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Posted on 06/11/2006 10:01:53 PM PDT by freepatriot32
TUALATIN, Ore. - They may not be soft and cuddly, but James "Bugs" Brown said his three alligators are beloved pets. He said the gators _ Chomper, Hisser and Snapper _ are like family. And he'd rather move than cave to the pressure from the city to get rid of them.
Brown has lived in the city for 26 years and his oldest alligator has been with him since 1985. But recent concerns from a neighbor prompted the City of Tualatin to push Brown to say "see ya later" to his pets.
The neighbor runs a daycare out of her home and called the city with safety concerns about having the alligators next door. However, she says she didn't intend for Brown to lose his pets.
The city considered a law banning alligators and other exotic pets but has set the exotic pet ordinance aside after enormous community reponse. Instead, they are fining Brown for violating city code.
Brown could have to pay up to $1500 each day his alligators stay there. But a municipal judge will make the final decision on how much Brown is fined.
"We don't believe that it's a 'normal household pet,'" the city attorney Brenda Braden said. "Quite honestly, we just feel like we have to cite him."
State laws regulate exotic pets but alligators don't fall under those rules. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife doesn't restrict them either because alligators _ which can't survive Oregon's winter in the wild _ aren't considered a threat to native wildlife.
Alligators have caused problems in Oregon before. The escape of Al the alligator from his Beaverton home in 2002, prompted the city to create new pet rules.
Brown said he'll look for a home outside the city limits for he and his toothsome pals.
"I won't live in a place that discriminates," Brown said.
"We don't believe that it's a 'normal household pet,'" the city attorney Brenda Braden said. "Quite honestly, we just feel like we have to cite him."
So he hasnt actually violated any laws but they are going to fine him anyway just for s**ts and giggles sure why not
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Brown better move out of Oregon then.
He's been there for 26 years.... long before the day care. God I can't stand when people move into a place and immediately complain about everything.
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any parent sending kids to the daycare next door needs to have their head examined...
I wonder who was there first. Did she open a day care knowing he had alligators? She didn't want him to lose his pets but reported him? I wouldn't want to live next door either but maybe she should be the one moving.
I agree with your questions and would add one. Does he keep his gators outside?
I sure hope so. :')
They are pretty small as I have seen the same clip of him handling them.
He also has snakes and other uncommon pets.
In the clip it showed the set up, looked safe. He said about his mini gators are not going to fly out of their habitat and attack people.
I think he has had them for like 10 yrs.
Then day care provider who ratted him out should have not been so over reactive IMO.
Now if his gators had been escaping and running amuck well then.
However they have always been well confined to his property.
And how big could a 20 yrs old alligator grow? His oldest is at least 21 by now.
Well, they form an excellent home security system. I bet that all the burglars are keeping as far away from there as possible.
What a bunch of nanny-state BS.
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I saw them on the news as he was handling them they are like mini gators. Brown gators.
Think of toy size dobie pinchers.
These gators look like mini gators.
He has them well penned and they have never wandered out before.
Like he said they aren't going to fly out of the yard.
Well now that this fellow has had all the unwanted news attention I bet he is at risk of having some dopey kid come steal the mini gators or something dumb like that.
Did the daycare complainant take the time and effort to meet with her gator neighbor and if the mini gators are well contained and she still ratted him out then I would be concerned with her ability to judge a situation.
He has lived there many years with all of his types of not so common pets, I say leave him alone. He has kids ect..and never had an incident.
He came across in the interveiw as a responsible owner.
I saw them on the news as he was handling them they are like mini gators. Brown gators.
Think of toy size dobie pinchers.
These gators look like mini gators.
He has them well penned and they have never wandered out before.
Like he said they aren't going to fly out of the yard.
Well now that this fellow has had all the unwanted news attention I bet he is at risk of having some dopey kid come steal the mini gators or something dumb like that.
Did the daycare complainant take the time and effort to meet with her gator neighbor and if the mini gators are well contained and she still ratted him out then I would be concerned with her ability to judge a situation.
He has lived there many years with all of his types of not so common pets, I say leave him alone. He has kids ect..and never had an incident.
He came across in the interveiw as a responsible owner.
In this case, it is not the more the merrier.
Just what everyone wants living next door to them...a daycare complete with landscaping by Little Tykes and minivan traffic jams. /s
BTTT
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