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(Update)
It was a bizarrely busy day for Hamilton’s reptile population. City council voted in an amendment to the responsible animal ownership by-law — that will allow Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo to house prohibited animals. Last year the zoo had to get rid of several snakes and crocodiles — many of which were rescues. In a strange coincidence — Little Ray’s played temporary home to two rescued alligators — while council debated the bylaw.
It was ‘see you later, alligator’ at Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo tonight. Two rescued gators were sent on to the zoo’s Ottawa location after a brief stop in Hamilton.
Paul Goulet is the Owner of Little Ray’s: “They didn’t have any kind of a filtration system. They had cleaned the water but there was a lot of green algae and stuff on the bottom.”
They were seized from a home in Stouffville, where the 5 footers were being kept as pets. Paul said: “The size they’re at now, they could easily rip off a small finger.”
Rescues like this are common for staff at Little Ray’s, and that’s part of the reason they have been pushing city council to amend Hamilton’s responsible animal ownership bylaw. It forced the zoo to get rid of dozens of restricted animals.
Tonight, council voted to allow the snakes, crocodillians and arachnids back to Little Ray’s, but with conditions.
Steve Featherstone is the Manager of Little Ray’s in Hamilton: “We’re definitely happy. But again, the road is not over. It is a long road. We’re going to continue to work with them and they’re going to continue to support us as well.”
Little Ray’s must be officially certified by CAZA — Canada’s Accredited Zoo’s and Aquariums. They have an inspection scheduled for late September.
The zoo’s Ottawa location is accredited and that’s where the animals, plus the two rescued gators will stay for the time being.
Paul said: “We are kind of become a bit of a last resort for some of these animals. In this case it was us or nothing.”
After a 60 day quarantine, Little Ray’s hopes to rehome the gators in European zoos.
Tonight’s council vote is a win for Little Ray’s and similar businesses — though it does include some tight restrictions. The animals can’t be housed in a building connected to any residence and can’t share a ventilation system with adjacent businesses. Not all Hamiltonians were pleased with the amendment though. Several residents wrote to council asking them not to pass the motion for animal welfare reasons.
