Hi all,

Well, I don't have an actual copy of the law yet, but I do have a little more info.

I cannot get the City of Houston to respond to me in any efficient manner (gee, suprised?), but I did get some sad news from the pet store owner yesterday. He will have to close his doors because of the law.

The law applies to Houston City Limits (which is HUGE), anybody that owns an "exotic" pet (snake over 8', rabbits, sugargliders, lizzards, you name it, if it is not a cat or a dog, it is an exotic) will have to obtain a license, renewed each year, to own the pet. If your pet breeds, not even for profit, then your license is twice the cost!

I gather that when the pet store sells an exotic, it must comply with the law by selling a license along with it, which people won't be willing to pay ($250 - $500), hence the reason for the exotic pet shops in Houston closing.

I believe we need laws to control the special needs of exotic pets, but from what I've found out thus far about this law, I don't believe we need something this stringent. It is not fair to the store owners, and it now makes it more difficult for pet owners to get supplies, etc.

I am going to continue working on getting more info from the City itself.

Bourbon, I have not forgotten about you, as soon as I can actually have this law in my hands, I will email it to you so you can post it on your board.

Take care all,
Cheri

Follow Ups:

• Dear god, this is horrible. I agree we need laws to protect the animals, but this is going way too far and it makes me sick. I hate politicians and the like who feel the need to Ayala 18:41:44 5/29/99 (1)
  • "regulate" things they probably don't know jack about. n/p Ayala 18:43:02 5/29/99 (0)
• Re: update on new exotic pet law in Houston Tiffany 13:26:57 5/29/99 (1)
  • Re: update on new exotic pet law in Houston Cheri 13:36:25 6/01/99 (0)