“Exotic Animal Ordinance” Amendment

A hot topic in Lincoln County right now is a proposed amendment of Chapter 92 of the Lincoln County Code of Ordinances. Chapter 92 of the Code of Ordinances deals with animal control and welfare, and the amendment currently under consideration pertains to the documentation and ownership of exotic animals. Currently, the law maintains that exotic animals (non-domesticated species that are not commonly kept as pets or livestock. Examples include monkeys, wolves, large predatory birds, etc.) require permits, proper shelter, food, veterinary care, and must be kept in a way that would not endanger the public. Failure to comply with the aforementioned regulations would result in fines or legal consequences. The proposed amendment covers dangerous dog classifications and confinement requirements, exotic animals regulations, animal welfare standards, and enforcement and penalties. However, most of the pushback against this amendment, which there has been a considerable amount of, has been against the exotic animals regulations. So far, the amendment has been revised multiple times to better reflect the needs of the county; nonetheless, many individuals were present at the last county meeting to protest the passing of the amendment on the basis that the amendment institutes a ban on most exotic animals. If passed, large carnivores, venomous reptiles, types of primates, certain species of wild animals, and any animal deemed a threat to public safety or the local ecosystem would be banned from private ownership. The county commissioner meeting on May 5th was tense as those opposing the legislation were passionate about their opinions. Those speaking against it included the President of the US Association of Reptile Keepers, a representative from the American Federation of Aviculture, and a handful of exotic pet owners. Throughout the meeting, the members of the council clarified that the amendment would make Lincoln County’s ordinance similar to that of other counties in NC and the the most recent revision allowed for emus and ostriches as well as any pet you could buy at a normal pet store such as Pet Smart or Pet Supermarket. The drama continued to build as T. Barker, an exotic animal owner in Lincoln County and opposer of the amendment, claimed that while she and other exotic pet owners had been made aware that an amendment to Chapter 92 was under consideration it was portrayed to be a simple clarification of the Code of Ordinances rather than an ban on exotic animals. Upon learning this, the council unanimously decided to table the amendment until they could see a copy of the original document the exotic pet owners saw. After tabling the amendment, Council Chair Jamie Lineberg explained the purpose behind the amendment by saying, “We’re not trying to control what's going on with everything…some of the major concern is just letting our EMTs and police officers and other people know when they're going into a house when there's a call to give them a heads up of what's behind that door and protect people of that nature.” We at LEAP News will continue to keep you updated as this story unfolds. 

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