I can't say I've ever had any problems when it comes to our pets. We've got two cats, and they stay inside. I've got them licensed and vaccinated, everything is pretty legit.


So I haven't really had much reason to investigate what I can and can't do when it comes to animals here in town. But of course, of course.  Google Rabbit Holes got me curious.  Apparently there are a lot of things I did not know when it comes to having pets and livestock here in town.  I even went through the whole Municipal Codes to suss some of this out.  So to cut to the chase, here are some things you might not have known about pet ownership here in Sedville.

1. You can totally own a Burmese Python...but you gotta have a permit.

A city permit (large snake permit) shall be required for anyone owning, harboring or keeping of each snake of the following species of snakes:

(1) The Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus);

(2)The Burmese Python (Python molurus ssp);

(3)The Reticulated Python (Python reticulaius);

(4)The African Rock Python (Python sebae ssp); and

(5)Any other constrictor snake not previously named over eight feet in length.

Of course, you have to have a proper, locking aquarium for it, and you can't take it to show in public, and you have to be prepared that an Animal Control Officer might inspect you, but...you can totally have it as long as you pay for the permit and follow the rules.

2.  You can't bring a dyed animal into the city, not even to give it away.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Dye or artificially color any animal or fowl to bring or transport the same into the city except for continuous transport through the city.

(2) Possess, sell, barter or give away within the city limits, any dyed or artificially colored animal or fowl.

I didn't even know this was a thing.  People actually try to color their dog's fur? I wonder what that's for. I mean, I think I've seen people do that online, but it was temporary?  I don't really understand the purpose of it.  It must have caused SOMEONE a problem at some point, or it wouldn't be regulated.

3.  You can put your dog in your truck bed - if it's leashed.

So basically from what I get from the site, you can take your dog or cat or whatever out with you as long as you have it under "reasonable control".

Reasonable control means...... confined inside a car or truck with adequate ventilation or confined by leash, to a truck bed;

Yeah, so it's okay to have your dog in the back of your truck bed, but it has to be wearing a leash, and the leash has to be attached to the truck bed.  So all those times I've seen dogs practically jump out of a truck?  Illegal.

4.  You can't sell exotic animals.

Prohibited. No person shall sell, barter, give away, or offer for sale, within the limits of the city, any exotic animal as defined in section 8-2.   Penalty. Any person found guilty of violating subsection of this section, shall, upon conviction, be subject to section 1-14. Each and every day such violation occurs or is allowed to continue shall constitute a separate offense.

Now what do they consider "exotic"?  It's a pretty extensive list (you can see it on the ordinances site, I won't list them all here), and most of it is stuff you'd expect: Hippopotamus, Monkeys, Ostriches, Camels, Piranhas, Sharks, Wolves, Bears, Cheetahs.... and Ferrets.   Ferrets are exotic? I've never had a ferret.  Well, there goes my ferret side hustle.  I guess there is a line - like, maybe you can own a ferret, but you can't buy it or sell it here? I'm not sure where that line is.

5.  No, you can't break a window to help a dog in a hot car - but Animal Control can.

Whenever any animal is found confined in a motor vehicle in a public place under weather conditions that endanger its life as determined by an animal control officer, such is a violation of this section and an animal control officer, with the assistance from the police which is hereby authorized, may enter such vehicle and rescue such animal and thereafter impound it in accordance with section 8-60.

We've talked about this before. Yeah, the law says YOU can't do it, but they totally can and will.  So if you see it, don't risk it yourself, call the cops.

So there you have it, I've shared some things I've learned with you.  Did you know any of these things - or was it all new to you like it was to me?

Learningly yours,
Behka

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