05/01/2025
This is completely unacceptable.
Lincoln County, North Carolina, has proposed a ban on all animals not native to North Carolina, so this applies to fish, birds, mammals, herps, and invertebrates. The County is updating its animal ordinance, but the draft includes some very overreaching measures. This does not seem to be intentional, but we do not want a poorly worded law to pass, as future enforcement could crack down on anyone, and the law could also be copied in other jurisdictions. Lawmakers need to hear opposition from local residents.
Lincoln County residents must contact Commissioners ASAP! This may be voted on in May. We have a sample letter below. Remember to be civil and professional! If you are a non-resident (such as another organization, veterinarian, herpetologist, educator, professor, zoologist, relevant professional, etc.), please compose a letter and include your title and credentials.
What is proposed:
1. A ban on all animals not native to North Carolina (as they will all be listed as "dangerous exotic animals");
2. The only pets allowed as "domesticated animals" are those "that are indigenous to Lincoln County and normally, customarily share human habitation in Lincoln County and are normally dependent on humans for food and shelter in Lincoln County, such as dogs and cats." (even though dogs and cats are not indigenous);
3. A ban on ALL breeding of animals not native to North Carolina;
4. Traditional livestock animals (horses, cattle, etc.) will be allowed and regulated under state law;
5. There is a grandfather provision allowing people who currently have "exotic animals" to keep them, but residents must get a license for EACH exotic animal. NOTE again that all animals not native to North Carolina are "exotic" under the definitions. This means each aquarium fish (non-native to NC), canary, gecko, dart frog, ferret, and every other non-native animal needs to be permitted. You also cannot get more of these "exotic" animals after June 1, 2025, and the permits must be renewed annually;
6. There are also changes regarding dogs and "dangerous dogs."
Below are some of the new definitions. NOTE that in order to be a "dangerous exotic animal," the animal only needs to meet ONE of these criteria, not all of them. This is because the word OR is used instead of AND at number 5.
DANGEROUS EXOTIC ANIMAL means any animal which:
(1) Is not native or indigenous to this state;
(2) Would ordinarily be confined to a zoo;
(3) Does not have an established wild population in this State;
(4) Is not regulated by the State Wildlife Commission;
(5) Is likely to cause a reasonable person to be fearful of significant destruction of property or of bodily harm, including, but not limited to, non-human primates, ocelots, wolves, hybrid wolves, venomous reptiles, and other such animals; or
(6) All mammals designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Agriculture or other national or state public health protection agencies as embargoed or prohibited.
In addition to "dangerous exotic animal," there are new definitions for "inherently dangerous exotic mammal" and "inherently dangerous reptile." All of those three types of animals would be banned per this new text: "At no time may a person harbor a dangerous exotic animal, inherently dangerous exotic mammal or inherently dangerous reptile. A violation of this section shall be considered a Class 3 Misdemeanor and subject to civil penalties in §92.99 of this Ordinance."
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. A species of animals that are indigenous to Lincoln County and normally, customarily share human habitation in Lincoln County and are normally dependent on humans for food and shelter in Lincoln County, such as dogs and cats.
Sample Letter (Please be civil and professional!)
County Commissioner names, emails, and numbers can be found at https://www.lincolncountync.gov/316/Board-of-Commissioners.
Email list: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Lincoln County Commissioners,
I am a Lincoln County resident and responsible animal owner who opposes the proposed changes to the county's animal ordinance. I appreciate that the County seeks to make a better animal ordinance for law enforcement and residents, but I do not support the proposal. While I do not think it is intentional, the draft bans all aquarium fish, pet birds like parakeets, hamsters, ferrets, most pet reptiles, most pet amphibians, and more. This is because, as drafted, the proposal considers all these types of animals to be "dangerous exotic animals" since that definition includes all species not native to North Carolina, and those animals do not qualify as "domesticated animals" under the new definitions. I also oppose the ban on breeding exotic animals, as many people breed aquarium fish, pet birds, geckos, and other animals.
Statistically, almost 1/3 of Americans own fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that are not native to North Carolina, so this will affect many Lincoln County residents. All of those people would need to get an annual permit for each animal and could not own more of these pets in the future.
Please make rational changes to the draft ordinance. Thank you, and have a good day.
Sincerely,
your name or initials
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