The Oregon Senate announced earlier this month that it had passed legislation to phase out the right to own exotic pets, including non-domestic cats, non-human primates, non-domestic dogs, crocodiles, and alligators. The Senate bill follows on the heels of a tragic incident in Connecticut involving a pet chimpanzee.
Currently, Oregonians receive permits from the State Department of Agriculture for the keeping of exotic pets. The Senate's bill, SB 391, will move the majority of the permitting process to the USDA and give current owners up to a year to renew their permit and then discontinue issuing permits after that date.
The bill has moved to the House for consideration.
