A local business owner was given a year of exemptions to Bracebridge’s exotic animal bylaw during yesterday’s general committee meeting.
Amanda’s Exotic Animals, owned by Amanda Foley, was granted an exemption to allow her to host animal exhibitions and educational programs within the Town.
Foley Received a similar exemption in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge last year.
She has run educational programs at Santa’s Village in Bracebridge in the past but an exemption is required to bring exotic animals into most municipalities. An exemption request in Bracebridge made last year was originally denied by the council, before being reversed after much debate.
Council was much more supportive of the motion this time around.
Coun. Don Smith pointed out that other organizations are bringing exotic animals into Bracebridge without asking for exemptions to the bylaw.
‘This motion is only here because she’s asked us for this exemption,” said Smith. “I think the fact that this motion is here today speaks to her credibility.”
The exemption expires at the end of the year and comes with a number of stipulations That includes that at no time other than during transport or the scheduled exhibitions may any of the species prohibited be homed, temporarily or otherwise, within the geographic boundaries Bracebridge.
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