Yukon now requires permits for certain exotic pets. The owner of this tarantula had no idea

As of April 5, Camille Saunders's juvenile curly hair tarantula needed a permit to be in compliance with territorial regulations – but she had no idea that was the case.

Yukon's new Animal Protection and Control Act came into effect a year ago, and it includes a list of restricted species. To own those animals, a $150 permit is now required. 

Pet owners had one year to apply for a permit after the act came into effect – a deadline that has now come and gone. 

"It's kind of hard to abide by laws that you don't know, right?" said Saunders, who lives in Whitehorse.

The act is specific. It outlines what species are allowed, what species are restricted and require permits, and what species are completely prohibited. For example, some kinds of frogs, toads, salamanders and turtles are allowed while others needs permits. All species of cockatoo, macaw, parrot, scorpion and tarantula also require permits. 

Michelle Thompson, the acting chief veterinary officer with the Department of Environment, says restricted species need special care. The permitting process – which includes getting basic information about the animal, and may require photos of its enclosure or a home inspection – is meant to ensure it has the appropriate housing and access to the right food.

Permits are valid for the animal's lifetime, but if the pet is re-homed, the new owner would need to apply again. The government website states that even if a restricted species was owned before the new regulations, they now need a permit. 

Judy Booth has a ball python named Spaghetti. Ball pythons are not a restricted species, but Booth said the only reason she knows that is because she works for the territorial government. 

"I remember when the legislation was passed and I knew to look it up at the time," Booth said. "I'm not aware of any communications or reach-out from the government through pet stores or to pet owners about these new regulations." 

Since the act came into effect, Thompson says the department has made announcements and put information online. Staff have also reached out to the Feed Store and Duffy's pet store (which has since closed its doors), as well as local veterinarians, as a way of passing on information about the new requirements to potential owners of restricted pets. 

"We appreciate the feedback that, you know, maybe the information hasn't been shared well enough. And so we will definitely work on updating what we have available on yukon.ca to make it really clear to folks which animals are on that list and will require a permit," Thompson said. 

Saunders also owns an Asian forest scorpion that requires a permit, as well as a gargoyle gecko and a leopard gecko that don't. She said it's been hard to know where to get information.

Saunders is also the administrator for a Yukon reptiles and amphibians Facebook group. She said the exotic pet community is "probably 85 per cent not aware" of the new regulations. 

Territory taking an education approach

Booth, who owns Spaghetti the python, said Duffy's pet store is where she used to get information about her exotic pet. 

Hans Oettli owned and operated Duffy's for 29 years. He knew about the new regulations because he was consulted by government a year ago, and he's in favour of what they're trying to do.

He said he had been prepared to provide owners of new restricted species with a printout saying they were required to register their pets with the government. The catch is, no one purchased a new exotic pet from him last year. 

Many people purchase pets outside the territory, he said. 

"I have no control over that." 

And he didn't think people were aware of the recent deadline either.

"I think it should be actually much more promoted."

According to the legislation, enforcement of the act falls to officers in the Animal Health Unit. The policy is to educate and encourage before moving on to punishment.

If penalties are in order, those can include issuing tickets and fines, taking animals, limiting animal ownership and, in extreme cases such as animal abuse, time in jail.   

Thompson says over the past year some owners of restricted species have reached out for information, but she didn't confirm whether anyone has applied for a permit.