So for today’s peculiar law from around the world, we are heading to Norco in California. As a very basic bit of background, Norco appears to be extremely animal friendly and allegedly has more horse trails than it does side walks.
With that in mind today’s law is that in Norco you need a $100 permit (I think this changes each year) to keep a rhinoceros or any exotic animal. Apparently this area tends to have quite a few exotic pets, and on the odd occasion they escape… I don’t think anyone really wants lions, bears, or even raccoons, chimpanzees and birds of prey running around. The reason this ordinance was necessitated was because of the animals which kept escaping… but does this permit really stop them escaping?
Section 8.05.020 Permit – Definition
Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall possess, keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control, within the city, any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, panther, ocelot, lynx, cougar, wolf, alligator, fox, raccoon, coyote, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, birds of prey, poisonous reptile, other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal, other vicious or dangerous domesticated animal or any other animal of wild or vicious propensities, without first applying to and receiving a permit from the city of Norco to do so. (Ord. 581, Sec. 1 (part), 1988)
Section 8.05.050 Permit – Application fee
No permit shall be granted under this chapter unless there is paid to the city at the time of filing of the application therefor, an application fee as established by Resolution. The immature offspring of such animals shall not require additional permits during the period of the permit. An application fee for a second animal of a different species shall also be established by Resolution. These fees are non-refundable. (Ord. 808, 2003; Ord. 581, Sec. 1 (part), 1988)
There are 10 sections on this in this particular Chapter 8.05 (WILD OR VICIOUS ANIMALS) and therefore they must take this very seriously. And whilst it is probably wise that anyone owning wild and exotic animals has some sort of permit when they live in a neighbourhood with other people close by (and anyone that owns one in general) I am not sure how the permit is meant to help the animals from not escaping.
Rebecca x
#janlawblogpost