The Kamloops Daily News

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

City looks at ban on exotic pets
By Michele Young

Daily News Staff Reporter

Tigers, venomous snakes and turtles are among the animals that could soon be banned from within Kamloops City limits.

City council asked staff Tuesday to look into the next steps toward developing a ban on wild and exotic animals from Kamloops.

City bylaws supervisor John Wilson told council at a workshop that the current bylaw, which calls for residents to obtain a permit for keeping a wild animal within the city, isn't working. One permit has been issued in the past 10 years and that was for an iguana that was discovered because it bit someone, he said.

A few years ago, Mayor Terry Lake - then a City councillor - lobbied to get a ban on exotic animal acts such as circuses within Kamloops.

Despite that ban, a Bridge lake man who owned a Bengal tiger involved in a recent fatal attack brought one of his big cats to Kamloops a year ago to a private hall for display.

The City bylaws department was notified after the animal had come and gone.

"What happened with the tiger at Bridge Lake could have happened here," said Lake.

Coun. Tina Lange questioned whether the exotic-animal issue was a tempest in a teapot. "We have pedophiles on the street and we're worrying about iguanas?" she asked.

Lake disagreed, saying while there are bigger issues that the City deals with, that doesn't mean the animal issue isn't worth tackling.

He recalled when he worked as a veterinarian in the Lower Mainland, a colleague who had another clinic had a husband with venomous snakes. Despite his ample knowledge of the animals, he was found dead one day - killed by a poisonous bite.

City community and corporate affairs director Len Hrycan said the City needs to tighten up its permitting process, as it obviously isn't working. A possible exotic animal ban was in the works well before the Bridge Lake incident, he added.

Coun. Peter Milobar said council will probably be accused of imposing regulations on business, but it has the authority to do so. He said there are animals that are the "flavour of the month" that are let free outdoors when their owners tire of them - and that's a concern.

Lake said even if pet stores aren't selling exotic animals, they can be brought in by newcomers moving to town or bought elsewhere.

"You can buy a venomous snake over the Internet," he said.

"It's the right thing to do. These animals, for the most part, are not kept in conditions that are conducive to their health."

City staff will look at the list of exotic animals currently prohibited by the performance/circus bylaw and come up with a draft for council.