Carroll County, VA Wild and Exotic Animals

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, wolf-canine hybrid, coyote, squirrel, fox, leopard, tiger, lion, panther, ratites, or any other warmblooded animal, poisonous reptile, or nonpoisonous reptile six feet or longer in length which can normally be found in the wild state or any other member of the crocodilian, including but not limited to alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials. Ferrets, birds which are normally purchased through a pet store (with the exception of ratites), nonpoisonous reptiles less than six feet in length, domestic rabbits and domestic rodents which have been bred in captivity and which never have known the wild shall be excluded from this definition.

§ 83-29 Permit required; exceptions.

[Amended 11-14-2013]

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or permit to be kept upon his premises within the County of Carroll any wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal/reptile as defined in § 83-28 as a pet or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee, without a permit from Carroll County Animal Control. This section shall not apply to zoological parks, circuses performing, animal exhibitions, veterinary clinics, medical or education facilities which are properly licensed by any federal government and/or the commonwealth. In no case, however, shall any such wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal(s) be exhibited, displayed, or kept in such a manner so as to permit said animal(s) to escape, run at large, or otherwise come in physical contact with any person, unless under the direct care and control of the handler.

§ 83-30 Conditions.

Keeping a hybrid or exotic animal(s) in the territory boundaries of Carroll County must follow under the conditions/specifications of keeping a vicious dog pursuant to Article V, Vicious Dogs.

§ 83-31 Application for permit.

[Amended 11-14-2013]

Owners/custodians of wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal(s) shall apply to Carroll County Animal Control within 10 working days of acquisition of said animals or within 10 working days of becoming a new resident of Carroll County, or within 10 working days of change of address within Carroll County, for a permit authorizing the keeping of said animals within Carroll County. Each application for a wild, exotic or poisonous animal permit shall be by affidavit providing the following:

Name and street address of each owner(s)/custodian(s);

Location of animal(s) or storage facility;

The common and scientific name of each of the subject animals;

The date of acquisition of each animal;

The source of acquisition of each animal;

The sex, age, height, color, and/or length of each animal;

Any identifying marks or numbers unique to each animal;

A statement of understanding initiated by the owner(s)/custodian(s) concerning human exposures (bites, scratches) in relation to the current local and state laws involving rabies control;

The current phone number and street address of owner(s)/custodian(s) and animal(s), if storage location differs from residence of owner(s);

List at least one emergency phone number where owner(s)/custodian(s) can be contacted in case of emergency.

§ 83-32 Permit restrictions.

The permit shall not be transferable and shall be valid for one calendar-year period from the date of issuance, subject to annual renewal. One permit per address will be required within the County of Carroll. On the permit shall be listed each animal held within the County as identified in § 83-31. The Carroll County wild, exotic and/or poisonous animal permit shall be required in addition to any required federal or state permits. Information supplied on such permit shall be provided to relevant County departments as notification for public health and safety purposes.

§ 83-33 Compliance required.

Any person who currently possesses within Carroll County a wild, exotic or poisonous animal(s) in contravention of this article shall comply with § 83-31 within 60 days from the date of the adoption of this article or shall dispose of the animal(s) by removal from the County, by giving or selling the animal(s) to a zoological park, or by releasing the animal to Carroll County Animal Control. It shall be unlawful to release any wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal into the wild.

§ 83-34 Fees.

[Amended 11-14-2013]

The initial fee to cover the cost of the permit administration shall be $500 per address. A charge of $100 will be collected for annual permit renewal or adding of additional animals to an existing permit.

§ 83-35 False information.

It shall be unlawful for any person to furnish false information for the purpose of obtaining a permit pursuant to § 83-31. Any permit obtained under fraudulent pretenses shall be null, with any animals named thereon subject to impoundment by Carroll County Animal Control pending the appropriate disposition of said animal(s).

§ 83-36 Euthanization of certain animals.

To afford maximum protection to the public, hybrids and any exotic animal involved in a human bite incident will be euthanized and tested for rabies, even if the hybrid or exotic has been vaccinated for rabies, or until an approved vaccine has been established by the USDA FDA.

§ 83-37 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 11-14-2013]

Any violation of this article shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.