After an Ohio man released 56 lions, tigers, bears, and wolves (and a couple of monkeys that were eaten) on his farm and killed himself, a task force is trying to ban ownership of exotic pets.
This ban would include lizards and other smaller reptiles as well.
48 of the animals released with killed while the remaining six live in zoos. The new bill would require registration for all exotics pets by 2014.
While the bill is picking up steam, many legislators and executives are hesistant about it.
Many cite that businesses would foreclose and many pet owners would be forced to kill their pets.
Polly Britton of the Ohio Association of Animal Owners states the following:
I know the actual bill will look nothing like the summary…They├óΓé¼Γäóre grandfathering in owners of these exotics and giving them two years to either comply or dispose of the animals. Now, what├óΓé¼Γäós that owner suppose to do if they can├óΓé¼Γäót comply with all the restrictions and regulations? I├óΓé¼Γäóll tell you; they├óΓé¼Γäóll have to kill those animals. This is their way of making sure all these animals are dead.
Legislators plan on the bill being ready to present in 2012.
