SANTA PAULA : Council OKs Exotic Animals in Homes
The Santa Paula City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday that will permit residents to keep exotic animals in their homes.
A flurry of applications from people who want large reptiles, miniature horses and potbelly pigs as pets prompted the new law, which was approved by a unanimous vote.
But council members expressed concern about pigs being raised for food, instead of pets. They added a clause to the ordinance that would require city inspectors to check yearly to see if pigs are alive.
“I want to make sure they are not on the dinner table,” Mayor John Melton said.
The city did not have a law prohibiting such pets, but residents were required to get the approval of the City Council before they could keep exotic beasts in their homes.
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