A veteran Ohio animal rescue officer offered chilling news today: At least 20 private ownersaround the state have at least 20 exotic animals.“These are just the ones we know about,” said Tim Harrison, a former Oakwood, Ohio, policeofficer, firefighter and paramedic who now runs Outreach for Animals. “They are just popping upnow.”“We’ve got houses full of pythons,” he said. “These individuals will go unknown until there’s ahouse fire or something like that.”Harrison, whose department is in a Dayton suburb, joined with the Humane Society of the U.S. incalling on Gov. John Kasich to issue an emergency order banning private ownership of exoticanimals.The first legislation has been proposed to ban private ownership of exotic animals in the wakeof Tuesday’s release of 56 animals in Zanesville.At the same time, an online petition started by an Ohio University student calling for the banof exotic animal ownership in Ohio has racked up more than 43,000 signatures in less than 48hours.State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, said today she will introduce a bill in the Ohio Houseshortly that would mirror an executive order issued by former Gov. Ted Strickland in January. Theorder was allowed to expire by his successor, Kasich.It would require embedding electronic devices in exotic animals so they can be tracked if theyescape.“Although an owner’s intentions to keep exotic animals may be good, unfortunately, most privatecitizens do not have the proper training or resources to take care of wild animals,” Phillips saidin a statement. “Their properties often are not equipped to safely contain wild animals, whichposes a danger to themselves as well as other community members.”Phillips’ bill, which will includes an emergency clause so it would take effect immediately ifpassed and signed by the governor, would permit existing owners of exotic animals with federallicenses to keep their animals. However, they would have to register them with the Ohio Departmentof Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.“It is unfortunate that Governor Kasich chose to let this common sense provision expire earlierthis year. Had he chosen to continue these regulations, we may not have seen today’s tragic eventsunfold,” Phillips said.The Kasich administration decided Strickland’s order exceeded the authority of the Department ofNatural Resources, was unenforceable, and contained no appropriation to pay for the program.Ohio has no regulations over private ownership of exotic animals and, as a result, has a highnumber of injuries and deaths, Phillips said.The online petition started by Liz Dumler, 22, of Athens, is linked through anorganization called Change.org. Each time someone signs the petition, an email goes to Kasich’soffice and the Department of Natural Resources.