‘Doesn’t change anything,’ says Reptilia’s lawyer as London, Ont. seeks court order
Global News
The City of London, Ont., wants a judge to declare that the Reptilia zoo that opened two months ago contravenes a municipal animal control bylaw.
The City of London is taking legal action against Reptilia, arguing that the indoor zoo is not exempt from the local animal control bylaw.
According to court documents obtained by Global News, an application to the Superior Court has been filed by the city to move the issue in front of a judge for a decision at a later date.
The application asks a judge to declare that Reptilia has not been exempted from London’s animal control bylaw and issue an order that would bar Reptilia from keeping animals prohibited under the bylaw.
“The Respondents applied to city council three times seeking an exemption to the Animal Control By-Law which would allow them to exhibit Class 7 animals,” the court documents state. “Each time the Respondents have approached council, council has denied their request.”
Back in February, city council voted 9-6 against moving forward with the process of granting an exemption for the reptile zoo to house Class 7 animals, which include crocodiles, alligators, venomous snakes and venomous lizards not native to Canada.
Additionally, according to the application filed by the city earlier this month, the municipal animal control by-law “contains an exemption for zoos that are licensed by a municipal or other governmental authority.”
“The only licence available is under the Provincial Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which permits certain native species to be kept. The keeping of other animals is not regulated by the Province.”
Michael Lerner, a lawyer representing Reptilia, said that Reptilia, which also has facilities in both Vaughan and Whitby, would open under the legal opinion that since they operate under a provincial licence, they are exempt from municipal bylaws concerning animals.
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