A Rescued "Pet"

Dec. 31, 2003 — President George W. Bush recently signed into law the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which prohibits the interstate and foreign commerce of dangerous exotics such as lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and cougars for use as pets.

American Humane, a national organization for the protection of animals and children, welcomed the new legislation.

"The passage of this crucial legislation couldn't have come at a better time," the organization said in a recent press release.

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"The passage of the Captive Wildlife Safety Act is an important step toward eradicating the private ownership of big cats and other exotic animals as pets. It is critical for both the well-being and safety of animals and the protection of the public," the organization stated.

"Keeping exotic cats as pets is just as devastating for these magnificent creatures as it can be for the individuals who keep them," said the American Humane Web site. "Most private owners don't have the ability to care for these animals. This lack of expertise often results in improper or inadequate nutrition, confinement, veterinary care and handling, and ultimately leads to negligence and suffering or death of the animal."

Only weeks ago, a 400-pound Bengal tiger that was kept behind a chain link fence as a backyard "pet" fatally mauled 10-year-old Clayton James Eller of North Carolina. This was the third attack by a captive tiger within the last couple of months.

While the new Captive Wildlife Safety Act will protect the public from further incidents such as this by banning the trade of exotic cats from state to state, it does not prevent states from continuing to breed and sell big cats within their borders.

Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs and other large exotic cats are kept as pets in the United States.

Frequently private owners of these exotic cats take cruel measures to turn them into "pets," such as declawing and defanging them and locking them in basements and trailers. Additionally, these cats are frequently sold to dealers, who often sell them to canned hunting ranches.

Currently 19 states ban the private ownership of dangerous exotic animals as "pets." These states are: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

Animal News Center, Inc.