Hollister Considers Exotic Animals Ordinance

Rick Ziegenfuss (file photo)

By: Sam Clanton
Posted: Monday, August 08, 2011

Hollister officials are working on a new exotic animals ordinance. Currently several large cats are being housed in a warehouse facility in the city’s industrial park. HometownDailyNews.com has learned that the cats are part of the new Fercos Brothers show in the Branson Mall.

City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss commented on how the proposed ordinance would affect that operation…

Rick Ziegenfuss Y800 :22 “… other large reptiles”

As it stands now, the ordinance would require a 100-dollar application fee per animal, and require a 1-million dollar liability insurance policy naming the City of Hollister as “additionally insured.”

Aldermen will consider first-reading of the bill at their next regular meeting August 18th.

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Large cats currently being housed in Hollister’s industrial park are not the focus of a proposed exotic animals ordinance. But they are the catalyst. City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss says the purpose of the bill is not to prohibit but manage exotic animals…

Rick Ziegenfuss Y801 :25 “… following a set of rules”

The industrial park facility that’s housing the large cats is controlled by the Fercos Brothers show at the Branson Mall. The ordinance would impose an application fee per animal, and require liability insurance naming the city as a recipient.

The bill also addresses exotic animals in the care of private residents. It includes a grandfathering clause and registration requirements.

Comments (3) - comment on this story

Tom - 08/08/2011 9:56:41 PM

You know, this is just mean.

becky - 08/09/2011 4:49:14 AM

not only is it mean, but i only live 500-1000 yards away from those buildings, im not real happy with those big cats being that close to my house since i have a 12 yr old daughter and neighbor kids that play out side a lot of the time. what would happen if they happen to get out and wonder into the yard where the kids are. tame or not its not a good idea for them to be that close to neighborhood. the fee is not enough to keep these animals secure in my mind.

Lawdy Mercy Audie Murphy - 08/09/2011 5:17:17 AM

Hollister is jealous because the Fercos Brothers do their poular show in Branson and keep their big cats in Hollister Industrial Park at night. Branson is Rapacity City of the OZARKS (Branson raped the Taneycomo Lakefront to build the tax free ugly Branson Landing) and Hollister is fast becoming Regulation City of the Ozarks,they have opted to regulate cold medicine for honest people)and they are ANTI-BUSINESS just like the failed Obama Administration that has brought our once great country to the brink of economic disaster and has caused us to be downgraded ....our credit rating to AA+...it is humiliating to have your credit rating to be decimated (that's almost as bad as being turned down by a pretty girl) and downgraded...LAWDY MERCY.....AUDIE MURPHY! do something QUICK! Obama has gotta go in 2012! This is truth....think about it!