Exotic Animal Owners File Suit Against The State Of Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH, November 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) Despite the pressure from the Humane Society of the United States, Sheriff Lutz of Zanesville, Ohio , and many other animal rights groups, the exotic animal community from all around the Nation united and said they have had enough of the laws being pushed through to take their rights away from them in regards to owning exotic animals.

On November 2, 2012, a federal suit was filed along with filing for a temporary injunction in the United States District Court For The Southern District Of Ohio, Eastern Division. (See full suit here http://www.usza.us/Downloads/Complaint_Exotic_Animal_Ban.pdf) Together with the OAAO, President Victoria Galle and Herplobby President, Terry Wilkins, leading the suit filed in Ohio, funds were donated by members of the United States Zoological Association, Feline Conservation Federation, Simion Society Association and the Herplobby Reptile Club along with people all over that aren't even exotic animals owners. Together they say enough is enough and they are starting with Ohio and intend on filing suits in every State that attempts to take the rights away from tax paying citizens.

The Federal suit filed claims the animal owners Constitutional rights are being violated to own their private property by the State of Ohio being able to seize their property without compensation, along with being forced to join certain political organizations, being forced to perform invasive and dangerous procedures on their animals.

The State, City or Federal Government can not make anyone join a private non profit organization to be exempt from any law, which is creating an illegal monopoly. The law in Ohio and many other States and Cities exempt people and zoos with an AZA (American Zoological Association) accreditation, which is nothing more than a private club for exotic animals and discriminates against any other organization. This is the first time the animal owners have taken a stand against this kind of law and in the following months and years you will see many other states getting sued for the same practice according to exotic animal owners.

Joe Schreibvogel, President of the United States Zoological Association says, "They would not listen to the people who's lives were affected during the hearings in early 2012, but instead they listened to a bunch of people that had absolutely nothing to lose from it. Those people were the Animal Rights representatives whose agenda is to take away people's pets and their rights to keep them. I flew out there 3 times to watch people pour their hearts out to empty chairs while the lawmakers went to other meetings due to already having their minds made up. Maybe they will listen in court now that the people have taken a stand," Schreibvogel says.

The United States Zoological Association is the only organization that represents all species of animals and their owners whether it be private, zoo or sanctuary. The organization applauds OAAO for their work in Ohio and is rallying a National fundraising campaign to gear up for what comes next at exotic animal owners for 2013. If you would like to join and help the fight to keep your rights, you can do so at www.usza.us.

For more information contact the OAAO or the USZA.