Sens. Jeffords & Smith Introduce Bill Restricting Private Ownership of Dangerous Exotic Pets

10/3/2002

From: Wayne Pacelle, 202-778-6112, or Rachel Querry, 301-258-8255, both of the Humane Society of the United States

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- Sens. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) and Robert C. Smith (R-N.H.), chairman and ranking members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced legislation that would ban interstate shipments of lions, tigers, bears and other dangerous exotic animals for purposes of keeping them as private pets. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced a House companion bill, H.R. 5226, in July.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, is urging the Congress to pass the legislation this year given the compelling humane and public safety arguments in favor of the measure. Several recent incidents demonstrate the public safety threat posed by these animals:

-- In Quitman, Ark., authorities shot and killed three African lions after they terrified the local community for more than a day on Sept. 19 and 20. The lions were found near a lion and tiger farm called Safari Unlimited, though the operator denied that the animals belonged to him. He speculated that the animals were dropped off by someone who had contacted him asking him to take several animals he wanted to dispose of.

-- On October 1, police in Bloomington, Ind., shot and killed a Bengal tiger who escaped from a roadside truck stop.

-- In Lexington, Texas, a three-year-old boy was killed by his step-father's "pet" tiger.

The legislation seeks to amend the Lacey Act, which addresses shipments of fish and wildlife, by barring the interstate movement of dangerous exotics for use as pets. Facilities that operate under a U.S. Department of Agriculture permit, such as zoos and circuses, are exempt.

There are a minimum of 5,000 tigers in private hands in the United States -- a population that likely surpasses the world's wild tiger population. Exotic animal dealers traffic in these animals and other big cats and bears who are relatively easy and inexpensive to procure. Yet tigers cost thousands of dollars a month to keep.

"There is no justifiable reason for a person to have a tiger or a lion as a pet," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS senior vice president. "These are powerful and potentially dangerous animals, and they don't belong languishing in a dirty cage in someone's backyard in Arkansas or New Jersey or Ohio."

Twelve states currently ban private possession of large exotic animals and seven states have partial bans.

"You can take these animals out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of them," says Tippi Hedren, the legendary actress who runs in southern California the 80-acre Shambala Preserve as a sanctuary for exotic animals. "We are so grateful to Senators Jeffords and Smith and Representative Miller for leading the fight to stop the insane practice of keeping these animals as pets. Not one more child or adult should be harmed or killed. This is a public safety issue that needs to be dealt with immediately."

Once someone grows tired of the novelty or realizes that they can't properly care for the animal, they have few options for placing a full-grown exotic animal. The animals have no value to the conservation of wild species since they are often inbred and genetically inappropriate for breeding programs designed to restore wild populations.

"Wild animals, even if they are raised by hand from infancy, grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous," adds Pacelle. "No matter how well you think you might know an animal, there's always the potential of serious injury to yourself or someone else."

The legislation is also backed by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the American Sanctuary Association, the Association of Sanctuaries, the Animal Protection Institute, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is dedicated to protecting all animals through legislation, education, investigation, litigation, advocacy and field work. The HSUS has active programs protecting wildlife, companion animals, farm animals and animals in research. The HSUS is headquartered in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices. For more information, visit The HSUS' Web site at http://www.hsus.org.