attributed to constrictor snakes over the past two decades, the number hardly seems significant compared to deaths caused by other animals, such as dogs.
Mark told council, Oct. 14, that snakes under two metres long aren’t dangerous, and that only six of the 68 known species of boas and pythons can actually grow large enough to be considered a possible danger to human life.
“They’re not able to constrict you in any way, or kill you,” he explained.
However, a staff report recommends making snake ownership more restrictive in the township.
Taking the lead from other local municipalities, staff wants a bylaw more in line with those in Waterloo and Wellesley and Wilmot townships that restrict keeping non-venomous and venomous snakes. In Cambridge, snakes not indigenous to North America are prohibited, unless they are kept for educational purposes.
Staff also indicated that amending the current bylaw to allow pythons and boas less than two metres long would be difficult to enforce.
However, councillor Mark Bauman wasn’t so sure, since bylaw enforcement is complaint based.
“I think we can deal with the concerns as we get them,” he indicated.
He voted against the staff recommendation to amend its animal control bylaw to prohibit all snakes of a constrictive nature and snakes not indigenous to North America.
However, the motion brought forward at last week’s committee of the whole meeting carried, with mayor Bill Strauss and councillor Murray Martin voting in favour.
The decision was to be ratified at council, Monday.
The bylaw amendment does not effect the St. Jacobs Reptile Expo, which has been granted a 12-hour exemption, twice yearly, for its shows through 2010.
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