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Exotic Animal Owner Will Not Be Charged In Biting

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A prosecutor says the owner of a pet cougar that bit an Ohio social services worker won't be charged.

A Licking County caseworker said her finger was bitten through a fence as she evaluated a home last month in Pataskala, east of Columbus.
 
Police said they weren't sure how to respond because it appeared the owner didn't act illegally and new exotic animal regulations don't take effect until fall.
 
A prosecutor says he won't file charges because the animal wasn't kept improperly and because he doesn't believe the social worker needed to get so close to the animal to do her job.
 
The caseworker said she was checking whether the exotic pets were properly contained and evaluating whether the home was safe for children.