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“You claim this exotics ban is about safety, but public records requests show that animal services repeatedly failed to do anything about dogs with multiple bite histories just in the last year...in fact only one citation has been issued since 2023. If safety is the concern, why has so little been done about the dangerous dogs in our community?”
asked one concerned citizen at the last county commissioners meeting.
Here is a recap of the proposed amendment to the Chapter 92 ordinance: Chapter 92 of the current ordinance covers many topics such as tether and leash laws, dangerous dogs, shelter requirements and much more. But none have caused such uproar as the proposed amendment to the exotic animal section of the ordinance. The new amendment seeks to ban ownership of exotic animals in Lincoln County. You can read more about what that entails here: https://www.leapnewslincolnton.com/articles/tensions-rise-over-the-exotic-animal-ordinance
The Animal Services Director of Lincoln County shed some light on where the discussion of banning exotic creatures began. Talks began among the animal services advisory board after a primate attack happened at the Denver Walmart last October. The advisory board does have meetings open to the public with time allotted for public comment. Currently North Carolina already has laws about having exotic animals out in public, and having the animal in Walmart was a violation of their policies as well.. The official report noted that the monkey had scratched a young girl on the arm. There were no images in the report of the scratch but sources say it was very minor. That monkey has been euthanised, not for the incident but due to health complications. According to the Director the advisory board has been discussing exotic animals for years at this point.
The ban was looked at being put into place to ensure public safety from incidents like the monkey scenario, disease prevention that could pass from these animals to humans, and safety for law enforcement going into homes that have exotics. Another noted problem was that there are only six exotic owners that have registered their pets with animal services which is required under the current ordinance. A version of the amendment was supposedly sent out to current exotic owners to get feedback, but it seems that version was changed quite a bit when presented at the May 5th meeting. At the meeting, the amendment was tabled until the commissioners had time to review all the documents entailed. At the May 19th meeting the commissioners voted to bring a panel together to discuss revisions to the amendment. The panel has a total of eleven members from various backgrounds including two exotic owners. From the time of the first meeting the group has ninety days to complete the revisions for the board of commissioners to vote on.
This would give the panel until about mid August to come to agreements on the revisions.
After speaking with a few members of the panel, each reported positive discussion and felt steps were being made in the right direction.
Discussions with exotic owners in Lincoln County brought up concerns such as impact to people's livelihood and access to these animals for future generations. Potentially most concerning is one citizen's claim that according to public records, animal services are failing to even enforce guidelines that they have now when it comes to dangerous dogs. Another citizen remarked they will just make those exotic animal owners who are going through the proper channels criminals while others will continue to keep exotic animals without their knowledge. One venomous snake owner shared statistics that show almost ten times more deaths occur from dog attacks than venomous snakes in America. And also remarked that “no one in the public is asking for a ban”
We at Leap News submitted a public records request for any police or animal service reports involving exotic animal incidents or attacks in the last five years. The Walmart monkey incident being the only report listed.
Leap News will keep you informed about any more developments and when the panel has come to its final revisions.
