BC woman loses appeal to bring live raccoon into Canada from US

A BC film industry animal trainer has lost an appeal after she was denied a permit to import a raccoon into Canada.

According to a Jan. 8 BC Environmental Appeal Board decision, Tracy Gardhouse wanted permission to bring a raccoon in to Canada from a licensed breeder in Ohio.

However, her permit was denied last summer so she launched an appeal.

The decision said Gardhouse, who works as a professional animal trainer in the movie industry, had previously applied for a commercial permit to get a raccoon from a rehab centre in BC.

However, the permit was denied and she was told the animal had to come from a licenced breeder.

Unsurprisingly it appears Gardhourse couldn't find a licenced raccoon breeder in the province but did find one in Ohio.

She then applied to bring the critter across the border but was refused.

"(Gardhouse) submits she has always maintained a high standard of care for her animals," the decision read, adding she has held permits in the past for raccoons and skunks.

"(Gardhouse) submits that she is aware of other entities that have received permits to bring raccoons into British Columbia for similar purposes. (She) is troubled by the fact that other entities can bring raccoons into the province for the film industry, while she, a local trainer, cannot," the decision read.

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In her appeal, she submitted letters of support from film production companies, a veterinarian and colleagues.

However, the Board ruled that the only exception in the regulations is for educational or scientific organizations and Gardhouse is neither of these.

The Board said the law is clear that permits cannot be granted to import live raccoons and therefore it can't give her an exception as that would be breaking the law.

With that, the appeal was dismissed.