§ 35-217 — Exemptions

§ 35-217. - Exemptions.

The following persons or organizations shall be exempt from the provisions of this article: (a) the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and the OMNIPLEX; (b) the Oklahoma City animal welfare division; (c) any circus appearing in The City of Oklahoma City for less than 30 days; (d) any agency or official of the Federal, State or local government acting in an official capacity; (e) a licensed veterinarian while providing treatment for exotic wildlife; (f) a duly licensed and authorized research facility, including without limitation a university or college research facility; (g) nature parks or centers professionally qualified to handle exotic animals (such as Bob Jenni Nature Center, Inc.) when presenting educational programs or performing other public services within the City; and (h) any person who: (1) keeps or harbors no more than one lion, tiger, leopard, panther, cougar, bobcat, ocelot, cheeta, margay, mountain lion, lynx, jaguar, or jaguarundi; and (2) keeps or harbors such animal on a tract of land that is not less than five acres in size; and (3) has obtained the written consent of all abutting landowners for the keeping or harboring of such animal on such tract of land; and (4) has been issued all Federal and State permits and licenses necessary to authorize the possession of such animal; and (5) has caused an identification microchip to be implanted in the animal's withers by a licensed veterinarian and has provided satisfactory proof of such implantation to the superintendent; and (6) has registered such animal with the City by providing all of the following to the superintendent: 1. all information required under Subsection (a) of Section 35-216 of this article; and 2. documentation satisfactory to demonstrate compliance with Subsections (h)(1) through (h)(5), inclusive, of this section; and 3. clear 5-inch-x-7-inch photographs showing front and side views of the animal and showing the animal's cage(s) and other enclosure(s); provided, nothing in this Subsection (h) shall prevent the Animal Welfare Division Superintendent or his designated animal control officers from impounding any such animal pursuant to Section 35-230 of Division 2 of this article if the animal is found to be running at-large, diseased or inadequately restrained, provided further, nothing in this Subsection (h) shall prevent the superintendent or his designated animal control officers from enforcing the provisions of Section 35-219 of this article if any such animal is found running at-large.

(Ord. No. 21334, § 1, 10-12-99; Ord. No. 21388, § 1, 12-21-99)