(a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to keep, maintain, or have in his/her possession or under his/her control, inside or outside a structure, within the municipal corporation boundaries any poisonous reptile or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile, and vicious or dangerous domesticated animal, or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious, or dangerous propensities.
(b) Definition. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
(1) “Dangerous animal” means any wild mammal, reptile or fowl which is not naturally tame or gentle, but is of a wild nature or disposition, and which because of its size, vicious nature, or other characteristics would constitute a danger to human life or property if it escaped from secure quarters. “Dangerous animal” also includes any domestic, reptile, or fowl which because of its size or vicious propensity or other characteristic would constitute a danger to human life or property if it escaped from secure quarters.
(c) Prohibited Animals. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to keep, maintain or have in his/her possession inside or outside a structure, within the municipal corporation boundaries, any, but not limited to, of the following animals:
All poisonous snakes, including rear-fang snakes. Any animal which has been declared to be protected or endangered by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior or the Ohio Revised Code, or the regulations promulgated thereunder. Badgers, Bears, Beavers, Birds of Prey, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Owls, Canids, such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, coyote-dog hybrids, jackals, dingo, raccoon, dogs, Civet, Civer or Raccoon dog, Constrictor snakes, Crocodilians such as alligators, crocodiles, caimans, cavials, Cheetahs, Edentate such as anteaters, tamanduas, sloths and armadillos, Emus, Game cocks or other fighting birds, Hyenas, Jaguars, Leopards, Lions, Lynxes. Marsupials such as opossums, tasmanian wolf, kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. Muskrats, Ostriches, Porcupine, Primates, Apes, Monkeys, Baboons, Chimpanzees, Gibbons, Gorillas, Orangutans, Siamangs, Procuonids such as raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, ring-tailed cats, and pandas, Pumas, also known as cougars, mountain lions, and panthers, Rheas, Skunks, Squirrels, Sharks, Swine, Tigers, Ungulates such as elephants, zebra, tapirs, rhinoceroses, camel, llama, caribou, antelope, bison, reindeer, deer, giraffe, hippopotamus, wild boar, gazelle, and gnu, Water Buffalo, Wart Hogs, Weasels, Wild Cats, Ocelot, Margay, Servral, Leopard Cat, Wolf-dog hybrids, Wolverines, Woodchucks and any other dangerous animal.
(d) Exceptions.
(1) Temporary events such as a circus, sporting event or zoo exhibition where the animals or mascots are handled by trained professional caretakers.
(2) Retail pet stores, with all proper licenses, located in a commercial zoning district.
(3) Any fish or similar aquatic vertebrate bred to remain in a confined body of water.
(4) Any domestic, non-farm animal including, but not limited to dogs, cats or ferrets.
(e) Penalty. Whoever violates this section shall be deemed guilty of a minor misdemeanor for the first offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00). For the second and subsequent violations of this section, the violator shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and not more than thirty days imprisonment. In addition, the Court may order the wild animal be transferred to an appropriate zoological or similar facility. If this is not practical, as an alternative, the Court may order the wild animal humanely destroyed by a qualified veterinarian. (Ord. 98-9118. Passed 2-4-98.)