Dane County, Wisc., is going far beyond many of the exotic pet bans proposed in the aftermath of the Ohio tragedy.
Language in the proposed bill defines an "exotic animal" as "any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United States, including animal’s hybrid with domestic species, or any animal that is wild by nature, regardless of whether it was bred in the wild or in captivity."
Some critics have pointed out that language is so broad it could apply to many pet cats. The Madison Area Herpetological Society has already started a grass roots effort to contact the members of the boards now reviewing the bill, and educate them as to the many problems with it.
To read the full ordinance, click
here. After the bump, you'll find a full list of contacts who need to hear from constituents about this bill.
The original wording was dropped on this ordinance, however I have obtained the updated legislation that is being presented tonight at a committee meeting. You can see it after the bump.
Contact information of Committee Members:
Kyle Richmond District 27 richmond.kyle@countyofdane.com
Duane Gau District 20 gau@countyofdane.com
Patrick Downing District 30 downing@countyofdane.com
Jack Martz District 33 martz@countyofdane.com
Melanie Hampton District 14 hampton.melanie@countyofdane.com
Matt Veldran District 7 veldran@countyofdane.com
Chuck Erickson District 13 erickson.chuck@countyofdane.com
Dave Ripp District 29 ripp.david@countyofdane.com
Bob Salov District 37 salov@countyofdane.com
Shelia Stubbs District 23 stubbs@countyofdane.com
Robin Schmidt District 24 schmidt.robin@countyofdane.com
Jeremy Levin District 10 levin.jeremy@countyofdane.com
Denise Duranczyk District 35 duranczyk@countyofdane.com
Barbara Vedder District 2 vedder.barbara@countyofdane.com
Melissa Sargent District 18 sargent@countyofdane.com
Mike Willet District 32 willett@countyofdane.com
Ron Ferrell District 15 ronnferrell15@charter.net
This is the new wording for the legislation
Sub. ___ to ORD. AMEND. NO. 36, 2011-2012 2 3
AMENDING CHAPTER 47 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, PROHIBITING THE POSSESSION OR SALE OF LIVE EXOTIC ANIMALS
The County Board of Supervisors of the County of Dane does ordain as follows:
ARTICLE 1. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, all references to section and chapter numbers are to those of the Dane County Code of Ordinances.
ARTICLE 2. Section 47.03 is amended to read as follows: 47.03 AUTHORITY. This ordinance is enacted under the authority of sections, 29.427(2)(c), 29.427(3)(e), 59.54(6), 59.54(20), and 95.21(9), and 169.43 and chapters 173 and 174, Wisconsin Statutes.
ARTICLE 3. Section 47.21 is created to read as follows:
47.21 POSSESSION OR SALE OF EXOTIC ANIMALS PROHIBITED.
(1) Purpose and intent. The Dane County Board of Supervisors finds that exotic animals pose health and safety risks to the residents of Dane County. It is the intent of the Board to prohibit the possession or sale of exotic animals within Dane County.
(2) Definitions. For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Circus means a scheduled event staged by a traveling company with mobile facilities in which entertainment consisting of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns or trained animals is the primary attraction or principle business.
(b) Person means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity. (c) Possess means to own, control, restrain, transport, or keep. (d) Public Zoo or Aquarium means a zoo or aquarium that is operated by the state or by a city, village or county that is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
(e) Sell means to transfer or exchange for consideration.
(f) Veterinarian means a person who is licensed in this state to practice veterinary medicine under ch. 453 of the Wisconsin Statutes and who is certified under the rules promulgated by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. (g) Exotic Animal means any of the following animals, including any such animal’s hybrid with domestic species, regardless of whether it was bred in the wild or in captivity. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified. 1. Nonhuman primates and prosimians (chimpanzees, monkeys); 2. Felids, except domesticated cats;
3. Canids (wolf, coyotes, foxes) except domesticated dogs;
4. Prairie dogs;
5. Elephants;
6. Cocodilians (alligators, crocodiles);
7. Marsupials (kangaroos, opossums);
8. Ungulates (hippopotamus, rhinoceros);
9. Hyenas;
10. Mustelids (skunks, otters, badgers) except ferrets;
11. Procyonids (raccoons, coatis);
12. Dasypodidae (anteaters, sloth, armadillos);
13. Viverrids (mongooses, civets, genets);
14. Reptilia over ten (10) feet in length (boa constrictors, pythons);
15. Venomous reptilia.
(h) Farming Operation means any operation that conducts one or more of the following activities for the purpose of producing an income or livelihood: crop production; beekeeping; dairying; egg production; floriculture; fish or fur farming; forest and game management; grazing; livestock raising; orchards; plant greenhouses and nurseries; poultry raising; raising of grain, grass, mint and seed crops; raising of fruits, nuts, berries, sod farming and vegetable raising.
(i) Exhibition means any organized show, scheduled event, or performance where exotic animals are displayed for the purpose of public viewing, regardless of whether a fee is charged.
(3) Prohibition. No person shall possess, sell or offer to sell any live exotic animal.
(4) Exceptions. The following person or entities may possess exotic animals: (a) A person licensed by the State under ch. 169 of the Wisconsin Statutes. (b) A veterinarian, for the purposes of providing medical treatment to exotic animals.
(c) A public zoo or aquarium.
(d) A circus.
(e) A person authorized to do so by the department of natural resources.
(f) A farming operation.
(g) An exhibition at the Dane County Alliant Energy Center.
ARTICLE 4. Section 47.51(14) is created to read as follows:
(14) Any person who violates section 47.21 shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500.
[EXPLANATION: This amendment prohibits the possession and sale of live exotic animals.]
Submitted By: ______________________________
____________________________ ______________________________
"As one of the co-sponsors of the ordinance amendment in question, I believe that you have legitimate concerns. Our plan was to allow for uniform regulation throughout Dane County. However, the proposal as introduced did not follow the City ordinance as closely as I had intended.
I am working with the public health department, the counties legal folks and a fellow supervisor to draft an amendment that will address your thoughtful concerns.
Please know that intent was to mirror the current ordinance that is currently covering the City of Madison and not to affect responsible pet owners in the county.
I greatly appreciate your thoughts and hope that your concerns are addressed in the amendment that is in drafting.
Melissa Sargent
Dane County Supervisor
District 18
608.220.2273"