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Ohio House Speaker Calls For Thorough Study Of Exotic Animal Ownership
By: Associated Press
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The Republican leader of the Ohio House says thorough hearings are needed on whether the state should ban casual ownership of exotic animals.
A study committee and state agencies have proposed a framework for new regulations that would ban casual ownership of bears, lions, monkeys, venomous snakes and other wildlife. Zoo, circuses and research facilities would be exempt. The suggested ban would start in 2014.
House Speaker William Batchelder told reporters today that he wanted to find out through hearings what kinds of safeguards would be needed before 2014 and what animals should be included.
Efforts to strengthen the state's law took on new urgency in October when authorities were forced to kill 48 wild animals after their owner freed them from his Zanesville farm and then committed suicide.