City Council recently adopted legislation that prohibits the trapping of wild animals. The ordinance amends the city’s codified ordinances Part 6 General Offenses Code, Chapter 618 Animals, Section 618.12 Hunting Prohibited. Mayor Bob Stefanik said that the amendment came about after some residents reported placed traps in their front yards, near the street, where children could have been injured. Ward 3 Councilman, Dan Langshaw co-sponsored the bill. He became aware of a resident who set traps to capture wild animals, including raccoons.
The new section reads as follows: “(a) The hunting or trapping of animals or fowl within the municipality is prohibited. No person shall hunt, trap, kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl by the use of firearms or any other means, except as follows:
(a) (1) K. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the killing or trapping of rats and other undesirable rodents or animals authorized to be killed by the Chief of Police using means for such killing or trapping which are also authorized by the Chief or his designee.”
The amendment prohibits not only the hunting, but the trapping of animal or fowl. There are exceptions to the legislation, including the incidents of bow hunting white-tailed deer, which is allowable under defined guidelines. Also, the killing or trapping of rats and other rodents is allowable for residents. For other nuisance wild life, such as racoons, skunks or opossums, residents should contact the city’s Animal Control Division, or a licensed commercial nuisance wild animal control operator. The Animal Control Division can be reached by calling 440-237-0665.
Ward 6 Councilman Dan Kasaris had questioned if a resident would be in violation of this ordinance if they assisted in capturing a neighbor’s pet that had run loose in order to safely return it to it’s owner. City Law Director, Tom Kelly said that he did not think that they would be cited for that. Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell did point out that if someone captures a neighbor’s pet that is seen as a nuisance in order to cause it harm, it would fall under pet cruelty Goddard’s Law. The law was named for Dick Goddard, who is well known for his compassion toward animals and for animal rights. The law increases punishment for animal abuse, specifically those who are companion animals. Violations can run from misdemeanors to a felony charge.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer