• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

‘Oh, My!’ Exotic pet owners needn’t disclose

Carole by BCR
September 13, 2014
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

‘Oh, My!’ Exotic pet owners needn’t disclose

 

They need permits to keep wildlife, but don’t have to inform their neighbors.

By CRAIG PITTMAN St. Petersburg Times

September 19, 2007

 

ST. PETERSBURG – State wildlife commissioners agreed last week that owners of potentially dangerous wildlife do not have to inform their neighbors about what’s lurking on the other side of the privacy fence.

 

"There are probably pit bulls out there that are more dangerous than what some of these people are keeping," commissioner Ron Bergeron said.

 

More than 370 people statewide hold permits for what the state calls Class I wildlife, also known as the "Oh My" list, a name derived from a line in The Wizard of Oz: "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"

 

The owners of such wildlife must get permits, submit to inspections, meet caging requirements and keep their animals on property that is 5 acres or more in an area not zoned residential.

 

But this summer, after hearing from an Okeechobee County rancher, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission contemplated making owners take out a legal notice in the nearest newspaper disclosing what they own and sending all immediate neighbors certified letters.

 

Rancher Susan Williams told wildlife commissioners at their June meeting that she was horrified to learn that one of her Okeechobee County neighbors was keeping a tiger and five bears on his Crazy 8 Ranch. She worried about what might happen if the animals got loose.

 

The Humane Society of the United States backed the wildlife disclosure rule, too.

 

"We do think that in a state as prone to hurricanes as this one, folks should be notified about what’s in their community," Jennifer Hobgood of the Humane Society said Thursday. "They have the right to know."

 

When Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1992, more than 3,000 exotic animals — including boa constrictors, wallabies, iguanas and baboons — escaped private menageries and fled into the wilds of Miami-Dade County.

 

Hobgood pointed out that in 2003, neighbors in the Countryside Village Mobile Home Park in Town ‘n’ Country were unnerved to learn that a resident was raising 26 deadly reptiles. They found out because his pet black mamba got loose and bit him.

 

But the wildlife commissioners were swayed by a parade of animal owners, such as Lisa Welch of Thonotosassa, who argued that requiring disclosure of her wildlife ownership "is such an infringement of my rights."

 

Palm Springs cougar owner Alan Rigerman said farmers ought to be required to disclose what livestock they own because cows are just as dangerous. "Bulls kill people. Horses and cattle kill people," he said.

 

Gini Valbuena of Clearwater, who has owned chimpanzees for 22 years, predicted that disclosing what she owns would attract thieves and trespassers: "We’re going to have children injured, and we’re going to have people knocking on our doors saying, ‘Let me see your monkey.’ "

 

And longtime Gainesville reptile dealer Gene Bessette said that if the rule passed, the next step would be requiring firearm owners to notify their neighbors about what guns they possess.

 

"A gun doesn’t get up and walk out of its gun case," Hobgood retorted.

 

The commissioners, meeting in St. Petersburg, voted 6-0 to reject the proposed rule.

 

They also voted to postpone until February implementing a liability law that requires owners of captive wildlife to put up a $10,000 bond or buy $2 million of insurance in case anyone gets hurt by their animals.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locexotic19091907sep19,0,289937.story

 

Carole’s comments here:  http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel/TK0KGTKEJLBD5PB96


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Using big cats in little cages is NOT education

Next Post

Asiatic Lions: New reserve on the anvil

Next Post

Asiatic Lions: New reserve on the anvil

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Cat VS Dog…Fennel? June 22, 2022
  • Black Leopard Bath time! June 22, 2022
  • Nothing like a vacation, next door. Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue June 22, 2022

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV
Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

June 22, 2022
Black Leopard Bath time!

Black Leopard Bath time!

June 22, 2022
Nothing like a vacation, next door. Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue

Nothing like a vacation, next door. Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue

June 22, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist