Wildlife Officials Hold Exotic Pet Amnesty Day

Pet owners can surrender their nonnative pets – free of charge and no penalties – during an Exotic Pet Amnesty Day in Davie, Fla.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding the event Saturday at Tree Tops Park. A wildlife commission report says the goal is to reduce the number of nonnative species being released into the wild by pet owners who can no keep them.

The events have been successful in the past, especially in Miami. This is the first amnesty day to be held in Broward County.

Jenny Novak, who coordinates the program, says pet owners may not understand the “negative impacts” of releasing a nonnative species and this event gives them a legal alternative.

It’s illegal to release any animal not native to Florida.