This past week, Woolwich councillors heard from a number of concerned parties about the “Odd and Unusual” auction, held twice a year at the Ontario Livestock Exchange near St. Jacobs.
The sale, which has been in existence for more than nine years, features some animals that Woolwich residents aren’t allowed to own, such as lemurs, monkeys, and even kangaroos.
The sale came before council on Feb. 23 due to complaints raised by Erika Ritter, a journalist who attended the last sale.
At the committee-of-the-whole meeting, councillors also heard from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, as well as a resident from the London area, who shared her experience with a nearby “roadside zoo,” which outlined concerns not only about the safety of residents, but the animals themselves. Letters from PETA, as well as a letter from Ritter, rounded out the package.
They also heard from Tim Height, of Tiger Paw Exotics, and Larry Witzel, of the Ontario Livestock Exchange, both of whom indicated that the sales are inspected by various levels of government, as well as the local humane society.
It was a tough issue for councillors — on the one hand are animal protection agencies and individuals, raising concerns about how the animals are cared for at the sale; on the other hand, sale proponents, who provided documentation that the sales are inspected, and that the animals are well cared for.
Who to believe?
Councillors opted to support Height and Witzel, perhaps in response to the valid comment raised by a supporter of the sale — if the animals were truly in distress on the day of the sale, why weren’t the complaints dealt with that day, instead of after the fact?
However, while councillors have decided to let the sale go ahead, with restrictions on exactly which animals can be sold, the sale does raise a larger issue.
There is really very little control over the sale and ownership of exotic animals in this country, and very little consistency in how this issue is dealt with across various jurisdictions.
In reality, anyone can go to the upcoming sale, make the highest bid, and become the proud owner of a macaque — regardless of the fact that such ownership is prohibited in Woolwich Township.
And, given that animal control bylaw infringements are only dealt with on a complaint basis, it is entirely possible that Woolwich Township residents could be purchasing animals they are not permitted to keep.
It is also entirely possible that someone who is wholly unsuited to owning an exotic animal would purchase one of these “odd and unusual” animals, and that very little could be done to prevent it.
Given the potential danger to the public — particularly through the spread of zoonotic disease — we suggest it is time for the provincial and federal governments to get involved in the issue of the exotic animal trade.
Municipal governments, after all, can only do so much — passing animal control bylaws that may or may not be ignored, and responding when complaints arise.
And, given the experience of Southwold Township against Norman Buwalda, a man who was eventually killed by his own pet tiger, animal control bylaws can easily be quashed.
There should be more controls in place that can restrict the ownership of exotic animals, and ensure that only those who can take care of these animals properly are permitted to own them.
While Height and Witzel seem to be quite well-intentioned, there is little doubt that a consignment auction has very little control over what animals are sold, in what conditions they arrive, and who their eventual owners may be.
And while local organizations used this auction as a focal point for their concerns, it’s clear that their message needs to reach the ears of a higher level of government, because that’s the only way the exotic animal trade will get the restrictions it truly needs.