Groveland Twp.- The uproar over the exotic animal business operating in the township heated up last month as terms of a possible resolution were bantered.
The township board of trustees gathered in closed session on June 25 and provided some alternatives to a complete closure of Premier Animal Attractions.
The 22-acre Premier Animal Attractions is home to as many as 60 exotic animals including a tamandua anteater, red kangaroo, African serval and tigers owned by Andrew and Rachelle Gehringer. The business located in the township since 2006 is a federally licensed and inspected facility that provides educational exhibits and programs off premise at various schools, events, camps, and senior facilities.
Township officials were unaware of the business until April 15 when a township resident reported seeing a white tiger on the property and notified Bob DePalma, township supervisor, along with the media. The animal sighting was confirmed by the township code enforcer; however, he was denied further access to the facility. DePalma said he contacted the United States Department of Agriculture following the tiger sighting. The USDA is required to issue permits for exotic animals under the direction of the Animal Plant Health Inspection Services. The USDA responded that PAA was an approved operation in Springfield (Township) before coming to the township.
As a result of the encounter DePalma met with Gehringer on April 29 requesting a tour of the facility with Township Fire Chief Steve McGee, DePalma, and Township Attorney Will Hosler. In the meeting, Gehringer told DePalma that he contacted the township in 2005 and inquired of ‘some lady in the office? to see if there was an exotic animal ordinance. Gehringer also said that later he came in and reviewed the township ordi-nances and copied some fence information. The tour, needed to assure the safety of the community said DePalma, was conducted a few weeks later. About 35 animals were on the site, including a tiger.
Since that meeting attorneys for both sides grappled with a resolution. In a letter on June 25 to PAA, township officials emphasized that the business has always been in violation of the Rural Estate Farms zoning. Premier Animal Attractions, which moved to the township property in 2006, is a commercial business operating in a residential neighborhood. They also said PAA violates Michigan’s Large Carnivore Act that no patron shall come into direct contact with any large carnivore, regardless of age. The township says that PAA has deliberately avoided compliance with the Dangerous, Wild or Exotic Animals ordinance in effect in the township since 2009.
‘The big tiger has got to go,? said DePalma. ‘Regardless they have never been incompliance with the REF zoning from the day they moved in there. I think we are being very fair and reasonable, there will be no predatory cats on the property. We just don’t want dangerous animals in the district. They will have to decide what to do next.?
Elizabeth Downey, attorney for Premier Animal Attractions responded to the township’s actions in a statement to The Citizen newspaper.
‘Premier Animal Attractions is a federally-licensed and frequently inspected business with a perfect inspection record for over nineteen years,? wrote Downey. ‘Before locating in Groveland Township, its owners checked with the Township to tell them that they were thinking of operating in the Township, and to ensure that there were no laws or regulations against operating there. The owners legally operate in an RE/F zone, which allows for the raising and growing of animals on sites of at least 10 acres. Premier Animal Attractions has successfully done this for over nine years on its 22 acres.?
‘Now, the Township appears hell-bent on driving taxpaying businessowners out of the Township by banning their federally-inspected and federally-licensed business,? she added. ‘The business is currently inspected by USDA inspectors at least four times a year (currently 8 or 9 times) on an unscheduled basis; the inspector prepares a roster of animals and inspects all records to ensure that the roster is accurate. The inspector also makes sure that all federal requirements for animal and human safety are complied with. Premier Animal Attractions has never had a violation.?
Following the closed session meeting last month the township offered Premier Animal Attactions a means to stay in business with a significantly revised operation plan. The township prepared for Eastern District Judge Paul Borman a consent order which outlined 26 requirements for Premier Animal Attractions to continue business in the township.
Listed are a few of the requirements:
Premier Animal Attractions cannot breed large carnivores or keep on the property any potentially dangerous, wild, and/or exotic animals, such as poisonous or constrictor snakes, crocodiles and or alligators; will provide a roster of all the animals on the property and notify the township when new ones arrive; Premier Animal Attractions will never allow a patron to come into direct contact with a large carnivore over 20 weeks of age where the patron is even potentially in jeopardy of being harmed; the Gehringers shall not keep any cat of the Felidae family,