Talk about short memories

Talk about short memories

Lima News: It hasn’t been even a half-year since Ohioans learned about the dozens of exotic animals near Zanesville that were let loose by their owner, who then committed suicide. The fact that lions, tigers and bears could be seen walking alongside Interstate 70 was stunning enough. Those feelings of horror were trumped, however, when angry residents found out that all it took to own a rhinoceros was money.

Ohio failed its state’s residents back in October with its lax regulations on the ownership of dangerous wildlife. Those same residents were failed again last week when the state Senate fell short of banning the biggest source of problems — private owners keeping dangerous wildlife.

The senate ignored the recommendation by the governor’s task force concerning private owners who keep dangerous animals as pets. The task force asked that people who do not meet certain exemptions be required to by 2014. The task force envisioned narrow exemptions for zoos, circuses, licensed breeders and animal sanctuaries meeting safety and security standards, thus ensuring the overriding goal of protecting the public from animals kept by casual owners.

However, the proposed bill before the Senate only requires that new animals be banned.