Kittanning Borough Solicitor Ty Heller (center) listens as Council members discuss adoption of a ban on exotic animals in the Borough.
Kittanning Borough has passed an ordinance that regulates the ownership of exotic pets within the town.
Under the new ordinance that was adopted July 1, an exotic animal is defined as “Any animal that is wild, fierce, dangerous, or naturally inclined to do harm or inflict serious injury and is not normally or ordinarily raised as livestock or kept as a household pet including, but not limited to: bears, coyotes, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, wolves, nonhuman primates, any crossbreed of these animals which have similar characteristics in appearance or features, any animal species prohibited by Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, and any animal prohibited by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Exotic animals, however domesticated shall also include (but not be limited to):
- Amphibians: all venomous, frogs, toads, turtles, and other similar amphibians.
- Bear: all bears including grizzly bears, brown bears, black bears, and polar bears.
- Cat Family (Felidae): all except commonly accepted domestic cats including lions, pumas, panthers, mountain lions, leopards, jaguars, ocelots, margays, tigers, bobcats, and wild cats.
- Crocodilians: all alligators, caimans, crocodiles, gavials, and other similar crocodilians.
- Dog Family (Canidae): all except domesticated dogs including: wolf, fox, coyote, dingo or offspring of domesticated dogs bred with a wolf, fox, coyote, and dingo.
- Pig: all wild swine, excluding Vietnamese potbellied pigs and domestic pigs considered as livestock.
- Porcupine: all porcupines, skunks, and other members of the Erethizontidae family.
- Primates: all sub-human primates
- Raccoons: all raccoons and civets.
- Reptiles: all venomous and constricting snakes and all venomous lizards.
- Venemous invertebrates: such as spiders and scorpions.
- Weasels: including all weasels, martens, mink, wolverine, ferrets, badgers, otters, ermine, and mongoose (excluding domesticated ferrets in accordance with this Ordinance).
The new ordinance makes exceptions to zoological parks, nationally-recognized circuses, or a public, scientific or educational institution which has proper Federal and State permits. Handling of such animals must have protective devices adequate to prevent such animals from escaping or injuring the public, or causing health hazards due to fecal matter or otherwise.
The ordinance also requires pet ferrets to be de-scented, spayed or neutered. They also must be vaccinated and proof must be furnished upon request.
Potbelly pigs as pets must have documentation from a licensed veterinarian that the pet is indeed a Vietnamese potbelly pig. No more than two pigs are permitted and must be maintained as indoor pets and not permitted to run at large when outdoors. The pigs must also be spayed or neutered. No breeding of pigs is permitted in the Borough.
The ordinance carries a fine of not more than $1,000 plus court costs for violators.