Daily Herald - P.G. bans ball python breeding
DAILY HERALD (Provo, Utah) 05 April 07 P.G. bans ball python breeding (Laura Giles)
Pleasant Grove said no to ball pythons on Tuesday.
At a quarter to midnight, council members voted 4-1 not to allow the serpents to breed in home-based businesses in Pleasant Grove. The ordinance would have allowed animal husbandry of unique and exotic animals in a single-family residential area.
Residents James and Pamela Cantrell, who requested the ordinance so they could raise the reptiles in their home, have been working with the city for five months.
"The only reason I think is compelling to go against this is the property values," said Councilman Bruce Call, after resident Herb Carlson expressed concern that property values would fall if the snakes were allowed.
The matter had been put on hold while city staff attempted to include a classification of exotic, non-dangerous animals and strict guidelines for use in a home-based business. The classification was to have included non-poisonous snakes, amphibians and turtles.
Resident Melanie Aird spoke against allowing the snakes, saying she was concerned about salmonella, odors, how waste is disposed of and waste water drainage.
"Cats carry 17 diseases that can be transmitted to humans; reptiles carry one," said Pamela Cantrell in response.
"It's just not a residential issue. This should be in a farm area," Aird said. "These are families with children."
Carl Clark, whose son lives in the neighborhood of the proposed business, raised the issue of accountability.
"I've raised a lot of animals in my life. No matter how hard you try, they escape. Who will be responsible?" he said.
Clark's wife, Leonette, said residents in the area were angry the city was considering allowing the snakes.
"They're going to be selling their places," she said.
The Cantrells assured the council that issues of odor, excrement and safety would be dealt with according to the strict standards outlined in the proposed ordinance. The standards came from the National Reptile Improvement Plan. They said the only way for snakes to get out would be for someone to open the drawer they were in.
The Cantrells' business was to have 50 breeder snakes, each housed in individual bins in one room of their home.
"I don't think this is the kind of business for a home," said Councilman Mark Atwood, noting that though ball pythons are not dangerous, people do mistakenly believe that they are.
"We don't know what we'll do now," said James Cantrell after the decision. The couple indicated that they will either end their business or move to an agricultural area.
