Exotic Animals
The Exotic Animals By-law prohibits owning, importing, selling, and displaying exotic animals in the Township. Exotic Animals are defined as any animal listed below.
| Class of Animals | Common Name – Examples |
| All Venomous Arachnids | Tarantulas |
| All Venomous Arthropods | Scorpion |
| All Artiodactyl Ungulates (except domestic goats, sheep, pig, cattle, antelope, llamas, alpacas) | Camel, Giraffes |
| All Canidae (other than common dog) | Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Coyote or hybrids |
| All Chiropterae | Bat |
| All Crocodylidae | Alligator, Crocodile |
| All Endentates | Anteater, Armadillo, Sloth |
| All Felids (other than common cat) | Leopard, Lion, Tiger, Lynx, Panther, Puma, Cheetah, Jaguar, Bobcat |
| All Herpestidae | Mongoose |
| All Hyaenidae | Hyena |
| All Insectivora (except hedgehog) | Shrews, Moles |
| All Marsupialia | Bandicoot, Kangaroo, Opossum, Koala, Wombat |
| All Mephitidae | Skunk |
| All Mustelidae (except domestic ferrets) | Marten, Polecat, Weasel, Otters, Badgers, Mink, Wolverine |
| All Perissodactyl Ungulates (except domestic horse, donkey, mule or jackass) | Zebra, Rhinoceroses, Tapir |
| All Pinnipediae | Seal, Walrus, Sea Lion |
| All Non-Human Primates | Ape, Lemur, Monkey, Gorilla |
| All Proboscidea | Elephant |
| All Procyonidae | Coati, Raccoon, Ringtails |
| All Raptors (except ostrich, emus) | Eagle, Hawk, Owl, Vulture, Falcon |
| All Ratites (except ostrich, emus) | Cassowary, Rheas |
| All Ursidae | Bear |
| All Venomous Reptilia | Venomous Snake, Lizard |
| All Serpentes of the families Pythonidae and Boidae | Python, Boa, Anaconda |
| All Viverridae | Civet |
Note: The common names referred to in the right-hand column are some of the names of animals referred to in the left-hand column of this schedule. The common name is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to limit the extent of the classes of animals referred to.
A venomous animal shall be considered venomous notwithstanding the animal has undergone a surgical procedure to remove or inhibit its production of venom.
Exemptions
The following general exemptions apply to the keeping of exotic animals in the Township:
- veterinary hospitals under the care of a licensed veterinarian;
- designated pounds or shelters;
- premises registered as research facilities pursuant to the Animals for Research Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.A.22, as amended;
- farms involving alternative livestock animals where such use is permitted by the Township of Howick Zoning By-law and providing that the animals are kept in a secure, humane and escape-proof cage, tank or enclosure.
Any person may request an exemption from Council from provision(s) of the exotic animal by-law. Applications may be made by making a delegation request at a council meeting. Council may impose conditions on any exemption.