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Animal Owners Group Takes Aim At Ohio Exotics Bill

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An animal owners' group in Ohio says it's now focused on stopping proposed regulations on exotic animals from becoming state law.

The Ohio Association of Animal Owners had been working with officials to help write a framework for legislation months before authorities were forced to kill dozens of the dangerous creatures let loose last fall from their cages by their suicidal owner.

Now that legislation is before state lawmakers, the group's members are gunning for the bill's demise because they say it's unfair to private owners.

Polly Britton, the group's lobbyist, says the bill would need an overhaul to win its support.

The measure would ban new ownership of exotic animals, allowing current owners to keep their pets by obtaining a new state-issued permit by 2014 and meeting other conditions.