Mark Drysdale's repeated efforts to open a zoo featuring lions and tigers in various small Ontario towns have exposed a serious dilemma for municipalities: How to keep residents safe while navigating an individual's right to keep wild animals? Animal rights advocates say a lack of provincial or federal regulations has resulted in a patchwork of laws that can often fail to protect animals.
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Posted: May 25, 2021 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 25
An unidentified woman holds a lion cub in her arms in this undated photo taken from the social media account belonging to Highlands Big Cat Adventures. (Mark Drysdale/Facebook)
A citizen s group in the Municipality of Hastings Highlands is calling on the provincial government to create legislation governing the ownership of exotic animals after a controversial roadside zoo began breeding lions in their community.
When the Drysdales left Grand Bend, it marked the end of a bitter 18-month battle between the couple and the local council over the right to house and publicly display exotic animals in a residential neighbourhood.
March 16, 2021
By Nate Smelle
Hastings Highlands Councillor Alex Walder has submitted a notice of motion appearing on the agenda at council’s March 17 meeting which, if approved, will direct staff to request professional legal advice on Hastings County’s Exotic Animal Bylaw template.
The template was created by Hastings County’s Planning and Development committee after Hastings Highlands council requested assistance with establishing a bylaw to regulate the keeping of exotic animals at their Nov. 18, 2020 meeting. Council decided to seek the county’s help in response to concerns for public safety and animal welfare arising from the community because of a proposed roadside zoo/safari business on Peterson Road.