AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING ANIMALS SPECIFIED AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS DEFINED

WHEREAS the keeping of certain species of animals may cause a threat to persons residing in the Village;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Village of West Lafayette, State of Ohio as follows:

SECTION I. That Section 618.16 be enacted and added to Chapter 618, Animals, as follows:

(A) Dangerous Animal. “Dangerous animal” means any living wild mammal, reptile, fowl or other vertebrate species which is not naturally tame or gentile, but is of a wild nature or disposition, and which because of its characteristics may constitute a danger to human life or property if it escaped from secured quarters. Dangerous animal also includes any living domestic, reptile, fowl or other vertebrate species which because of its size or vicious propensity or other characteristics would constitute a danger to human life or property if it escaped from secured quarters.

(B) Dogs. This ordinance does not amend Section 618.01 of the ordinance of the Village of West Lafayette, Ohio. If it is determined that this is in conflict with Section 618.01 as it applies to dogs, Section 618.01 will prevail.

(C) Prohibited Animals. Except as provided in this section, no person shall keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the Municipality any of the following animals:

(1) Any animal which has been declared to be protected or endangered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Revised Code, the Ohio Administrative Code, or the City Codes and ordinances;

(2) All poisonous animals, including rear fang snakes;

(3) Badgers (mellinae);

(4) Bears (ursidae);

(5) Beavers (castoridae);

(6) Canids, that is: wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, dingo;

(7) Civet (viverrines);

(8) Constrictor snakes;

(9) Crocadilians, that is: alligators, crocodiles, caimans, cavials;

(10) Eagles, hawks, owls (Falconiformes);

(11) Edentata, that is: anteaters, tamanduas, sloths, armadillos;

(12) Emus (casuariiformes)

(13) Felids, that is: lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, pumas, lynx, ocelots;

(14) Game cocks and other fighting birds;

(15) Hyendidae (hyenas);

(16) Marsupials, that is: opossums, Tasmanian wolf, kangaroos, koalas, wombats;

(17) Muskrats (ondatra);

(18) Ostriches (struthio);

(19) Porcupine (hystricomorpha);

(20) Primates (nonhuman) that is: apes, monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, orangutans, siamangs;

(21) Procuonids, that is: raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, ring tailed cats, pandas;

(22) Rats (mus);

(23) Rheas (rheiformes);

(24) Skunks (mephitinae);

(25) Squirrels (sciuriclae);

(26) Sharks (chondrichthyes);

(27) Swine (suidae);

(28) Ungulates, that is: elephants, zebra, tapirs, rhinoceroses, camel, llama, caribou, antelope, bison, reindeer, deer, giraffe, hippopotamus, wild boar, gazelle, gnu;

(29) Water buffalo (bubalus);

(30) Wart hogs (phacocherus aethiopicus);

(31) Weasels;

(32) Wolverines (gulo gulo); or

(33) Woodchucks (maramota monas)

SECTION II. That this ordinance be effective upon passage and signing by the Mayor at the earliest date provided by law

PASSED IN COUNCIL THIS 26th day of November. 2007

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Jack L. Patterson, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Lisa Derr, Fiscal Officer

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

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William M. Owens, Solicitor for the Village of West Lafayette, Ohio