Mar 13, 2008 6:52 pm US/Eastern
Battle Continues Over Where Siberian Lynx Lives
KINGSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
The court battle continues in Baltimore County over where Puddy the Siberian Lynx should live.
His Kingsville owners have fought for years to keep him. But as
Peggy Lee reports, if a new bill passes that may not be the case.
Puddy spends many lazy days at his home at Eagle's Nest Ranch, but the Siberian Lynx is completely unaware of the trouble brewing.
Over the years, Puddy's gained unwanted attention over the battle where he should live. Thursday that battle continued.
"The county told me to get declawed, get neutered, so it's ludicrous all the different things they made us do and now they're still not willing to work with us," said Puddy's owner Dan Vitilio.
In 2005, Baltimore County health officials deemed Puddy a threat to the public and wanted him off Eagle's Nest.
Despite failing to gain a permit for Puddy several times, his owners continued to fight.
Now a new bill in the works could end his stay at Eagle's Nest.
Under county law, zoos and research facilities can own wild animals without a permit. The new bill would remove zoos from the exemption.
"Right now, Mr. Vitilio and Eagle's Nest, if they're a zoo, they can keep Puddy. We filed a petition at the Animal Hearing Board to have Mr. Vitilio and Eagle's Nest declared a zoo," said Anne Benaroya, Vitilio's attorney.
The Court Of Appeals upheld the county's decision this January but told Puddy's owners to file for a zoo permit which they said they did.
After hearing nothing from the county, they say they feel blind-sided by the bill.
"We have to put them in their place once and for all. They have stepped on enough people's toes over the year, and we're stepping back now," said Vitilio.
The county council will vote on this bill Monday night at 7 p.m. This is open to the public and will be held in council chambers in the old courthouse.
If the bill passes, Puddy's owners say they plan to take legal action immediately.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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