(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof or in any section of the Ohio Revised Code, no person shall own or possess any:
(1) Native wildlife as defined in Ohio R.C. 1531.01 (RR);
(2) Reptile that belongs to a species that is not native to this State;
(3) Cat that belongs to a species that is not native to this State, except a domestic cat (felis catus);
(4) Mammal that is longer than twelve inches and that belongs to a species that is not native to this State, except a dog or livestock as defined in Ohio R.C. 943.01(A);
(5) Bird belonging to a species that is not native to this State that has been imported into this country and has not been officially released from a quarantine conducted or approved by the United States Department of Agriculture;
(6) Nonhuman primate.
(b) This section does not apply to any:
(1) Publicly owned zoological park or aquarium;
(2) College or university that owns or possesses any of the animals listed in subsection (a) hereof for research purposes only;
(3) Incorporated research institution;
(4) Medical facility that owns or possesses any of the animals listed in subsection (a) hereof for research purposes only;
(5) Severely physically disabled person who owns or possesses a nonhuman primate that provides personal care assistance for that person;
(6) Amusement park to which admission is charged.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(Ord. 9-1985. Passed 3-4-85.)