Inflict Fines and Punishment For People In Ohio With Exotic Pets Without License by Deadline

Please sign and share this petition on all your media sites nationwide in an effort to get Ohio to implement severe fines for people who did not get their licenses for exotic pets by the deadline earlier this year. All residents of the state were required to get a license for their exotic pets by the end of January, although it is estimated that one in three will not! There needs to be an incentive in the form of punishment and/or stiff fines for those who fail to comply.

Ohio state law has openly expressed the need for owners of exotic pets to acquire a license by January of 2014. The deadline for these licenses or permits has been generously extended so that all people could comply; however, it is estimated that at least one in three pet owners will fail to comply. Such stipulations were made several years ago when an exotic zoo owner of lions, tigers and bears on his property without such licenses.

The owner who released his pets into the town’s neighborhood was suicidal, and did not want his pets to starve to death in their enclosures. The ensuing chaos caused police to hunt down his exotic animals and shoot most of them before they could harm the civilian population. His wild cats and bears prowled neighborhoods as people lived in fear in their homes.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture only issued 23 exotic pet permits as opposed to the 82 applications they received. Applications need to receive departmental approval as they await further information regarding the owner’s animals. In addition to getting the permits, owners are also required to have a bond or liability insurance when owning special exotic pets. This appears to be an issue for many of the animal owners due to difficulties finding companies that will issue the insurance required at affordable rates.

Often times, people do not want to give up the pets that have nurtured and cared for their entire lives; yet many of these exotics are not always insurable by companies. The struggle to comply with state law, and keep emotions intact has been difficult for some owners. There have been many exotic pet owners that have either relocated themselves or their animals to other states, or even surrendered their animals to the state. While the process proves difficult for some, there are still many other states that will not even allow such animals to be kept as pets, making Ohio one of the few places where you can legally do so.

Even though Ohio is one of the few states to allow pet owners to keep their exotic pets, it is imperative that they comply with the requirements for insurance, bonding and permits. Please sign and share this petition on all your media sites nationwide in an effort to get Ohio to implement severe fines for people who did not get their licenses for exotic pets by the deadline earlier this year. All residents of the state were required to get a license for their exotic pets by the end of January, although it is estimated that one in three will not! There needs to be an incentive in the form of punishment and/or stiff fines for those who fail to comply.