The saga of Puddy the lynx goes on.
A Kingsville resident?s battle to keep his pet Siberian lynx by having his 15-acre ranch declared a zoo has prompted legislation to eliminate the exception.
Lawmakers said the bobcat relative is a public safety threat. Officials don?t believe owner Dan Vitilio?s backyard should be considered a zoo.
“The county doesn?t believe his [ranch] is a zoo and wants to put the issue to rest,” said Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, a Pikesville Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation on behalf of County Executive Jim Smith. “It?s not reasonable for wild animals to be maintained on private property.”
In January, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled Vitilio could not keep his 90-pound cat unless Vitilio could have his property ? home to 200 other exotic animals including peacocks, birds of prey and a zebra, and open to school groups ? declared a zoo.
The proposal, which was the subject of a public hearing Tuesday, unfairly targets Vitilio, said his attorney, Anne Benaroya. Vitilio requested a hearing before the county?s animal control board nearly one month ago, but has received no response, she said.
The bill is scheduled for a vote March 17 and is slated to take effect March 30, well before the standard 45-day wait period assigned to most county legislation.
“He is the real deal,” Benaroya said. ” What they are doing to him, it?s worse than unfair, it?s unconstitutional.”
Don Mohler, a Smith spokesman, said the proposal does not preclude residents from seeking permits to keep wild animals. The county plans to relocate Puddy to a cat sanctuary.
“After three years, the county has won this case at every level of the legal process,” Mohler says. “It?s just time to bring the case to closure.”
