• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Ohio to review exotic animal ownership rules following release, killing of 49 exotic species, including lions and tigers

October 24, 2011

Columbus, Ohio -- After the killing of 49 exotic animals last week, Ohio's governor is calling on agencies to track wild animal ownership and craft new rules.

Columbus, Ohio

— In the aftermath of the release and killing of 49 exotic and dangerous wild animals, Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich issued an executive order calling for state agencies to increase inspections and enforce state laws related to animal health, captivity and cruelty.

Just after a Zanesville, Ohio, man allegedly released 56 wild and exotic animals, including 17 lions and 18 rare Bengal tigers, and then fatally shot himself, the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) all released positions calling on Ohio lawmakers to beef up existing laws regarding the ownership of wild and dangerous exotic animals.

Advertisement

"The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) supports legislative and regulatory efforts to restrict private ownership of indigenous and non-native wild animals that pose a significant risk to public health, domestic animal health or the ecosystem, as well as those species whose welfare is unacceptably compromised," the veterinary association says. "The possession of exotic and dangerous animals by private individuals presents a clear risk to public safety, as well as unnecessarily compromising animal welfare."Ohio's veterinary community will continue to work with state entities to advance appropriate restrictions on exotic animal ownership in an expeditious manner," OVMA says.

The governor's executive order calls for the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to cooperate in the investigation and inquiry into private places where dangerous wild animals are housed, maintained and owned.

The executive order reaffirms state government’s role in protecting the public from animal diseases by collecting information about the number and type of "non-native dangerous wild animals" and assessing the condition of the animals and their housing.

After last week's incident captured the international spotlight, Ohio's governor set up a task force to draft new rules on exotic animal ownership.

During the Oct. 18 incident, four veterinarians were on the scene to help local law enforcement contain the escaped zoo animals — lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears and others — from this local exotic-animal preserve.

Two veterinarians from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and two veterinarians from The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center in Cumberland, Ohio, were asked by local law enforcement to help deputies track and contain the animals, says Patty Peters, vice president of community relations for the Columbus Zoo. Famed animal handler Jack Hanna, director emeritus at the Columbus Zoo, also was on the scene.

"The unfortunate events involving the release of wild and dangerous animals in Muskingum County serves as a reminder that Ohio's absence of meaningful regulation of exotic animals needs to be addressed in an appropriate and timely manner," OVMA stated just prior to release of the executive order.

Related Content:

AssociationBreaking NewsAnimal Welfare
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
Educating clients on brachycephalic breeds
Educating clients on brachycephalic breeds
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community

Advertisement

Latest News

3 Must-reads from Fetch Charlotte 2023

A practical approach to a fever of unknown origin

Bridge Club aims to bring groomers and veterinarians together

ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice

View More Latest News
Advertisement