THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1981
Local / State
Exotic pets gain popularity nationally and locally
By GRETCHEN RATLIFF
Battalion Reporter
Along with the wide variety of
people in the cities of Bryan and
College Station, an even wider
variety of pets can be found, and
not just the typical dogs or cats.
A 14-inch Texas Plated lizard
that will eat out of its owner’s hand
or an albino ferret are some of the
pets found locally.
Ownership of exotic pets has
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been on a national upswing, and
Bryan and College Station have
their fair share of these animals.
“Usually something like a re
ptile, tarantulas, or scorpions are
considered exotics, ” Harold Mog-
ford, assistant manager of Animal
World Inc., said. The list also in
cludes monkeys, armadillos,
skunks, ferrets, lions, and some
birds.
However, Charles Honeycutt,
an animal control officer of Bryan,
said that large exotic animals, such
as bears, tigers, or lions, are prohi
bited from being kept within the
city limits.
Honeycutt said he has been cal
led to pick up animals ranging
from boa constrictors to a 325-
pound lion. “He was just like a big
old housecat,” he said.
College Station, however, has
no city ordinances regarding the
ownership of exotics. But T. R.
Preston, a warrant officer in Col
lege Station, said a person should
contact the Humane Society, the
police, and even city directors be
fore bringing in a large animal.
Victor L. Camp, currator of
mammals at the Houston Zoo, said
that when exotic pet owners can
no longer handle their animals,
many of them call the zoo for help.
“We can’t take them,” Camp
said. For this reason, he said, the
freebie, a Texas Plated
more commonly known as an
gator lizard.
He said that the only ti rae
considers his lizard, Lick, anrf
lem is in the winter when u!
The exotic Chinese Water Dragon is imported
from the Far East and has a lifespan of more
Staff photo by Greg Gammon
than 20 years. The reptile sells for approxi
mately $40 at a local pet shop.
zoo won’t sell exotic animals to pri
vate individuals.
He said that people who obtain
exotics have a responsibility to the
animal, and that they are obli
gated to see that they get proper
care, including trips to the veter-
ffirfSP
15%
current rates for
summer lease.
Call Jean or Shirley now.
693-6716
1601 Holleman, College Station, Texas 77840
*
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No long lines.
No congested traffic.
V
We’re the most convenient
bank in College Station.
If you live in the southern part of
College Station, the Southwest
Parkway area or Southwood Val
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located. In fact, you may drive
past us everyday.
We’re convenient and we want
your business.
We’ll see that you spend less time
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you need and deserve.
Commerce
National Bank
Member FDIC
2405 Texas Avenue South
College Station. Texas
693-6930
inarian for wing clipping, for de-
clawing, and for vaccinations.
Because many exotics may have
severe reactions to common
drugs, most local veterinarians re
fer them to the small animal clinic
at Texas A&M University.
Besides the costs of food and
medical attention, there is the cost
of the animals themselves to con
sider. Often the greatest cost is
the initial purchase price.
Tracy Rickard and John Pegues
co-own a double yellow-headed
Amazon parrot named Zip. They
said they consider his purchase
price a real bargain — $500.
On the other hand, some exo
tics may come free for the catch
ing. Frank Lubrano has a worm
snake and two water snakes, all of
which he caught himself. His four-
foot bull snake, Ert, was a birth
day present.
Lubrano said he thinks snakes
are great. “I’ve been around them
all my life,” he said. He said it
costs him around $8 a month to
feed mice to the bull snake, but
that he catches insects for the
others to eat.
He said the snakes he catches
tame down easily, and that they
are basically clean animals.
Howard Marquise agreed that
snakes make good pets. He has
had his four-foot boa constrictor,
Louie, since last June.
has to get out and
feed him.
“He is preuy int
watch, Jackson said ofhisHi;
long pet. He said he caught
three years ago, and that was t
only time it has bitten him
“He’ll eat out of my handno*
he said.
Becky Carson and Rjcy
Roeth own an albino ferret k
named Ferret.
“She is impossible to pai
train,” she said, “andsheals
to use the couch as
post.”
Maxine, on the other
wouldn’t cause problems
shredded couches becauses
been declawed and defa.
Maxine is a six-month-oldbol
owned by Hector Gomez.
“She handles like an on
cat, the majority of the
Gomez said. She
By L
Bat
Back whe
spresident, F
scratch;
quite aggressive when shephi
he said.
“They’re not like a dog or a cat
... they don’t need the constant
attention,” Marquise said.
He also said that the price for a
six-inch boa may start at $45, in
this area. The mice they eat cost
approximately $2 per month, he
said.
Glenn Schroeter paid only $15
for his Mexican Red-legged taran
tula and pays nothing for the crick
ets he feeds them.
The tarantula, named Smithii,
whose fangs are Vi-inch long, has a
bite that would be no more toxic
than a bee sting, but would hurt a
lot more, Schroeter said.
“The chances of getting bitten
by this spider are about as good as
getting bitten by your pet dog, ” he
said.
Robert Jackson’s pet is another
He said that a person hasto
really patient and understa
with a bobcat, especially to
its trust.
Patient and underst®
landlords are an asset as wellwQ
dealing with the questionofke^
ing an exotic in an apartment.
Scott Jackson, an employee
Arbor Square Apartments, at
that while dogs, cats, and
large animals are prohibited,t!»
do have some birds and snalta
He said they just don’t wantpr.
that would create a messfortk
next person. <
Rene Soedge, a leasing agenli
Briarwood Apartments, said “t
long as the snakes are contained
and the birds don’t tear anytfa
up, we really don’t mind more]
them.”
However, Penny VonRoedft
an employee at Taos ApartmejH
said they don’t allow pets of ip
kind. Especially not snakes, sti
said, because “they tendtojjii
the maintenance people
attacks.”
Jim Law;
Cadets 1;
policema
House passes bill to let police
give tickets ' for misdem eanors
United Press International
AUSTIN — A bill allowing
policemen to issue citations for
some misdemeanor violations
rather than making arrests was
given final approval in the House
Tuesday, despite arguments it
opened the way for discrimination
and corruption.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill
Blanton, D-Pasadena, would
allow a law officer to issue a cita
tion in lieu of the person appear
ing before a magistrate judge. The
measure, which passed 85-58 after
bitter debate, is designed to alle
viate overcrowding in county and
local jails.
The person issued a citatid
would have to give proof ofTei
residency and sign a notice proc
ising to appear in court. Rowevs
if a person refused to sign
notice or was wanted on an of
standing warrant, he would j*
arrested and taken before
judge to set bail.
Rep. Wilhelmina Deb, D
Austin, opposed the bill, s? vmf '
gave police officers the r.^.
“pick and choose whotheynw l
going to arrest.
3
ei
ave
The citation procedure wool:
apply for misdemeanor violatw-
ranging from homosexual con
to prostitution to disorderly c®
duct. Most of the violations»
vered would be Class C nu* f
meanors with a few being Cass-
violations.
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