Exotic-animal rules debated in secret

Ohio has no rules regulating the sale and ownership of exotic animals six months after Gov. John Kasich allowed a ban enacted by his predecessor to expire…

However, new rules governing a wide range of exotic animals and reptiles are being discussed by an eclectic group in closed-door meetings convened by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The group includes representatives of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Humane Society of the U.S., Knox County prosecutor’s office, Ohio Association of Animal Owners, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and Zoo Association of America…

The Kasich administration closed the working group’s meetings to the public and urged group members not to discuss the proceedings with the news media. However, public meetings will be held in the future, Jones said…more

Exotic Exit: Sam Mazzola’s animals are on the move

19 Action News cameras were rolling Wednesday night as the lions, tigers, bears and other animals were hauled away.

Friday, they'll move the bears and that should be the end of the exotic farm.

Meantime, Mazzola's death is still under investigation as police search for a person who may have been with him in his last hours…see video

Authorities want to know who was at Sam Mazzola's home in the hours before he died

Lorain County Sheriff's deputies are still trying to determine who was at Sam Mazzola's North Marks Road compound in the hours before and after he died...more

Wild animal work group begins talks

COLUMBUS — A work group has begun meeting to draft rules on regulating dangerous wild animals in Ohio, an issue that resulted from the bear-mauling death of 24-year-old Elyrian, Brent Kandra…

…The work group meetings will not be open to the public, but ODNR will publish meeting summaries at ohiodnr.com. ODNR Assistant Director Scott Zody will lead the meetings…

Outreach to the public is an important part of this process

said Zody, adding that the work group will develop a schedule that allows for public comment and public open houses…more

Company won't build egg farm

Hi-Q Egg Products has dropped plans to build a 6-million-chicken egg farm in Union County…

The news followed a decision announced yesterday by Ohio Department of Agriculture Director James J. Zehringer to deny the Iowa-based company a permit to build and run the farm near West Mansfield…

…environmental advocates and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials feared manure from the farm would pollute a nearby stream…

Hi-Q's attorney, Kevin Braig, said the company won't appeal…

…Environmental groups saw the issue as a test case for Zehringer, who was appointed by Gov. John Kasich in January.

Zehringer owned a 300,000-chicken operation near Fort Recovery in western Ohio until he transferred ownership to a relative in January 2010.

Union County Commissioner Charles Hall said his main concern was that trucks that would go to and from the farm would cause excessive damage to county and township roads…

Vickie Askins, spokeswoman for the Ohio Environmental Stewardship Alliance, said she's concerned that a bill in the Ohio General Assembly would eliminate local governments' ability keep large livestock farms from being built…more