UPDATE 3/6/25: No local residents appeared to speak at the hearing. The ordinance passed with some amendments, linked below.
UPDATE 3/6/25: A new draft is scheduled to be heard at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 10. Some changes have been made but the draft still bans venomous snakes, a few large constrictor snake species, and lots of mammals and birds. There is still no grandfather clause for current owners. You can read the draft at https://www.cityofflorence.com/sites/default/files/uploads/agendas/3-10-2025-complete-agenda_0.pdf.
Meeting: March 10 @ 1:00 PM. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 324 W. EVANS STREET, FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA
UPDATE 2/7/25: Staff has requested that the ordinance be tabled/deferred at the February meeting.
UPDATE 1/10/25: Staff has requested that the ordinance be tabled/deferred at the January meeting.
UPDATE 12/9/24: The Council voted to table (postpone) the final vote. USARK President Phil Goss was the only person present to represent responsible reptile and amphibian owners. He was joined by two mammal owners (who had great testimonies), and the three of them were the only people who spoke on this issue. Fortunately, this was enough to get the vote tabled. The Council directed the City Attorney to explore grandfathering and alternative language. Alarmingly, no owners of horses, goats, llamas, pot-bellied pigs, or any other animals on the ban list showed up. Assuredly, hundreds of Florence residents have animals that will be banned, and those animals will need to be rehomed, surrendered, or euthanized. The language that almost passed today does not allow current owners to keep their animals. People who own these animals need to contact the Council and City Attorney.
This was deferred from the January 13 meeting and may be heard on Monday, February 10, at 1:00 pm – at City Council Chambers at 324 W. Evans Street.
Florence, South Carolina, has proposed a ban a many species of animals (list below). There is no grandfather clause, so even current owners could not keep their animals. This proposal results from a venomous snake bite from a free-handler (someone who freely handles venomous snakes without proper tools and equipment).
The first reading was on November 18. Local stakeholders opposed to this ban should contact their City Council representative and the Mayor as soon as possible.
Next Council meeting: Monday, December 9, at 1:00 pm – City Council Chambers at 324 W. Evans Street.
The following species would be banned: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or possess within the City any live livestock, wild or feral animal, and large birds or waterfowl, including but not limited to the following:
- Any Porcine animal, including without limitation swine, pigs, and hogs;
- Any Equine animal, including without limitation horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys;
- Any Bovine animal, including without limitation cows, buffalo, bulls, calves, sheep, goats, rams, and lambs;
- Any Camelid animal, including without limitation camels, llamas, and alpacas.
- Baboons, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, or other non-human primates;
- Bears, cheetahs, leopards, lions, tigers, jaguars, pumas, or other large cats (including without limitation Servals);
- Wolves, coyotes, foxes, or any hybrids of these species with domestic dogs where the proportion of wild animals exceeds one-eighth;
- Crocodilians twelve (12) inches or larger;
- Large, dangerous, or potentially invasive constricting snakes including reticulated pythons, python reticulatus; Burmese/Indian rock pythons, python molurus; rock pythons, python sebae, and anacondas, eunectes murinus (green anacondas);
- Venomous/poisonous reptiles, amphibians, or serpents;
- Raccoons, hyenas, badgers, wolverines, skunks, weasels (not to include ferrets);
- Porcupines;
- Piranhas or other dangerous aquatic species;
- Nondomestic members of the family Felidae (cats);
- Bats;
- Rodents greater than 5 pounds;
- Members of the Cervidae family (deer).
- Ostriches;
- Emus;
- Rheas;
- Cassowaries;
- Peafowl (peacocks and peahens);
- Swans;
- Geese;
- Ducks;
- Herons;
- Cranes;
- Roosters;
- Penguins.
The below “may be” exempt:
- Zoos;
- Circuses or traveling attractions;
- Wildlife rehabilitation centers, including without limitation veterinarian, animal medical centers, and humane societies;
- Educational institutions;
- Licensed research facilities;
- Pet stores and agricultural supply stores, provided that the keeping and sale of any wild or feral animals listed in subsection (3) above must be expressly approved by the City.
Read the draft starting on page 101 at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/24-florence-sc.pdf.
Council members and contact information are at https://www.cityofflorence.com/city-council/city-council.
Sample Letter (Be civil and professional!)
Email list: lbarnes@cityofflorence.com, ljackson@cityofflorence.com, jlsmith@cityofflorence.com, bbraddock@cityofflorence.com, gjebaily@cityofflorence.com, cmccall@cityofflorence.com
Subject line: NO to Animal Ban
Dear Mayor Barnes and Florence City Council Members,
I am a Florence resident and responsible animal owner who will be affected by the proposed ban. I understand your goal to protect our community, but this ban is not how to do that. This ban punishes responsible animal owners, while irresponsible people will continue to do irresponsible things.
Collective punishment is unAmerican and unjust. This ban is being pushed because of one person’s actions. Please work with local residents on alternatives to this ban. This proposal does not even allow current owners to keep their animals. People will not allow their animals to be seized and likely euthanized. This is a bad move for Florence, our good citizens, and the animals.
I would hate to see overreaching, big government seize control of our wonderful city. Thank you for reading this, and have a good day.
Sincerely,
