(a) Short Title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Exotic or Wild Animal Regulatory Section.”
(b) Definitions. As used in this section:
(1) “Circus” means a commercial variety show featuring animal acts for public entertainment.
(2) “Domestic animal” means an animal that has traditionally, through a long association with humans, lived in a state of dependence upon humans or under the dominion and control of humans and that has been kept as a tame pet no longer possessing a disposition or inclination to escape, or that is raised as livestock, or that is used for commercial breeding purposes.
(3) “Exotic or wild animal” means a wild animal not occurring naturally, either presently or historically, in this State.
(4) “Nature preserve” means an area where exotic or wild animals are kept in a natural setting where the animals are not hunted or trapped.
(5) “Person” means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate or other legal entity.
(6) “Wildlife sanctuary” means an area where exotic or wild animals are protected and where the animals are not hunted or trapped.
(c) Prohibited Animals.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall possess, breed, exchange, buy, sell, or attempt or offer to buy or sell, the following exotic or wild animals:
A. Nonhuman primates.
B. Venomous cold-blooded reptiles and other cold-blooded animals that, if in contact with humans, are capable of inflicting fatal injury to the average human;
C. All poisonous animals;
D. Constrictor snakes, six feet in length or more;
E. Cats (wild family, including, but not limited to, bobcat, cheetah, cougar, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, mountain lion, panther, puma, tiger);
F. Nondomesticated carnivores, including hybrid crosses of nondomesticated carnivores (including all animals in paragraph (c)(l)E. hereof);
G. Crocodilia (by example, crocodile, alligator);
H. Piranha fish;
I. Chondrichthyes (sharks);
J. Struthio (ostriches);
K. Poisonous spiders, venomous or poisonous insects;
L. Proboscidea (by example, elephant);
M. Perissodactyla (generally nonruminant ungulate mammals with odd numbered toes by example, rhinoceros);
N. Artiodactyla (generally hooved mammals with even number of toes, by example, camel).
(2) A person who owns an exotic or wild animal listed in paragraph (c)(1) hereof on the effective date of this section shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this section, remove the animal from the Township.
(d) Exceptions. Exceptions to this section shall be as follows: zoological parks and aquariums that are accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums; wildlife sanctuaries; nature preserves; circuses; and bona fide scientific, medical or educational research facilities.
(e) Nuisance Per Se. Any continuing violation or a repeated violation of this section shall constitute a nuisance per se and may be abated by an action in Circuit Court separately or in addition to criminal proceedings.
(Ord. 280. Passed 6-12-89; Ord. 409. Passed 12-15-14.)