OCEAN CITY — Reptilian pets can’t be brought out into public in Ocean City anymore, and frogs or lizards sold in resort shops can’t be any bigger than four inches.
That’s the result of a law amended by the Ocean City Council. The change specifically bars bringing such animals onto any Ocean City streets, sidewalks, alleys or along the beach or Boardwalk. An exception is allowed for bringing such a pet to the veterinarian.
An exemption was added so that licensed retail shops can sell turtles, lizards or similar non-poisonous animals, but they can’t be any larger than four inches long.
The town has a 1972 law that makes it illegal for anyone to house snakes, alligators, crocodiles or any pet not considered domesticated, and mandates the council grant a special permit to anyone wishing to keep such a pet.
The issue of scaly, forked-tongued pets first arose in May, when Councilwoman Margaret Pillas asked her peers, unsolicited, what sort of “green” pet might be allowed on the Boardwalk. She was referring to a man later identified as Joseph Short, who often brings his pet to the Boardwalk, and does have a permit for it.
As they did not reference him by name, council members at the time dubbed him “Iguana Man.”
However, Pillas ended up voting against the ordinance amendment after hearing comments from resort resident Beverly Butler.
Butler vehemently disagreed with the council’s moves and urged them to reconsider.
“I have no idea who the gentleman is that has the iguana,” she said. “But I’d really like you to reconsider that poor iguana. I had an iguana … They’re not going to hurt you. And to say that somebody would get scared … I am more frightened of some of the outfits and things I see on the Boardwalk than this iguana.”
Council member Jim Hall said the spirit of the law was about keeping wild animals away from downtown Ocean City.
“Forget about iguanas for a minute,” he said. “I think the intention was, if we don’t limit it to something, we’re going to have other animals on the Boardwalk — this is my talking horse, and this is my fox that walks backward and this is my snake that wraps around my neck. This was really aimed at big pets that could be scary, not necessarily an iguana.”