Serval owner rails against Ottawa bylaw, argues they’re not dangerous
Margueret Lewis has lots to say about an exotic animal bylaw in Ottawa that bans servals — small cheetah-like cats — but most of it’s obscene. She lives on a large rural property within the city’s limits with two servals, in direct contravention of the ban.
Servals are listed on the city’s prohibited animal list because the city says they are dangerous, according to Christine Hartig, a policy analyst who wrote the bylaw.
Lewis disagrees vehemently and wants the bylaw changed.
“They’re not tigers or lions — they will not eat you. You could not get near one if they got loose. Try to catch up with one. You won’t catch them, trust me,” says Lewis, 55, who has several tattoos of servals.