ORD-2001-003 Ordinance to Prohibit the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property

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" ; 's d9,-0(JD - al Qo / -oU 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 7, 2001 Action Agenda Item No._ SUBJECT: Report on Proposed Display of Wild and Exotic Animals Ordinance and Proposed New Ordinance Prohibiting the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): Draft Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals Within the Unincorporated Areas of Orange County Draft Ordinance Prohibiting the Keeping INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 of Wild Animals Dangerous TELEPHONE NUMBERS: to Persons and Property Within the Hillsborough 732 -8181 Unincorporated Areas of Orange County Chapel Hill 968 -4501 Durham 688 -7331 Mebane 336 - 227 -2031 PURPOSE: 1.To receive information on a proposed Ordinance prohibiting the display of wild and exotic animals within the unincorporated areas of Orange County. 2. To receive information on the repeal of the existing (and the adoption of a new) Ordinance prohibiting the keeping of wild animals dangerous to persons and property within the unincorporated areas of Orange County. BACKGROUND: In the summer of 2000, the Board of Commissioners heard a request from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety, a local residents group, that the County institute an Ordinance banning the display of exotic animals. The Board of Commissioners referred the matter to the Board of Health. Over the past seven months, the Board of Health has studied the matter thoroughly and worked with the county attorney's office to draft an Ordinance for consideration by the Commissioners. The Board of Health's Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee received extensive materials from the circus industry and from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety which it considered over the course of the summer and fall months. The Board of Health believes an Ordinance is in order for two primary purposes: 1) to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Orange County, and 2) protect wild and exotic animals from potentially cruel, neglectful and abusive situations. The Board of Health first considered this matter as an amendment to the current "Ordinance Prohibiting the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property within Orange County." However, the Board rejected that proposal as potentially confusing to the public, and instructed staff to address the issues of keeping and displaying animals in separate ordinances.