| OCR Text |
Show Officials caution owners of exotic pets in Utah Pet owners and other Utahns who want to bring exotic animals and wildlife into the state need to be careful to follow the state laws for such animals movements, a state official cautioned. Dr. Michael R. Marshall, state veterinarian and director di-rector of animal industry for the Utah Department of Agriculture (UDA), explained that many types of wildlife and exotic species are absolutely prohibited in Utah. Species that are banned pose unacceptable disease, ecological, environmental or human health of safety risks, he added. They include such mammals as big cats lions, tigers, etc., bears and others, and many species of fish. Another group of animals, birds and fish, are considered to pose minor risks and are not controlled by the state, Marshall Mar-shall said. Bringing species not specifically listed as either prohibited or non-controlled non-controlled into Utah requires the prospective owner to follow these steps: 1. Apply to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resource (phone 801-538-4887) for a Certificate of Registration Registra-tion (COR) before bringing any exotic ex-otic animal or wildlife into the state. 2. Contact the Utah state veterinarian veter-inarian (phone 801-538-7160), after the COR is received, to find out what specific animal health laboratory tests need to be performed perform-ed on the animal to be imported. 3. Have the supplier's veterinarian veter-inarian make the appropriate tests, then write a health certificate for the animal. 4. Have the testing veterinarian call the Utah state veterinarian (phone number above) and verify that all required tests have been properly made and that all results arc Titiv Th T ver-inarian ver-inarian will then give the testing veterinarian an entry permit number, which he will write on the face of the health certificate. The testing veterinarian may then release the health certificate to the shipper and to the prospective owner. (The prospective owner should not pay for the animal before this time.) 5. Have the animal shipped into Utah, with the health certificate accompanying ac-companying the animal. (The new owner must keep the COR in his permanent files, as well as the health certificate, when it arrives with the animal.) Animals shipped to Utah without these steps being followed will probably be turned back at the state border, with accompanying costs and delays, Marshall pointed out. |
