By Mike Rutledge

and Peggy Kreimer
Post staff reporter

It will be illegal next week to own prairie dogs, rats, poisonous or constricting snakes in Covington. Dozens of other wild and exotic animals, including rabbits, also face the ban.

People who already own such animals must either get rid of them or face misdemeanor fines of $250 to $500, said City Attorney Jay Fossett. "Effectively, it will start July 1."

The final version of the legislation took a tougher stand against the animals than officials originally announced. Commissioners approved the ban with a 5-0 vote.

As the ordinance was written two weeks ago, the city would have let people who already owned exotic or wild animals keep them, although they would have had to register them and have them neutered or spayed.

Under the measure passed Tuesday night, even current owners will have to give up their pets.

Given recent headlines about such diseases as SARS and monkeypox, which can be transmitted to humans from animals, officials decided the ban was the best option, said city Commissioner Craig Bohman.

Exempted from the ban on wild and exotic animals are zoological parks, licensed transient animal exhibits, circuses, licensed veterinarians and other licensed caregivers for wild animals.

"Unfortunately, the courts don't give us much leeway on this," Bohman said. Courts have rejected efforts by cities to ban only future exotic animals, while attempting to let those who already own them to keep them, Bohman and Fossett said.

The ordinance also updated the city's rules about pit bull terriers, wolf hybrids and other dogs the city now terms vicious. Those owners can continue to own the animals, but they must inject an identification microchip in the animals in addition to the past regulations that require owners to register them with the city, prevent them from breeding, and carry at least $100,000 insurance coverage for damage and injuries by the animals.

Jeff Warneford, director of the city's Public Works department which deals with animal control, said it will be up to pet owners to figure out how to dispose of their animals. He said the Kenton County Animal Shelter can direct owners to animal rescue groups or other options.

Here are the animals that will be banned in Covington:

•  Exotic animals, which include any of the following: "all animals, including snakes and spiders, whose bite or venom is poisonous or deadly to humans; apes, including chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, and orangutans; baboons; bears; cheetahs; crocodilians and alligators; constrictor snakes; coyotes; elephants; gamecocks and other fighting birds; hyenas; jaguars; leopards; lions; lynxes; ostriches; pumas, also known as mountain lions and panthers; wolves; raccoons; skunks; and tigers."

•  Wild animals, "including any animal that is not a domesticated companion animal, or any crossbreeds of these animals with domestic animals, or any descendant of any crossbreed." They include "any venomous snake, python or constrictor snakes, owls, porcupines, monkeys, raccoons, skunks, leopards, lions, tigers, lynx, bobcats, badgers, fox, coyote, wolves, wolverines, squirrels, bears, deer, chipmunks, moose, elk, rabbits, opossum, beavers, ground hogs, moles, gophers, prairie dogs, rats, mice, rodents, and bats."

Warneford said the list is bound to generate concern because hamsters, guinea pigs, and gerbils are common pets but are also rodents. Rabbits have been a popular pet animal.

"I can't imagine the police going into people's homes looking for their pet mice and pet rabbits,'' said Warneford. "I have a feeling the kind of rabbits you buy lin a pet store would be considered domesticated, as opposed to finding some baby bunnies in the wild. I'm going to need some direction on this,'' he said.

City attorney Jay Fossett said the intent is to prohibit wild animals and pet store rabbits probably would be allowed. He said he would have to look into the qustion of gerbils and hamsters.

Covington Police Officer Dan Farrell is the unofficial reptile expert in the department.

He said the city probably has a sizeable population of animals that are now banned.

"I was on a call on several years ago, and a lady had eight or 10 aquariums filled with rats and mice.'' She needed them to feed her snake.

In 2001, a woman in Latonia wanted to get rid of her 13-foot python. Farrell helped find a home for it at the Covington Catholic High School biology department.

Fossett said the animal ban would keep such animals out of biology departments and classrooms, too.