Hanover makes decision on request for pet boa constrictor

A resident of Grunthal will not be allowed to have a boa constrictor snake as a pet.

In late November, Markus Spiertz appeared before Hanover Council requesting permission to keep a restricted reptile in his home. That restricted reptile was a boa constrictor snake. 

At the November 30th public hearing, Hanover's Planning Officer told the public that in Manitoba it is not illegal to have a boa constrictor as a pet. However, they are restricted in Hanover. According to Hanover's Animal Care Bylaw, Council is required to hold a public hearing before making a decision, similar to a variation or conditional use. 

Not one person showed up to that public hearing in opposition. However, the municipality received at least 10 letters from the community, with eight of those being in opposition and the other two expressing concern.

One of those opposing letters came from the Local Urban District committee of Grunthal, which stated a concern with having this restricted animal allowed in a family neighbourhood. Spiertz would have kept the snake in his home along Greentree Drive in Grunthal. The LUD committee noted that allowing a boa constrictor would set a precedent and could result in a request for other exotic animals to be allowed in Hanover.

Other objectors noted fear of snakes and the high volume of children living and going to school in the area, should the unthinkable happen and the snake breaks loose.

Council did not make a decision following the November 30th hearing, but rather put the matter on hold and decided to revisit the request at a future meeting. 

On Wednesday of this week, council further debated the matter before Councillor Travis Doerksen made a motion to approve the request. Both Doerksen and Councillor Roberto Hiebert commended Spiertz for going through the proper channels and seeking permission. 

Hiebert credited Spiertz for his presentation and the research put into his request. He suggested that the letters of objection seemed to be the result of a lack of understanding of how the snake would be cared for and noted that it may have been helpful for those neighbours to speak one-on-one with Spiertz. 

In making the motion to approve the request, Doerksen included a number of conditions such as the exact type of boa constrictor that would be allowed, the fact Spiertz would be allowed only one of them, that Hanover's Bylaw Enforcement Officer would be allowed to inspect the home at any time, that the snake must remain indoors at all times and that Hanover's Bylaw Enforcement Officer would need to be present in the future if the reptile would ever be moved from the home. 

That motion was denied with only Doerksen and Hiebert voting in favour. Immediately following that vote, Councillor Darrin Warkentin made a motion to deny the request outright and the vote passed with only Doerksen and Hiebert voting against that motion. 

Reeve Jim Funk says he voted against the request because of the people in Grunthal.

"I had multiple people from within the community that asked me to refrain from allowing the snake to come in," notes Funk. "I truly respect my people in Hanover and I certainly would like to do as they would like me to do."