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d,j ADD!- 4::ZlG <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 29, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Proposed: "An Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals <br />Within Orange County" <br />DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Draft Ordinance <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Health Director, ext 2411 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732 -8181 <br />968 -4501 <br />688 -7331 <br />336- 227 -2031 <br />PURPOSE: To hear public comments on the proposed ordinance prohibiting the display of wild <br />and exotic animals within Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In the summer of 2000, the Board of Commissioners heard from a request from the Committee <br />on Human and Animal Safety, a local residents group requesting that the county institute an <br />ordinance that bans the display of exotic animals. The Board of Commissioners referred the <br />matter to the Board of Health. The Board of Health has studied the matter thoroughly and <br />worked with the county attorney's office to draft an ordinance for consideration by the <br />Commissioners. The Board of Health's Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee <br />received extensive materials from the circus industry and from the Committee on Human and <br />Animal Safety which it considered over the course of the summer months. <br />The Board of Health believes an ordinance is in order primarily to protect the health and safety <br />of the citizens of Orange County. <br />The purpose of the ordinance is to prohibit the display of wild and exotic animals within Orange <br />County specifically for the purposes of entertainment or amusement. It does not prohibit the <br />exhibition of animals for educational purposes by non - profit groups, institutions or individuals. <br />Section 2 of the Proposed Ordinance specifies that "It shall be unlawful for any person to- <br />display or sponsor a display of wild or exotic animals on any public or private property within <br />Orange County." It does not prohibit the ownership of exotic animals. <br />