Bear cub in bar may lead to new law

OBETZ, Ohio, June 23 (UPI) -- Members of the village council in Obetz, Ohio, said they are planning a law to ban exotic pets after a bartender took a bear cub with her to work.

Obetz Village Council members said the law would ban anyone from taking exotic pets -- including bears, jaguars, boars and cheetahs -- into the village, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Monday.

The move comes after Melody Pullen, who owns a menagerie outside the village, took a bear cub with her to the bar she owns in Obetz. She said she took the bear, named "Pooh," with her to the bar because it needed to be bottle-fed every three hours.

Pullen said the cub was popular with customers but the local fire marshal, an officer from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Obetz police arrived at the business to see the animal.

Obetz Police Chief Ken Hinkle said Pooh was found not to be a threat to anyone and Pullen possessed a state permit to own the bear.

Council members said the law is aimed at keeping "dangerous or undomesticated" animals out of the village.

"It's kind of like common sense," said Councilman James Triplett. "Would you want your neighbor to be able to bring in a lion or something of that nature?"