Are reptiles considered "domestic pets"?

[Edwin]

Some apartments state that only domestic pets are allowed. Where do reptiles, specifically snakes fall under?

I assume that if the animal can be bought in a petstore, it is a domesticated animal as opposed to poultry etc.

Any thoughts/experiences anyone?

Thanks

[sSNAKESs.com]

Really, it is illegal to say people cant own pets. Even if it says no pets on the lease, "legally" they can not evict you for owning pets...

[ls1grrrl]

Originally posted by Jeff ********
Really, it is illegal to say people cant own pets. Even if it says no pets on the lease, "legally" they can not evict you for owning pets...

Really? I assume there would be a lot of legal posturing about it, but is there some kind of loophole you can use if (hypothetically :p ) someone had pets when the lease said they weren't allowed and the landlord decided to be hostile about it?

Thanks in advance for the info..

[Bryan Self]

That might be true in Canada, but in the US they can evict you if you break a lease. As far as the other question they are not considered domesticated. Most laws are written in a way that they are wild animals. It does vary from place to place. You just need to read your local laws.

[sSNAKESs.com]

Well in "toronto" they cant legally evict you for owning or aquiring pets... If you fought it in court you would win. Although we do not have controled rent of any kind either, im sure if there were controled rent it would be totally differant?!

[JKS]

I'd say they fall under the catagory of "exotic pets" since that's what they are commonly referred to as. I've seen leases/applications that prohibit exotic pets.

[sSNAKESs.com]

Well i think to be legally on a lease or to break something on a lease it has got to be a rule or leasable act in the renters act in your area... like the renter can put no woman in your apartment and even if you sign it and have a woman over, if they tried to evict you they would lose in court.

[ReneeB]

The only way a landlord can evict you for owning pets is if they are a health hazard to the landlord or another tenant.

[used to help out at the rental housing tribunal that governs evictions, etc]

[Lisa]

Snakes are exotic pets, how ever the landlord in ontario can NOT evict you or refuse you based on your pets. The only time you have to get rid of your pets is like when renee said, they're a health hazard, or if city ordinance prohibits them.

(had it out with a landlord over a pet)

[Edwin]

As I understand it, the landlord can only evict you or make you get rid of the pet if there are health hazards or legitimate, documented complaints from other tenants.

I have had my snakes for years in this building, and I doubt anyone knows of it as they dont make any noise or smell. But there is definitely a very, very strong anti-herp sentiment here. If certain tenants peek in or if the building ppl come in for maintenance etc. I am afraid they might lodge a complaint.

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

[Iguanalady]

According to many people, including many legal descriptions reptiles fall under the category of wild animal.

Personally I think that is a terrible injustice. The reptiles we keep as pets are not the same as the reptiles in the wild. That being said they are also not the same as dogs and cats who have been domestic for much longer. What is really involved in the definition of "domestic"? Is it really just quantitative? Does it only refer to length of time or number of generations? Or does it instead distinguish the animals as different in some qualitative way from their wild counterparts?

Some reptiles have been bred for so many generations that they are beginning to approach that quantitative part of the definition of domestication--though they are a long way off from the level of dogs and cats. They fit into the qualititative aspect much better however.

True, most reptiles kept as pets could probably get along ok if released back into the wild, though you can never be too certain....for example that kingsnake who gets hooked on mice and would rather starve than eat anything else may not do so well in the wild if mice were not in plentiful supply. Reptiles who have not had proper human contact and handling may keep a "wildness" about their behaviour (though a kitten which never gets properly socialized with people will also be the same).

The biggest difference between a properly socialized pet reptile and a wild reptile is their acceptance of the human world as normal. They become accustomed to routines, feeding schedules, etc. They think it is nothing odd for a person to come along and pick them up. When we are gone (a break in their routine) they are often disrupted and displeased--they miss us! Like cats most are independant and fidget when handled when they do not want to be, but sometimes they will seek us out and try to be near us. No "wild animal" would ever be like that. If they are not domestic, then what are they? Must they forever hang in this limbo or can we at some point recognize that our pet reptiles are no longer wild. They have entered our world and become a part of it. They deserve to be recognized as such!

[Lisa]

Domestic would be something like a dog or a cat, they've been domesticated, and wild traits have been bred out of them. you wont see that in snakes or other reptiles because they haven't been in captivity long enough.

[Iguanalady]

What would you call a wild trait? An instinct? Don't dogs and cats still react instinctively? They will snap or run away if scared just like a reptile. What happens when a litter of kittens is born in the wild? Do they not regain "wild traits"? If that is so how can you say that wild traits have been bred out of them? Certainly physical things have been adjusted and the ease with which they become socialized but an animal is still an unpredictable thing whether domestic or not and this unpredictability is often pinned solely and unfairly on reptiles. If you can see your reptiles pehaviours for what they are you will see that they usually are not all that different from othe rdomestic animals.

[mike7034]

In most apartments pets that are kept in any kind of cage or aquariums are usually ok to keep

[Jotun]

Does anyone have some info on reptiles in the dorm rooms of colleges? Reason I ask is because next year i AM off the college and i'd like to take one of my herps with me as long as I can find a place to purchase feed and supplies.

[Edwin]

Depends on the college/dorm. Most do not allow pets, but there are a few that do (like that college in the movie Road Trip).

[Clownfishie]

Hmmm... anyone know if the same principles would apply in BC as in Ontario? I know that in Ontario, they legally can't evict you for having a pet, even if it says "no pets" in the lease... But I'm not sure if that applies in other provinces as well?

[nyx]

Snakes are still very much wild animals; put a snake back in the wild and I promise you, it will have no trouble reverting to wild behaviour. Lizards have rudimentary social organization and may lose a touch of instinct in captivity, but I seriously doubt they'd have much trouble going it on their own if push came to shove.
As for the eviction - please remember that that law about non-eviction due to pets doesn't apply in all provinces; I've spoken to Landlord/Tenant services in AB, and you can indeed be evicted for pets if they break the terms of your rental agreement.
Dorm rooms almost never allow animals. They almost never allow <i>fish</i>. I've checked out quite a few in AB and a few across Canada - I haven't seen one yet that would allow animals, which is a shame, because snakes [say, under 6'?] are a good dorm pet - no smell, no noise, and a well-kept vivarium is a really beautiful addition to a room.

[Lisa]

The law about noneviction doesn't apply in Saskatchewan either.

There may be a web page for your tenant/landlord rights explaining what rights you do and don't have.

[Linds]

Originally posted by ReneeB
The only way a landlord can evict you for owning pets is if they are a health hazard to the landlord or another tenant.

Which reptiles can easily be considered a "hazard". If it requires any kind of supplemental heating, they can go off on the "fire hazard" route, which is why it is nearly impossible to get home insurance most places when you keep reptiles...............