Agenda - 02-15-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-2- B. Danger exists for the animals when they are not allowed to live according to their natural habitat, inclinations and diet. This can lead tb unintended or intended animal abuse. 1 . As distinguished from legitimate zoos, research and breeding institutions, most owners are inexperienced with care, feed- ing and management of animals. They look on them as pets which anyone with sensibility and sensitivity can success- 'ully raise. In fact the expertise, time, training, equip- ment and cost-commitment is substantial. Examples are num- erous of owner disenchantment when the animals go through behavioral changes, grow larger, show nutritional problems. tine case referenced was an owner with a pet cheetah. She (ad fed the animal a diet of red meat, not realizing that the cat needed massive supplements of vitamins and minerals. 2. ?articular problems arise when they are kept in private homes as the environment is unnatural and difficult to make secure. The following organizations condemn such keeping: The American ''eterinary Medical Association, The Center for Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the American, Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. C. There are often nuisance factors associated. 1. Noise from growling is sometime a problem with large cats. 2. Unless proper sanitary standards are adopted and enforced, Bealth problems may result. 3. People living near sites where wild animals are kept often live in fear of an escape and possible injury. II. WHERE MIGHT COUNTY ACTION BE FOCUSED WHEN FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES ARE CHARGED WITH WILD ANIMAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION? A. To ansJrer this one must understand the role, strengths and limitations under which existing regulatory agencies operate and make a determina- tion of what a county should do to foster greater activity by these agencies or have the County fill gaps in regulation and service delivery. 1 . Regulation of the N. C. Wildlife Commission do not apply as they cover indigenous species; i.e. animals native to North Carolina. 'This is not to say the scope of the Commission's charge could not be broadened as at least one other State's Wildlife Commis- iion (Florida) oversees wild non-domestic as well as indigenous animals. 2. `the U. S. Department of Interior concerns itself with replenish- ing animals threatened with extinction. 3. lihe U. S. Department of Agriculture regulates interstate move- ment of wild animals as well as the facilities in which animals are held by dealers, exhibitors, transporters and researchers. its licensing, registration and inspections program does not aipply to wild animals kept as pets. To circumvent federal enforcement one need only claim that one's animals are not ept for sale, exhibit or research. Moreover, were an owner o fall under the regulation there is admission by the agency that response to complaints is slow and that action for non- dompliance is hard to prove and time-consuming.