Fairfax County?

[kaiteedyd]

So what happened with the county meeting on January 10th? Did Fairfax county change their minds about hedgehogs?

[Pippin'sMom]

Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Bad me. Yes, how did it go, and do we know the results of all this yet?

[kaiteedyd]

I tried checking the Fairfax county website for info and found this dated
2001. It leads me to believe that hedgehogs are already legal

ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Secretary Harsel set the following order for the agenda:
1. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT (Commonly Accepted Pets)
2. RZ/FDP-2001-MA-017 - IVY DEVELOPMENT, LC
3. SEA-85-L-110-4 - VERESTAR, INC.
This order was accepted without objection.
//
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT (Commonly Accepted Pets) –
To amend Chap. 112 as follows: Revise the definition of commonly
accepted pets to include African pygmy hedgehogs and hermit crabs.
PUBLIC HEARING.
Ms. Lorrie Kirst, Zoning Administration Division, Department of Planning and Zoning,
presented the staff report, a copy of which is in the date file. She noted that staff recommended
approval of the language outlined on page 3 of the staff report.
Ms. Kirst responded to questions from Commissioner Moon regarding the approximate size and
weight of African pygmy hedgehogs, the likelihood of hermit crabs carrying bacteria harmful to
humans, and how other jurisdictions in the area regulated these animals as pets.
In response to questions from Commissioners Moon and Hall, Ms. Kirst said that this proposed
Ordinance Amendment was prepared by staff at the request of the Board of Supervisors.
In response to questions from Commissioner Koch, Ms. Kirst said that the possibility that
an escaped pair of hedgehogs would breed and multiply in the wild in northern Virginia was
extremely low due to their low tolerance to cold weather.
- 3 -
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 5, 2001
(Commonly Accepted Pets)
In response to questions from Commissioner Byers, Mr. Earl Hodnett, a wildlife biologist with
the Animal Control Division of the Police Department, explained that African pygmy hedgehogs
were probably singled out for this amendment to avoid a situation where native wild hedgehogs
could be exploited. He said that he did not know who would be liable if a pet hedgehog became
infected with rabies and passed it on to a human.
In response to questions from Commissioners Wilson, DuBois, Alcorn, Hall, and Palatiello,
Ms. Kirst explained that hedgehogs would be kept indoors and that they could be purchased
from breeders. Mr. Hodnett explained that neither hedgehogs nor hermit crabs were an
endangered species and that he had no reservations about adding these animals to the list
of commonly accepted pets.
Vice Chairman Byers called for speakers on this matter and recited the rules for public
testimony.
Dr. Arthur Trask, 8835 Ashgrove House Lane, Vienna, spoke in favor of the proposed
amendment. He said that African pygmy hedgehogs made excellent pets.
There being no further speakers, no further comments or questions from the Commission and
Ms. Kirst having no closing staff remarks, Vice Chairman Byers closed the public hearing and
recognized Commissioner Moon for action on this case. (Verbatim excerpts are in the date file.)
//
Commissioner Moon MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
APPROVE THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT DEALING WITH THE
DEFINITION OF COMMONLY ACCEPTED PETS AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
REPORT DATED JULY 9, 2001.
Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion which carried unanimously with Commissioners
Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.

[Ododad]

I rather get that impression also.

[Ododad]

Still wondering.

[Super Chin]

How did I miss this? Sorry guys. I'll let you know what happened so far.

That article you found was the first thing we found while trying to make hedgehogs legal. We called the Department of Planning and Zoning and after a week they got back to us and said that while Jerry Highland's proposal went well, it was unanimously voted down by the Board of Supervisors. And I quote, "Commissioner Moon MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
APPROVE THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT DEALING WITH THE
DEFINITION OF COMMONLY ACCEPTED PETS AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
REPORT DATED JULY 9, 2001." It was suggested that the law was changed, but it wasn't.
After that, we talked to Jerry Highland and his chief aid, Charles Unger. He said that he still supports our side, but we need to talk to the supervisor of our district. We did just that.
We put together a presentation using the pictures and stories you guys gave me, along with information about why they aren't a threat. We also talked to the county's wildlife biologist and were told that hedgehogs posed no real threat. Unfortunatly, by that time it was already January 7th, and we had missed the first board meeting. (It takes forever just to reach a government official) Our supervisor, Supervisor Hudgins, recieved our brochure and has looked it over. We are now in the procces of getting her to present it to the board. There is another board meeting of Feburary 7th, and we are hoping that she will propose to change the law on that date.
I think that's everything! If you have any questions just let me know! :)

Lance

[Ododad]

Your doing such hard work on this, Kudo's to you! Thank you for the update. Best of luck!

[Super Chin]

Thanks Billy!

[teela1342]

What a pain! Keep up the hard work. Good luck.