Agenda - 05-29-2001-c2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE couNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 29, 2001 Action Agenda Item No. ~~ SUBJECT: Proposed: "An Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals Within Oran a Count " DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Draft Ordinance Health Director, ext 2411 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham fi88-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To hear public comments on the proposed ordinance prohibiting the display of wild and exotic animals within Orange County. BACKGROUND: In the summer of 2000, the Board of Commissioners heard from a request from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety, a local residents group requesting that the county institute an ordinance that bans the display of exotic animals. The Board of Commissioners referred the matter to the Board of Health. 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 months. The Board of Health believes an ordinance is in order primarily to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Orange County. The purpose of the ordinance is to prohibit the display of wild and exotic animals within Orange County specifically for the purposes of entertainment or amusement. It does not prohibit the exhibition of animals for educational purposes by non-profit groups, institutions or individuals. Section 2 of the Proposed Ordinance specifies that "It shall be unlawful for any person to display or sponsor a display of wild or exotic animals on any public or private property within Orange County." It does not prohibit the ownership of exotic animals.