Ranch registers its exotic animals
With a clipboard and photos in hand, Ringtail Ranch and Rescue owners Joni Cook and Mark Drysdale showed up at Wainfleet township hall Tuesday morning to register the 46 exotic animals they own.
They were greeted at the front counter by bylaw enforcement officer Mark Tardif, who took their information. He said they were first in Wainfleet to register.
Earlier this year, the township passed an exotic animal bylaw to address concerns and needs of residents and the animals in the community.
Township staff worked extensively with Welland and District
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, council members, legal counsel, other township departments, stakeholders and residents to develop the proposed exotic animal bylaw.
Two of those stakeholders were Drysdale and Cook.
“This bylaw has been in the works for many years. Mr. Drysdale and Ms. Cook have a lot invested in exotic animals and being residents of the township were instrumental in helping create a bylaw that will be beneficial for the township and residents,” said Tardif.
Both Drysdale and Cook commended not only Tardif but the township as well, for coming up with a bylaw that is the only one in the area that allows certain exotics to be kept.
“It’s extremely unique,” said Drysdale.
He said when discussions about a bylaw started a few years back there was some hostility due to complaints raised against the two over the escape of some of their animals.
“The township had to take that seriously,” he said, adding the couple were willing to be reprimanded for the escapes.
With some staff turnover in the township, the bylaw sat stagnant until Tardif came along, Drysdale said. “He took it seriously.”
While the bylaw is one that keeps both the public and animals safe and is unique, so, too, are many of the animals the couple has on their property.
Some of the 46 animals registered Tuesday include Glen Camel, a dromedary camel that came to them with a broken leg; Savannah, a female African lion; Hunter, a New Guinea singing dog; kangaroos; and lemurs, both black and white and ringtail.
Drysdale said the two chose to register their animals publicly and talk about it the bylaw with the media to show they were taking things seriously and doing it before the June 26 deadline.
“We weren’t waiting until the last minute. Hopefully, this will get others in the community to come out and register,” he said.
Tardif said it was encouraging to see residents come forward to register their animals, and said while Drysdale and Cook — who have more than 30 years of experience with various animals — were the first, the township has had numerous people asking about the bylaw.
Drysdale said if more people register their animals before the deadline, it will show they are being responsible and willing to work with the township. That will show the bylaw can and does work and won’t lead to a ban on all exotic animals.