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A Message from Tippi Hedren re:
the
"Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act" of 2012
At last, one of the missions in my
life since I brought A bill titled 'A Federal Ban on the
Breeding of the Exotic Feline for Personal Possession' in
2009 to my Rep. Buck McKeon was to get it introduced and
passed in the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the
President! The bill, with a new title, "Big Cats and Public
Safety Protection Act " was introduced around noon EST on
February 29, 2012 in the House of Representatives by Rep.
Buck McKeon and Rep. Loretta Sanchez as co-sponsors.
I'm very proud of this
important legislation finally on it's way to becoming the
law...I will apprise you when it goes to the Senate to be
introduced by Senator John Kerry, and when the Senate # will
be in place.
Here is a summary of the "Big Cats
and Public Safety Protection Act, 2012
H.R. 4122 Big Cats and Public Safety
Protection Act of 2012 Bill Summary
H.R. 4122/S.____, the “Big Cats and
Public Safety Protection Act,” will ensure that lions,
tigers and other dangerous big cats, which are bred to be
sold and kept as pets or for financial gain in the U.S. in
alarming numbers, do not threaten public safety, diminish
global big cat conservation efforts, or end up living in
horrible conditions where they can be subject to
mistreatment and cruelty. The bill will prohibit breeding
and private possession of big cats exempting only qualified,
accredited AZA zoos, where they can be properly cared for
and restrained. Wild Animal Sanctuaries having given
sanctuary and safe haven for big cats who have been
confiscated for decades will be asked to take in animals.
There is no possibility of determining the numbers of
dangerous Exotic Big Cats being kept in private hands and
what their condition is in the U. S., through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), state agencies, and local
first responders. Only nine states have laws enforcing “no
wild animals permitted”, the remaining states have weak or
no laws in existence. This bill will require all persons who
currently possess big cats to register those animals with
USDA. After the bill becomes law, it will be illegal to
breed any big cat except at accredited AZA zoos where
breeding will be allowed for conservation purposes only.
Violators of the law will have their animals confiscated
along with any vehicles or equipment used to aid in their
illegal activity, and could face stiff penalties including
fines as much as $20,000 per animal, and up to five years in
jail. -
Statistics-
Since 1990 incidents involving Big Cats
21 Deaths - 16 Adults 5 Children
246 Maulings
254 Escapes
143 Big Cats Killed
128 Big Cats Confiscations
There are 29 States that have laws
governing ownership of the Big Cats.
There are 21 States
that have no laws governing ownership of the Big Cats.
No
other country on our planet has so freely allowed the
breeding and selling of Wild Animals as pets, or for
financial gain, by providing a license for that ownership as
does the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
There is not one thing
we can give a wild animal in captivity that they need. What
they do need, is to be born free, in their natural
environment.
Please, if you will, contact your
Representatives and refer
to the Bill as H.R 4122 the "Big Cats and Public Protection
Act ."
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