– SPCA calling on municipalities to take action –

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

While there are obvious differences between a house cat and say, a lion, there is currently no legal difference between the two in the province of British Columbia.
Exotic animals such as lions, tigers, primates, crocodiles and venomous snakes are considered domestic animals under current B.C. legislation.
This is something the BCSPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is trying to change.
The organization says the domestic title should apply only to what it calls companion animals “ dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, horses, rabbits, domesticated mice and rats as well as farm animals.
It is pushing for amendments to the B.C. Wildlife Act that would regulate and limit the transfer and breeding of animals considered a risk to public safety. Not only can exotic pets be predatory, they can also carry disease.
At a UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities) held in Vancouver in September, several delegates supported a resolution calling for these kinds of provincial regulations.
The provincial government reportedly plans to enact exotic animal regulation legislation in early 2008.
In the meantime, the SPCA is sending letters to municipalities throughout the province, requesting they initiate their own exotic animal bylaws.
Osoyoos Town Council received its letter at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 5.
When a tiger moves into the neighbourhood, this is something you should have in effect, said Councillor Stu Wells.
Council has requested model bylaws from the SPCA.
In May, a 100 Mile House woman was killed by a tiger owned by her fiance.