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Exotic Animal Legislation Now Law
By: Associated Press
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Ohio's governor has signed into law the state's widely watched new regulations on exotic animals.
Gov. John Kasich signed the legislation at a Statehouse ceremony Tuesday afternoon. Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna appeared at the signing, along with state lawmakers and other Ohio officials.
Regulatory efforts took on new urgency in October, when a suicidal owner released dozens of exotic animals from his farm near Zanesville.
The measure, which takes effect in three months, would ban people from buying new dangerous exotic animals.
Current owners could keep their creatures by registering them with the state within 60 days of the bill's effective date. Owners would also have to obtain a new state-issued permit by 2014 and adhere to strict new caretaking standards.