What's been done (continued)

Because of certain loopholes and exemptions and because only 19 of the 50 states ban the private ownership of exotic cats, the bill does not go far enough to eliminate the profit motives in breeding and selling exotic cats. It is estimated that there are more than 15,000 big cats in private hands in the U.S. with most being held as pets.

The proliferation of big cats, indeed all big carnivores, creates increasingly more opportunities for cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals, as well as greater dangers to humans. Federal agencies lack the funds to regulate and control this huge and underground population of animals. In fact, its shadowy existence only ever surfaces when an animal escapes or harms someone.

What’s next

One bill seems particularly relevant, HR 1947 (Haley’s Act), introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 by Nancy Boyda from Kansas. The bill was named after Haley Hildebrand, a high school senior who was killed in 2005 as she posed with a 550-pound tiger for her senior photo at a USDA-licensed facility.  In 2002, another attack in Minnesota left a 10-year old boy unable to walk or breathe on his own.

Big cats, driven by natural instincts, can be and are a danger to the public. Like any other public danger, they must be legally controlled.  Haley’s Act would outlaw the public from having contact with big cats—photo opps and petting zoos with dangerous animals would become illegal. Protected contact would be the standard and intimate contact between cat and human would be eliminated.

How you can help

As of April 2008, Haley’s Act has 34 sponsors in the House. With more public support, we could move this bill into law. Animazonia encourages you to contact your representative and tell them how important it is to pass this law. 

The non-profit Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute at www.api4animals.org works to protect animals in the U.S. and around the world by keeping the public educated. They list all current animal legislation and campaigns and provide step-by-step advice about how you can take action to make a difference. 

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