A former model has been refused a licence for exotic animals after taking a meerkat and an owl to a pub.
Jodie Marsh, who owns Fripps Farm in Lindsell, Essex, applied for a dangerous wild animals licence to keep eight ring-tailed lemurs in January.
But Uttlesford District Council rejected the application this week, citing Ms Marsh twice bringing a young meerkat to a pub, and instances where rehomed creatures escaped from the five-acre animal sanctuary.
The council’s licencing and environmental health committee also heard the 45-year-old once brought an owl to a pub, and raised concerns over the noise of the lemurs possibly disturbing the local community.
File pic: iStock
A spokesperson for the council said it “was not appropriate to grant the licence”. Ms Marsh has said she will appeal the council’s decision.
In remarks provided to the committee throughout her application, Ms Marsh explained she was unable to leave the meerkat she twice brought to the pub alone as it was eight weeks old and needed feeding once every hour.
Ms Marsh also contended the council “did not treat this (application) equally for me,” calling the process “biased and unequal”.
She also claimed only one meerkat in her care escaped “for 90 seconds”, and said Fripps Farm already houses 11 primates.
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The council spokesperson said the panel’s decision was based on “relevant information and the legislation”.
They then added: “Given the applicant has a right to appeal the decision to the magistrates’ courts, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”
Sky News has contacted Fripps Farm for comment.