UPDATE Feb. 12, 2025: The City Council continues work on the exotic animal ordinance. There will be a meeting to discuss this issue, but the date has not been announced.
The Lansford Council has directed the borough solicitor (city attorney) to draft an exotic animal ordinance. Anyone in the borough who owns animals other than dogs and cats should engage with their Council members.
Absurd new laws banning almost all animals and pets other than dogs and cats have been popping up. These proposed laws would have banned aquarium fish, parakeets, leopard geckos, and thousands more. Thankfully, the recent ones were stopped when residents voiced their opposition, but they may have easily passed if residents were unaware.
Local animal owners should contact Mayor Vrablic and the City Council now to stop a sweeping ban.
This article shares the draft ordinance order: https://www.tnonline.com/20241123/lansford-borough-council-16/
You can contact the city at contactus@lansfordboro.com or (570) 645-3900. Council members can be found at https://boroughoflansford.com/council/borough-council/.
Draft email (be civil and professional)
Subject line: exotic animal ordinance
Mayor Vrablic and the Lansford Council,
As a responsible animal owner in Lansford, I would like to be involved and kept aware of any “exotic animal” ordinance. Recently, cities have proposed broad animal bans, making common pets, such as aquarium fish, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and more illegal. I do not want my city to bring forward such overreach. Almost 1/3 of Americans own “exotic animals.” Lansford needs to research any new law carefully and incorporate local stakeholders.
Please keep me updated on any actions taken on this issue. I advise that any drafting be done with local animal owners to avoid an unjust, biased, and under-researched ban. Thank you for your time, and have a good day.
