Re: Ordinance allows residents to keep 3...reptiles..okay..what happens...

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Posted by m chambers on July 26, 2001 at 12:42:03:

In Reply to: Press Item: Ordinance allows residents to keep 3...reptiles posted by Desiree on July 26, 2001 at 11:54:18:

if that reptile has offsprings ??????? Hmmmm ! Another stupid and un-found law that targets reptile keepers. Ask how many birds...tropical fish are allowed in city limits. I bet you can keep more dogs and cats in total numbers then reptiles with this law. In the post it mentions something about safety. Wonder how "safe" people are against domestic dog bites and the such ?

M Chambers...no relation to Jennifer Chambers

: Ferndale's new law opens the door for pet snakes
: Ordinance allows residents to keep 3 registered reptiles

: By Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

: FERNDALE -- The first week a new city ordinance regulating reptiles was on the books, a snake was on the loose in Ferndale.

: Police dispatched Animal Control Officer Tom Waller on a 911 call from a resident who was walking to her car when a snake slithered across her path. Waller, whose job typically involves rounding up stray cats and dogs, grabbed a 6-foot snake pole and carefully removed one agitated reptile from the street.
: Waller learned from the Detroit Zoo -- with a sigh of relief -- that he had met his first Honduran Milk snake, an uncommon and nonpoisonous species.
: "I'm a one-man operation and you don't work one-on-one with snakes. Anything suspected of being poisonous goes to the zoo," Waller said.
: Ferndale city leaders passed a new ordinance July 9, which requires reptile owners to register their pet with the city clerk -- the first such ordinance in the county. The new law restricts owners from keeping more than three reptiles at a time and limits the length of each reptile to 4 feet or less.
: Pet owners must keep their creatures caged and obtain a letter from a veterinarian stating the animal is compatible living in close proximity to people and does not pose a safety risk. Any violation of the ordinance is punishable by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.
: City Councilman Craig Covey said the new law actually liberalizes the city's old ordinance that banned all reptiles such as snakes, crocodiles and lizards -- except for turtles.
: "It was pretty old and was probably instituted before people began keeping the types of pets they keep today," Covey said.
: The change in the law was prompted by a resident, who came before the council last year asking why he couldn't keep his pet snake. Covey and Councilman Jonathan Warshay decided it was time to rewrite the law.
: "There was moderate opposition to this, but we were trying to balance between safety and people's freedom to keep pets," Covey said. "It allows people to keep the pets, but it puts the onus on people to be responsible and be safe."
: The 4-foot length regulation, however, is questioned by some including Pat Malone, manager of the Tropical Fish Pond in Royal Oak. Malone said many of the popular pet snake species such as ball pythons or corn snakes may average 3 to 4 feet in length as adults, but others often grow to be 5 feet or more. Covey said the city did not consult anyone when deciding a length limit.
: Malone said he encourages people to come into the store a few times before they buy a snake or any reptile to avoid impulse buying. Setting up a cage first and then getting the correct temperature takes time and patience.
: Luke Armstrong, 12, and his mother, Michele, of Bloomfield Hills, did just that, talking with Malone several times before returning home with "Larry," a ball python who is on an eating frenzy this week. On Wednesday, Luke purchased a third mouse for his voracious pet.
: "He loves to eat, he loves to sleep and he's shedding right now. He's already eaten two mice this week. I think he's in a growing spurt," Luke said.
: Michele Armstrong said the entire family has grown to love "Larry," and her 10-year-old daughter is already asking for a snake of her own.
: Sales of snakes at the Royal Oak store have been steady over the years, Malone said, but people have shifted from larger snakes to smaller more pet-oriented snakes.
: "People don't have a lot of sense about the size. It's six feet now and you tell them its going to get 14 to 16 feet long and they come back when its 10 feet and say its too big," he said.
: Waller, who often consults Malone for advice on identifying reptiles, was sent on a second call for a snake the week of July 9, but the circumstances were a little less harried. A woman who lived in a rented house learned her roommate would not be returning to get his Burmese Ball Python. The woman feared the snake so Waller removed it. A few days later it was adopted.
: Waller said he is spending his days reading up on snakes to learn of the 2,700 species that exist. Since he never knows what he will encounter, whether it be the largest snakes -- the anaconda of South America or the reticulate python of Asia that grow up to 30 feet -- or one of the smallest snakes, the Braminy blind snake, which grows only 6 inches, Waller tries to be as prepared as possible.
: Asked what he's been equipped with to protect himself from any danger, Waller said: "My brain. You don't get close until you make up your mind what your game plan is. Evaluate twice and then take action."
:

: You can reach Jennifer Chambers at (248) 647-7402 or jchambers@detnews.com.

: Sidebar:
: Reptile law
: Ferndale's new reptile/serpent ordinance requires residents to file a a free application with the city clerk stating the following:
: * Pet's name and species.
: * The pet is no longer than 4 feet and is one of no more than three nonpoisonous reptiles in the home.
: * The pet will be caged and does not endanger children, adults and domesticated animals -- confirmed by a veterinarian's statement.
: Source: City of Ferndale
:
: Snake facts
: * There are about 2,700 species of snakes. The greatest variety are found in the tropics.
: * The largest snakes, reaching up to 30 feet, are the anaconda of South America and the reticulated python of Asia.
: * One of the smallest snakes is the Braminy blind snake, which lives in the tropics and grows only 6 inches long. Its eyes are covered by head scales and are used only to distinguish light and dark.
: Source: Discovery.com

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: if that reptile has offsprings ??????? Hmmmm ! Another stupid and un-found law that targets reptile keepers. Ask how many birds...tropical fish are allowed in city limits. I bet you can keep more dogs and cats in total numbers then reptiles with this law. In the post it mentions something about safety. Wonder how "safe" people are against domestic dog bites and the such ? : M Chambers...no relation to Jennifer Chambers : : : Ferndale's new law opens the door for pet snakes : : Ordinance allows residents to keep 3 registered reptiles : : By Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News : : FERNDALE -- The first week a new city ordinance regulating reptiles was on the books, a snake was on the loose in Ferndale. : : Police dispatched Animal Control Officer Tom Waller on a 911 call from a resident who was walking to her car when a snake slithered across her path. Waller, whose job typically involves rounding up stray cats and dogs, grabbed a 6-foot snake pole and carefully removed one agitated reptile from the street. : : Waller learned from the Detroit Zoo -- with a sigh of relief -- that he had met his first Honduran Milk snake, an uncommon and nonpoisonous species. : : "I'm a one-man operation and you don't work one-on-one with snakes. Anything suspected of being poisonous goes to the zoo," Waller said. : : Ferndale city leaders passed a new ordinance July 9, which requires reptile owners to register their pet with the city clerk -- the first such ordinance in the county. The new law restricts owners from keeping more than three reptiles at a time and limits the length of each reptile to 4 feet or less. : : Pet owners must keep their creatures caged and obtain a letter from a veterinarian stating the animal is compatible living in close proximity to people and does not pose a safety risk. Any violation of the ordinance is punishable by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail. : : City Councilman Craig Covey said the new law actually liberalizes the city's old ordinance that banned all reptiles such as snakes, crocodiles and lizards -- except for turtles. : : "It was pretty old and was probably instituted before people began keeping the types of pets they keep today," Covey said. : : The change in the law was prompted by a resident, who came before the council last year asking why he couldn't keep his pet snake. Covey and Councilman Jonathan Warshay decided it was time to rewrite the law. : : "There was moderate opposition to this, but we were trying to balance between safety and people's freedom to keep pets," Covey said. "It allows people to keep the pets, but it puts the onus on people to be responsible and be safe." : : The 4-foot length regulation, however, is questioned by some including Pat Malone, manager of the Tropical Fish Pond in Royal Oak. Malone said many of the popular pet snake species such as ball pythons or corn snakes may average 3 to 4 feet in length as adults, but others often grow to be 5 feet or more. Covey said the city did not consult anyone when deciding a length limit. : : Malone said he encourages people to come into the store a few times before they buy a snake or any reptile to avoid impulse buying. Setting up a cage first and then getting the correct temperature takes time and patience. : : Luke Armstrong, 12, and his mother, Michele, of Bloomfield Hills, did just that, talking with Malone several times before returning home with "Larry," a ball python who is on an eating frenzy this week. On Wednesday, Luke purchased a third mouse for his voracious pet. : : "He loves to eat, he loves to sleep and he's shedding right now. He's already eaten two mice this week. I think he's in a growing spurt," Luke said. : : Michele Armstrong said the entire family has grown to love "Larry," and her 10-year-old daughter is already asking for a snake of her own. : : Sales of snakes at the Royal Oak store have been steady over the years, Malone said, but people have shifted from larger snakes to smaller more pet-oriented snakes. : : "People don't have a lot of sense about the size. It's six feet now and you tell them its going to get 14 to 16 feet long and they come back when its 10 feet and say its too big," he said. : : Waller, who often consults Malone for advice on identifying reptiles, was sent on a second call for a snake the week of July 9, but the circumstances were a little less harried. A woman who lived in a rented house learned her roommate would not be returning to get his Burmese Ball Python. The woman feared the snake so Waller removed it. A few days later it was adopted. : : Waller said he is spending his days reading up on snakes to learn of the 2,700 species that exist. Since he never knows what he will encounter, whether it be the largest snakes -- the anaconda of South America or the reticulate python of Asia that grow up to 30 feet -- or one of the smallest snakes, the Braminy blind snake, which grows only 6 inches, Waller tries to be as prepared as possible. : : Asked what he's been equipped with to protect himself from any danger, Waller said: "My brain. You don't get close until you make up your mind what your game plan is. Evaluate twice and then take action." : : : : You can reach Jennifer Chambers at (248) 647-7402 or jchambers@detnews.com. : : Sidebar: : : Reptile law : : Ferndale's new reptile/serpent ordinance requires residents to file a a free application with the city clerk stating the following: : : * Pet's name and species. : : * The pet is no longer than 4 feet and is one of no more than three nonpoisonous reptiles in the home. : : * The pet will be caged and does not endanger children, adults and domesticated animals -- confirmed by a veterinarian's statement. : : Source: City of Ferndale : : : : Snake facts : : * There are about 2,700 species of snakes. The greatest variety are found in the tropics. : : * The largest snakes, reaching up to 30 feet, are the anaconda of South America and the reticulated python of Asia. : : * One of the smallest snakes is the Braminy blind snake, which lives in the tropics and grows only 6 inches long. Its eyes are covered by head scales and are used only to distinguish light and dark. : : Source: Discovery.com

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