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Ohio Agency Seeks $500K for Exotic Animal Care and Transport
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture says it needs $500,000 more to adequately care for creatures seized or surrendered under the state’s crackdown on exotic-animal ownership.
Spokeswoman Erica Hawkins says the cost of enforcing the relatively new law wasn’t initially clear, and the department always anticipated eventually needing to ask the state Controlling Board for funding beyond initial appropriations. She says the request to add to the current $800,000 appropriation is expected to meet the department’s needs through the end of June.
The department keeps seized animals at a temporary holding site in Reynoldsburg. It is seeking about $300,000 for transporting animals to qualified facilities.
The other $200,000 would compensate facilities that house and feed seized animals while legal proceedings are pending.
The board is slated to consider the request Monday.