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Iowa Goes Hog Wild Over Exotic Pets!!!

By Lucky Lang

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island BK3351211

April 17, 2007 11:21 PM

Lion by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com tiger by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com bear by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com

The Iowa House voted Tuesday to banning exotic animals as pets. Lions, tigers, and bears......oh my! Can you imagine that one Iowan actually has a pet alligator? Yes, this is Iowa.....not Florida. One Sioux City home actually had 30 exotic animals, including this alligator!

The Animal Rescue League has been pushing this through claiming in the past three years there have been 14 cases where wild and exotic animals (including monkeys, cougars, and yes.....lions, and tigers, and bears....oh my!) have been kept.

Personally, I've seen some pit bulls that were more dangerous than these because they're allowed to run free!

So for now, we can keep our dogs and cats, oh yeah, and hogs are okay too!

hamster by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com

It appears that hamsters are still okay. OSHA hasn't made a ruling yet on the noise level of the running wheel.....stay tuned!

Iowa was one of three hold-outs of states in this country that previously didn't have a ban at all.

I'm happy to know that as soon as the Governor signs this legislation, I won't have to spend nights up worrying about my next door neighbor bringing home a pet elephant!

Lucky Lang

qcfsbr.com

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Brian Papaccio

Wells Fargo Home Loans - Newark, DE

So what are the two remaining hold out states with no ban on exotic pets?

Apr 18, 2007 12:49 AM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Brian,

I believe that Massachusetts and North Carolina join Iowa (for the moment) with this dubious or honored (depending on your viewpoint) distinction.

Lucky :)

Apr 18, 2007 01:53 AM

Duayne Weir

Investment Realities LLC/MarketLink Realty - Ham Lake, MN

Minnesota Real Estate Agent

Lucky, Cool post!! Years ago when I lived on the farm a neighbor nearby had a pet lion cool huh? until the DNR found a whole shed full of deer that he was feeding the lion. Needless to say he went to jail and the lion went to the zoo. He was pouching the deer at night on his combine, tractors etc. the DNR confiscated his heavy machinery, guns, property and everything. Oh Well...what do you say to that? Wild huh!!

Good Day!! have a cup of java and a smile on me :)

Apr 18, 2007 03:31 AM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Duayne,

Deer in Iowa are like big, fast rats that jump really high and usually in front of your vehicle. We have to hold extra hunts to thin them out because they are such a hazard.

Sounds like the poor guy was trying to keep his "kitty" fed. What's wrong with that?

Lucky :)

Apr 18, 2007 11:36 AM

Jim & Maria Hart

Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC Real Estate

So who really determines what "exotic" means? Some snakes are exotic, so are they going to limit the types of snakes people can have as pets (though I would NEVER even consider having one in my house)?

Apr 18, 2007 12:17 PM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Big Brother decides for you. If a few people yell loud enough, there will be enough politicians who hear and will create a new law just to protect you. Isn't that nice of them?

Lucky :)

Apr 18, 2007 03:47 PM

Boomer Jack Boardman & Carl McIntyre, the Codgers

Noted Curmudgeons - Saint Paul, MN

Lucky: Here in your neighbor to the north, laws, even those that seem ill conceived, are enacted after a period of public testimony, where the proponents, and those opposed, have their chance to weigh in. Moreover, we all have someone representing us involved in the process and we have the opportunity to let that individual know our opinion on the legislation.

I know personally my city council member, my state representative and senator, and have communicated with my US active rain|active codgers, your active fans image representative and both senators. I don’t always like the ordinances, statutes & laws enacted—but at least I’ve had my say.

I LIKE crocagators (or is it Aladials?), just not in my yard!

Jay

Apr 19, 2007 09:55 PM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Jay,

I don't like them in my yard either. I don't have a pooper-scooper that big!

I know each of my legislators personally as well and as we all should. Doesn't mean that they vote as we would and when it passes the level of my tolerance, I exercise my right and vote for someone else.

As for the big 10 cent words you threw out, wow, I'm impressed!

So let the record state that Jay is a NIMBY!

(Not In My Back Yard)

Have a great one!

Lucky :)

Apr 20, 2007 02:54 AM

Anonymous

mark

Bans are stupid... allow people to own with permits is the way to go. For certian animals for others no permits should be required...... and yes the people behind this types of laws have dogs and cats and goldfish on their list next......

the use horror stories of the very few people who have such things as lions or tigers to get their agenda of no pets at all in.

I know for a fact from experience that Wallabies and Muntjac Deer make better pets than dogs do and they are termed exotic..... glad I don't live in Iowa....

Apr 21, 2007 09:16 PM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Mark,

Thanks for your perspective on this.

BTW, what is a Muntjac Deer?

Lucky :)

Apr 21, 2007 09:36 PM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Hi, Lucky! Your hamster drew my eye! I have a "grandhamster", he belongs to my younger daughter "Little One". (I don't put the kids names online if I can help it, I try to limit the crazies to noticing ME.) We bought Frisky a new wheel yesterday. This was wheel #4. The first was too loud. The second hurt his little feet, we assume, because he refused to use it. The third just looked too small. He is very happy with wheel #4 and I am a happy Grandma. We also have dogs, cats, fish and a hermit crab, but that rodent is so cuuute!

I added in no way to the discussion. Just wanted to stop in and say hi! Hi!

Apr 23, 2007 12:21 AM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Sarah,

Of course you added to the discussion! You always add a smile to my face with your comments. Stop by anytime!

I used to have a pet squirrel named "Frisky" when I was a kid. My brother had a snake a couple of times, a raccoon (until it became too unruly), turtles, a few rabbits and birds that we nursed back to health after injuries or abandonment, and various dogs and cats.

Today, we just have two dogs.

714 Grand Avenue Davenport Iowa with the dogs by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com

They are our children now!

Thanks,

Lucky :)

Apr 23, 2007 12:33 AM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

WOW, your dogs have a great view!! And they're beautiful dogs, too!

Oooh, a pet SQUIRREL!! When Lysa Napolitano asked us what animal toten we had, then explained how to know which yours was, the only one that came to mind was squirrels. She thought that couldn't be right. If I have an animal totem, why not a squirrel? They're cute, they have lots of energy and they make people happy. I could go for a little of that!

Apr 23, 2007 03:52 AM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Sarah,

We live in a villa now, but the picture above was taken from our previous residence that we are close to putting on the market. There is a spectacular view of the Mississippi River from this property! And lots of squirrels, too!

What do you think about our eagle? Eagle at 714 Grand Avenue Davenport Iowa by Lucky Lang qcfsbr.com

He still has the great view!

Lucky :)

Apr 23, 2007 04:02 AM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Lucky, lions and tigers and bears...OH MY! Thank heavens Iowa is addressing this issue. Let's keep those animals in their natural habitat or at least in zoos!!

Apr 28, 2007 03:34 AM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Gena,

Some people think that our two dogs are small elephants. At 75 and 85 pounds, when they pounce on your bare feet you'd think they were!

Take care!

Lucky :)

Apr 28, 2007 10:50 AM

Rob Lang

At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS

Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Someone commented:

"So who really determines what "exotic" means?"

If "exo" means outside and "tic" means muscle twitch or spasm, then technically anyone or anything that has a muscle twitch or spasm outside would be considered exotic.

On a serious note, sounds like too much regulating going on. Good for Iowa being one of the last holdouts. Eudora has a law that no pitbulls are allowed. My son has a pit bull that plays with the grandkids when they come over (we live in Lawrence--not Eudora any more). Rather than outlawing pit bulls or in your blog scenario, exotic animals, just have there be consequences if the exotic animals attack someone.

This is almost like outlawing driving all cars because a few drivers run red lights and cause accidents.

Older brother Rob.

Apr 29, 2007 04:44 PM

Lucky Lang

Premiere Plus Realty Marco Island - Marco Island, FL

Marco Island & Naples Florida Real Estate

Rob,

Good analogy.

Lucky :)

Apr 29, 2007 11:17 PM