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Advocate for an Exotic Animal Ban in Ohio: Tell Kasich to Sign the Law
How many incidents must we catalogue before OHIO legislators take action to crack down on private ownership of dangerous exotic animals?
Since 2003, the Humane Society of the United States has documented 22 incidents in Ohio.
What’s happening in Zanesville — where about 50 wild animals escaped the private menagerie of a man previously convicted of animal cruelty — could’ve likely been prevented if the
Image Courtesy HSUS
state would stop private citizens from buying and selling big cats, bears, wolves, primates, and other dangerous animals. It is unfortunate that local authorities have had to spend tremendous resources on personnel and equipment to respond to incidents that could’ve easily been prevented.
And it is most certainly tragic that these exotic creatures are being killed in order to protect public safety.
With some of the weakest exotic pet laws in the nation, Ohio has become a haven for breeders and dealers of wild animals. Keeping exotics in backyards and basements has ended in tragedy time and time again—as we’re sadly witnessing with the recent incident in Zanesville.
Restricting the trade and ownership of wild animals is clearly a benefit to the health and welfare of the animals, and to the safety of all Ohio citizens.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Please make a brief, polite phone call to Gov. John Kasich at (614) 466-3555 and urge him to make the ban on dangerous exotic animals permanent. You can say: “Please restrict the private possession of dangerous wild animals.”
After making your call (please do not skip that crucial step!), fill in and submit the form linked here to send a follow-up message to Gov. Kasich. Be sure to edit your message so it stands out and is personalized. Tell them how you really feel (but be polite, don’t attack anyone, and don’t name-call or threaten or anything).
UPDATE:
The ASPCA has just sent an emergency order to Kasich AND the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to restric the sale and possession of exotic pets. On the 6 pm news tonight, they announced that 50 animals, including giraffes, cheetahs, lions, monkeys, wolves and grizzly bears, had been shot to death as they were released (by the owner – who then shot himself) into a highly residential neighborhood.
One of the big cats got hit on the Interstate, and there was even a CAMEL shot because of this debacle.
This is outrageous.
Well-known animal expert and Columbus Zoo director emeritus, Jack Hanna is helping with the hunt. Hanna says he has received a lot of complaints from animal groups, criticizing the police on shooting and killing some of the animals. Hanna says law enforcement had to do what they had to do to protect human life.
Hanna has been very vocal on the state’s animal laws. “I will do anything I can over my dead body to put these people out of business, to shut these auctions down,” said Hanna. He went on to say he doesn’t want to shut everyone down. There are good breeders out there.
Ohio has no rules regulating the sale and ownership of exotic animals. Hanna says he talked with the governor’s office today and plans to meet with Governor John Kasich today and tomorrow to talk about stricter animal laws.
According to the ASPCA, the exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar industry that contributes to the suffering of millions of animals, often threatening public health and safety, disrupting ecosystems and driving species to endangerment and extinction. Each year across the nation, countless numbers of exotic animals are purchased as pets at retail stores and from private breeders and dealers at auctions or over the Internet. Since the vast majority of people who keep exotic animals cannot meet their needs, the animals often become the victims of abuse and neglect—they are caged, chained, tranquilized or even beaten into submission.
Thanks to the Humane Society of the United States for portions of information in this post.
Please restrict the private possession of dangerous wild animals. It is not safe for the
nearby residents or the animals themselves to be caged on private property. This last incident is just one of the most recent examples of how this goes bad real quick! It’s a shame!
This wa truly heartbreaking. Please don’t let this happen in the future. Exotic animals should not be kept as pets!
PLEASE don’t let this happen again. A law must be put in place. ANIMALS do not have VOICES. This was not their fault. This could have been avoided. Please take a stand and put a law in effect. Exotic animals belong in the wild, not in someones backyard.
I cannot believe there aren’t more signatures on this law. The idea that all of those animals had to give their innocent lives is bad enough. But, the idea of this law not going thru only means that the animal abuse and torture WILL continue in the hands of humans. This law would prevent the loss of more exotic animals and their innocent lives. This CANNOT continue
thanks for weighing in … I cant believe it either. Please help spread the word by Tweeting this post and sharing on Facebook!
Jl Smith