December 20, 2007

CALIFORNIA – The Mayor of Pleasanton, Ca. may not get to keep her pet hawk based on the city council’s definition of the word ‘fowl,’ which they found via the online dictionary, MSN Encarta.

The definition reads, “Fowl: term originally meaning any kind of bird, and later applied chiefly to edible species. Except in combinations such as waterfowl and wildfowl, in modern usage the word usually is restricted to the common domestic fowl or chicken…”

Mayor Jennifer Holsterman has been caring for a red-tailed hawk since 2005, and is up to date on both federal and state permits. About a year ago, she requested a permit from the city to house the bird in an enclosure in her back yard.

The council denied her request based on the Encarta definition. According to council members, since red-tailed hawks aren’t normally consumed, the bird is not technically a fowl.

So now they are considering creating a new law or amending the existing one to deal more specifically with exotic animals. In the meantime, board members will research how nearby municipalities handle exotic animal ownership. Other local cities have laws requiring exotic animal and animal fancier permits for exotics. Animal control officials are also required to inspect the facilities where such animals are being housed.

A similar law in Pleasanton would work for Ariel and Mayor Holsterman. She recommends an amendment to the current law, because the state and federal governments already have those areas defined.

She’ll get to keep Ariel while the board considers its decision.

The issue first arose when her mayoral challenger’s office asked the commission to deny her petition due to public safety concerns. At the time of this report, it's not known why the mayor keeps the animal. There are no indications that she either rescued it or uses it for hunting.

Because the matter is up for debate by the council, no further details are currently available. Check back for an update.

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