Legal interpretation

[Strutter769]

If you'll remember, yesterday we discussed temporarily re-homing Amelia Mae for our friend Jazzmyne. In that thread, I mentioned that it may not necessarily be legal here in Elgin... and apologize as ithat may NOT be entirely accurate. I've presented below the actual statute as provided by the City of Elgin's website:

"D. It is unlawful to keep, harbor, possess, maintain, or have the care or custody in the city of: (1) any snake, reptile or lizard that is physically capable of injuring any person, regardless of age, by bite, poison, constriction or other means; (2) any lion, tiger, cougar, jaguar, panther, bobcat, mountain lion, lynx, ocelet, leopard, any hybrid thereof or any other similar feline animal; (3) any wolf, coyote, jackal, fox, wild dog or hybrid thereof; (4) any bear or bison; (5) any rodent weighing more than one pound, with the exception of guinea pigs; (6) any non-canine animal not native to North American continent which when full grown normally attains the weight in excess of 200 pounds; and (7) any monkey, gorilla, chimpanzee or other similar ape-like primate. Any animal, snake, reptile, rodent or other creature prohibited to be kept, harbored, possessed or maintained i the city pursuant to this Section is declared hereby to be public nuisance and may be" apprehended and impounded at any time by a police officer or the Animal Control Officer. If such animal cannot be relocated safely to an entity licensed to handle the dangerous animal in the sole discretion of the Chief of Police, the Chief of Police may order the humane destruction of such animal. This section shall not apply to properly zoned and constructed zoos, federally licensed exhibits, circuses, animal refuges, or licensed scientific or research laboratories."

Now I ask you, am I able to own a snake or reptile in Elgin? Well, I posed that very same question to Mr. Chris Beck, the Attorney for the City.

His response: "I'm not sure!"

He went on to say: "Let me get in contact with the Animal Control officers and see how they've been enforcing it and I'll get back to you."

My friends, I DO believe that snakes and reptiles ARE in fact LEGAL in Elgin!!

Stand by for more details as they arrive!

How cool would this be?

Ok, please interpret the statute as you understand it below.

Thanks!