HomeMy WebLinkAboutRevised Definition of Wild and Dangerous AnimalsRevised 29 March 2019
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Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) “Dangerous Animals Task
Force”
Participants: Chair Bryan Stuart, Members Amanda Schwoerke, Edmund Tiryakian, Irene
Phipps, Bob Marotto, Susan Elmore, and Rachel Plast
Existing Version
Animal Control Ordinance
DIVISION 5. – KEEPING OF WILD ANIMALS DANGEROUS TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Sec. 4-181. Definitions.
As used hereinafter, the following term shall mean:
Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property, hereinafter referred to as “Wild and
Dangerous Animals”: The term applies to the following animals: all felines (other than the
domestic house cat), nonhuman primates, bears, wolves, coyotes, reptiles (poisonous,
crushing, and giant), and any crossbreed of such animals which have similar characteristics of
the animals specified herein. In order to properly administer the provisions of this Ordinance, the
Animal Services Advisory Board may add to or remove from the classification of wild animal any
bird, mammal, reptile, aquatic and amphibious forms, or other members of the animal kingdom.
Additions to or deletions from the animals regulated herein may be made only if the Animal
Services Advisory Board determines, after receiving evidence, that such animals because of
habit, mode of life or natural instinct are either capable or incapable of being domesticated,
requires the exercise of art, force or skill to keep them safely in subjection, and would or would
not create a reasonable likelihood of hazard to the public.
Proposed Modified Version
Animal Control Ordinance
DIVISION 5. – KEEPING OF WILD ANIMALS DANGEROUS TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Sec. 4-181. Definitions.
As used hereinafter, the following term shall mean:
Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property, hereinafter referred to as “Wild and
Dangerous Animals”: The term applies to the following animals that are deemed essentially
dangerous and injurious and detrimental to public health, safety and welfare:
Venomous reptiles, defined as lizard and snake species or subspecies that are capable
of injecting toxins that may cause severe pain, injury, and/or death to humans;
Crocodilians;
Monitor lizard (family Varanidae) species or subspecies that may attain a total adult body
length reaching or exceeding four feet, including, but not restricted to, Savanna Monitor
(Varanus exanthematicus), Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus), Water Monitor (Varanus
salvator), and White-Throated Monitor (Varanus albigularis);
Revised 29 March 2019
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Large constricting snakes, meaning any heavy-bodied snake that feeds by constriction
and which species, subspecies or hybrid may attain a total adult body length reaching or
exceeding 10 feet, including, but not restricted to, Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus),
Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), Reticulated Python [Python (=Malayopython)
reticulatus), Burmese (Python bivittatus), Indian Python (Python molurus), African Rock
Python (Python sebae), and Amethystine Python [Morelia (=Simalia) amethistina];
Non-native species and subspecies of scorpions, spiders and other arachnids that are
capable of injecting toxins that may cause severe pain, injury and/or death to humans,
including, but not restricted to, spiders of the genera Missulena, Phoneutria, Atrax,
Hadronyche, Illawarra, Hexophthalma, Sicarius, and Poecilotheria and scorpions of the
genera Androctonus, Buthacus, Buthus, Centruroides, Hottentotta, Leiurus, Mesobuthus,
Parabuthus, Tityus, Hemiscorpius, and Nebo;
Felines other than the domestic house cat. Any hybrid of such felines with the domestic
house cat are permissible only if the hybrid is a filial 5 (F5) hybrid or later (defined as
being five or more generations since the cross included a pure wild feline) as
documented by a breeder pedigree; maintained at all times in an enclosed environment;
and documented to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian;
Canids other than the domestic dog, including any hybrid of such canids with the
domestic dog;
Bears;
Elephants;
Nonhuman primates
In order to properly administer the provisions of this Ordinance, the Animal Services Advisory
Board may add or remove species, subspecies or hybrids to or from the above list of Wild and
Dangerous Animals. Additions to or deletions from the animals regulated herein may be made
only if the Animal Services Advisory Board and Animal Services Staff recommend to the Board
of County Commissioners, after receiving evidence, that such animal species are domesticated
or not or have undergone domestication to the extent that natural behaviors have changed;
because of habit that would or would not require the exercise of force or skill to keep them
safely in captivity; and would or would not create a reasonable likelihood of hazard to the public.