UPDATE 3/7/23: The Board voted and passed the proposal. Read the proposal at https://loudoun.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=88&event_id=3589&meta_id=225151.
UPDATE 1/30/23: The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing on this issue for February 15 at 6:00 PM. Directions for signing up to speak are below:
Loudoun County is proposing a ban on “wild or exotic animals” (see species list below) deemed as a public safety risk by the County. The proposed language will be added to the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County Chapter 612 (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/loudouncounty/latest/loudounco_va/0-0-0-2360#JD_612.19).
Local animal owners should engage with their Board of Supervisors representative ASAP as it could be expanded to include other species. The county law would apply to all unincorporated areas (those living outside of city limits) of Loudoun County.
This is in reaction to an irresponsible owner whose alligator escaped and was found hanging out in a vineyard. Virginia already has a comprehensive state law (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency15/chapter30/section40/) regarding specific animals that require state-issued permits to possess, import, or sell. The owner of this alligator had other animals without the required permits (crocodilians require permits under state law). All it takes is one incident to trigger knee-jerk legislation.
Animals proposed to be banned (exact text from the proposed ban): “Wild or Exotic Animal” means any live non-human primate, raccoon, skunk, wolf or wolf hybrid, coyote, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, cheetah, bear, wild cat (e.g., bobcat, lynx and caracal, serval, ocelot) or wild cat hybrid, crocodilian (e.g. alligators, caimans, gavials) venomous snake, venomous reptile, scorpions (other than those in the genus Pandinus); widow, recluse, funnel-web, banana/wandering, sand or trap-door spiders and tarantulas (except those native to North or South America and the Mexican redknee variety) or any other warm-blooded mammal or marsupial that can normally be found in a wild state. All domestically bred or legally imported birds, ratites, non-venomous snakes, non-venomous reptiles, rear-fanged snakes, amphibians, fish, ferrets, rabbits, rats, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, hedgehogs, sugar gliders and guinea pigs which have been bred in captivity shall be excluded from this definition.
NOTE: The definition states “or any other warm-blooded mammal or marsupial that can normally be found in a wild state” so the ban could be applied to certain mammals not listed.
View a short slide presentation from the County at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Loudoun-VA-22.pdf.
Those currently in possession of species impacted by the prohibition would be permitted to keep those animals as long as they are registered with the County but no future animals listed as prohibited could be attained. The full text can be read at https://loudoun.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=86&event_id=3461&meta_id=220133.
Board of Supervisors information: https://www.loudoun.gov/86/Board-of-Supervisors
January 5 meeting location: Board Room on the first floor of the Loudoun County Government Center at 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, 20175. You can find the calendar listing at https://www.loudoun.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=14473&month=1&year=2023&day=5&calType=0.
Board of Supervisors email list (copy/paste):
I find this proposal to be a waste of County resources and time. Most of the species listed are already heavily regulated under state law at 4VAC15-30-40 titled “Importation requirements, possession, and sale of nonnative (exotic) animals.” Animal welfare and cruelty laws, as well as public safety/threat laws, could have also been applied to this situation. This is a knee-jerk reaction to one person who was already violating state law and could be punished under that law. The actions of one person should not dictate how others are treated. This is collective punishment and is a horrible form of government overreach.
Please focus on actual criminals and those violating animal welfare or public safety laws rather than passing laws that harm responsible animal owners. Thank you and have a good day.
