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ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: August 14, 2001 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. <br /> SUBJECT: Proposed: An Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals <br /> Within the Unincorporated Areas of Orange County <br /> DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Draft Ordinance Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider adopting the proposed ordinance prohibiting the display of wild and <br /> exotic animals within the unincorporated areas of Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: In the summer of 2000, the Board of Commissioners heard from a request <br /> from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety, a local residents group requesting that the <br /> county institute an ordinance that bans the display of exotic animals. The Board of <br /> Commissioners referred the matter to the Board of Health. The Board of Health has studied the <br /> matter thoroughly and worked with the county attorney's office to draft an ordinance for <br /> consideration by the Commissioners. The Board of Health's Animal Control and Environmental <br /> Health Committee received extensive materials from the circus industry and from the <br /> Committee on Human and Animal Safety which it considered over the course of the summer <br /> 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 the <br /> unincorporated areas of Orange County specifically for the purposes of entertainment or <br /> amusement. It does not prohibit the exhibition of animals for educational purposes by non-profit <br /> groups, institutions or individuals. Section 2 of the Proposed Ordinance specifies that "It shall <br /> be unlawful for any person to display or sponsor a display of wild or exotic animals on any <br /> public or private property within Orange County." It does not prohibit the ownership of <br /> exotic animals. <br /> Section 3 of the proposed ordinance details enforcement steps and penalties that include <br /> classification as a criminal offense, Class 3 Misdemeanor and the imposition of civil penalties of <br /> $50 per day per animal. <br />