Girard looks at its exotic animal regs

GIRARD — Officials are checking to see if there is just a little too much monkey business going on in the city.

Jerry Lambert, safety service director, said city officials are planning to meet to discuss the city’s current regulations governing exotic animals. He said no date has been set for that meeting.

Jim Dobson, city health commissioner, said the proposed meeting comes on the heels of complaints from members of the community about residents who own monkeys — and monkeys hanging around a business.

“We have been getting complaints about people having monkeys here in the city,” he said. “We have a couple at a tattoo parlor and some private homeowners that have them, too. These animals can carry some diseases, so we are just researching the issue and trying to determine what to do about it now.”

According to Dobson, Pleasures of the Flesh tattoo shop on State Street has two monkeys caged in the lobby of the business. He said a woman became concerned about the presence of the monkeys in the business when a family member went to get a tattoo.

For more, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com