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LETTER TO CONGRESS from TIPPI HEDREN
JULY 13, 2014 The
Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which passed
unanimously and was signed into law by President
Bush on December 19, 2003, is to stop the interstate
traffic of big cats for sale as pets or for
financial exploitation.
That bill was inspired by a
prototype I brought to my U.S. Representative “Buck”
McKeon. The bill has been introduced in the House
and Senate, (H.R. 1998, S.1381) “Big Cats and Public
Safety Protection Act”. I also brought to Rep.
McKeon in 2007. This bill is to stop the breeding of
big cats (apex predators) to be sold as pets and/or
used for financial exploitation. I’m urging you
to support this bill. Not one more human adult, or
child, should be maimed for life or killed by a big
cat. Not one more big cat should be abused by being
born in captivity under the misunderstanding that
they will be a good pet; or be brutalized into doing
tricks for our “entertainment”.
My qualification to ask for
this support is: I have rescued and provided
sanctuary for big cats born in the U.S. since 1972.
I founded The Roar Foundation in 1983 to become the
financial support arm for The Shambala Preserve and
to educate the public against owning wild animals.
We have rescued and given lifetime care to over 250
exotic big cats over these years. I also have been
the sitting President of the American Sanctuary
Association, an accrediting organization for wild
animal facilities, as well as a wildlife placement
organization, since 2000.
Description of a big cat:
Apex predator, top of the food chain, one of four of
the most dangerous animals in the world, whose job
in the wild is to take out any animal who is sick,
old or lame. This hard wired instinct manifests
predatory behavior in captivity and threatens humans
as well. Example: Roy Horn, who had a stroke on
stage, survived the attack by tiger “Montecore” only
because the trainers standing off-stage, managed to
get the cat off of him. In Montecore’s mind, Roy was
physically hurt and had to be “taken out”.
“Montecore” attacked his long-time human companion
without any remorse, empathy, or conscience, only
reflexive predatory instinct. In the human species,
individuals who lack conscience and empathy are
frequently referred to as psychopaths. They can harm
or kill with no sense of remorse. This is true for
the big cat predator as well.
In my studies of the big cat
since 1972, and while living at Shambala alongside
them since 1976, I have found them to be infinitely
fascinating – and life threatening. Their physical
beauty is magnificent and it is the combination of
that and their relationships, their sense of humor,
their affection towards each other, and sometimes
toward us that draws many of them to us.
But, their memories of a bad
relationship with another animal or human, their
possessiveness of objects and always over food, are
what can cause you to be caught in a serious
situation. They can, and will, kill you if those
possessions are threatened. I managed to live
through those situations … the scars are fading, but
not the memories. I understand these magnificent
beings way too well. They can never be trusted. They
don’t care about us! They are, in point of fact,
predatory serial killers!
Those who we call “pets”
live in our homes; we cuddle them, sleep with them,
feed them well, play with them, call them family,
playmates and friends. We are able to trust
them. They are from an entirely different genetic
mindset than the predator. Don’t think of describing
an exotic feline as a “pet”. Please, vote to stop
apex predators from being bred as a pet for
exploitation. Stop the misinformation sent to the
U.S. population that any exotic feline can, or will,
be a "great pet".
I thank you for giving your
support, because you in our Government are the only
hope we have of stopping this insanity. I pray you
will pass this vitally important bill, “Big Cats and
Public Safety Protection Act”.
Who of you would put your
child, your grandchild, your wife, friend or
yourself in harms way for a photo op with a “great
cat”? Would you place a loaded pistol on your coffee
table?
Since 2011, over 104 people
have been maimed or killed by big cats in the United
States.
This responsibility lies
with you,
Tippi Hedren
President-Roar
Foundation The Shambala Preserve
www.shambala.org
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This letter has been
reviewed by noted psychiatrist Praveen R. Kambam,
M.D., a clinical professor in the Department of
Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences in the David
Geffen school of Medicine UCLA and a Board Certified
subspecialist in forensic psychiatry. He noted what
I have stated concerning human/predator behavior as
being valid.
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Please sign this petition: Stop US post office circus stamps
- don't celebrate elephant abuse!
Please, everyone,
sign this petition!!!!! ....Go to your local Post
Office, any facility that sells stamps. Refuse to buy the
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus stamps !!!! Tell
them to stop advertising these stamps!!!!.....The brutality
the Wild Animals in the Circus suffer from is not a joyous
event!!! Wake up people!!!! Stop the abuse happening
under "THE BIG TOPS".....You can make it possible for these
magnificent beings to live a life without being beaten into
doing the stupid insulting tricks they are forced to do.
None of the Wild Animals do these circus routines in the
wild!!!! Nor do they do them when not in the ring!!!! These
animals are living a life of cruel and unusual punishment.
When not in the ring they are chained or in small cages .
This is animal abuse solely for financial gain for humans.
The Cirque du Soleil is magnificent, uses no wild animals
and the acrobats LOVE doing the aerobatics, it is their
lifetime careers......There is never a need for wild animals
to suffer. Do not buy the circus stamps!!! And PLEASE, do
not attend THE BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS or any circus where
wild animals are being exploited, and they all are!!!!!!
Thank you so much...you're voice is
important.....PLEASE USE IT!!!
Tippi Hedren
President The Roar
Foundation
The Shambala Preserve
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URGENT!!
URGENT!! URGENT!!
Support H.R. 1998 and S.
1381, Big Cats and
Public Safety Protection Act.....
I have been rescuing Exotic
Cats since 1972, all born in the U.S. to be sold as
pets or financial gain. I began wondering why there
were no laws preventing the insanity of allowing
these Apex predators, top of the food chain, one of
four of the most dangerous animals in the world, to
be used for financial gain and sold as pets. In 2003
I co-authored a bill titled "The Captive Wildlife
Safety Act" to stop the interstate traffic of the
big cats. I brought that bill to my U.S. Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, 25th District, who introduced it. It was
passed unanimously in the House and Senate, and
signed into law by Pres. Bush on Dec. 19, 2003, and
finally enforced in 2005. It was a beginning step to
a bill to stop the breeding of these animals which
became a huge business in the U.S. and which, over
decades, has been responsible for hundreds of
killings and maimings of children and adults. These
animals, being born in captivity by the thousands,
many living in squalor in homes, or beaten to do
ridiculous tricks for circuses and shows, are
confiscated by authorities because of animal abuse.
This is where facilities like The Shambala Preserve
come in to place, providing a sanctuary for Exotic
Cats to live out their lives in dignity.
My goal, to stop the breeding
of these magnificent, highly dangerous wild beings
is now in the stages of coming to fruition. Several
years ago I brought another bill to Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, who along with Rep. Loretta Sanchez
introduced my bill, H.R. 1998 – “Big Cats
and Public
Safety Protection Act”, in the House on May 16,
2013. On July 29, 2013 it was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Richard Blumenthal as S. 1381. We now await the date for the bill to go to
committee, then the vote in the House and Senate,
then, God Willing, to the President to be signed
into law.
Your help is going to be
needed right now!!!....Please
write, e-mail, or call your Legislators about H.R.
1998 and S. 1381, to stop the breeding of these extremely
dangerous Big Cats. I love these animals more than
my next breath, but they are not pets, nor should
they be subjected to the abuse of being in the
circus, or variety shows.
Again, Please......Your voice
is important, please use it!!!!...H.R. 1998 and S.
1381 - "BIG
CATS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT."
You will be a very important
part of changing history to save the lives of these
Great Cats, forever......
Thank you, my Representative
“Buck” McKeon for hearing me on this highly
important issue!
With love for The Wild Ones,
Everywhere!
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URGENT!!
URGENT!! URGENT!!
Support H.R. 1998 and S.
1381, Big Cats and
Public Safety Protection Act.....
I have been rescuing Exotic
Cats since 1972, all born in the U.S. to be sold as
pets or financial gain. I began wondering why there
were no laws preventing the insanity of allowing
these Apex predators, top of the food chain, one of
four of the most dangerous animals in the world, to
be used for financial gain and sold as pets. In 2003
I co-authored a bill titled "The Captive Wildlife
Safety Act" to stop the interstate traffic of the
big cats. I brought that bill to my U.S. Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, 25th District, who introduced it. It was
passed unanimously in the House and Senate, and
signed into law by Pres. Bush on Dec. 19, 2003, and
finally enforced in 2005. It was a beginning step to
a bill to stop the breeding of these animals which
became a huge business in the U.S. and which, over
decades, has been responsible for hundreds of
killings and maimings of children and adults. These
animals, being born in captivity by the thousands,
many living in squalor in homes, or beaten to do
ridiculous tricks for circuses and shows, are
confiscated by authorities because of animal abuse.
This is where facilities like The Shambala Preserve
come in to place, providing a sanctuary for Exotic
Cats to live out their lives in dignity.
My goal, to stop the breeding
of these magnificent, highly dangerous wild beings
is now in the stages of coming to fruition. Several
years ago I brought another bill to Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, who along with Rep. Loretta Sanchez
introduced my bill, H.R. 1998 – “Big Cats
and Public
Safety Protection Act”, in the House on May 16,
2013. On July 29, 2013 it was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Richard Blumenthal as S. 1381. We now await the date for the bill to go to
committee, then the vote in the House and Senate,
then, God Willing, to the President to be signed
into law.
Your help is going to be
needed right now!!!....Please
write, e-mail, or call your Legislators about H.R.
1998 and S. 1381, to stop the breeding of these extremely
dangerous Big Cats. I love these animals more than
my next breath, but they are not pets, nor should
they be subjected to the abuse of being in the
circus, or variety shows.
Again, Please......Your voice
is important, please use it!!!!...H.R. 1998 and S.
1381 - "BIG
CATS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT."
You will be a very important
part of changing history to save the lives of these
Great Cats, forever......
Thank you, my Representative
“Buck” McKeon for hearing me on this highly
important issue!
With love for The Wild Ones,
Everywhere!
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Support H.R. 1998 and S. 1381, Big Cats and
Public Safety Protection Act.....
I have been rescuing Exotic
Cats since 1972, all born in the U.S. to be sold as
pets or financial gain. I began wondering why there
were no laws preventing the insanity of allowing
these Apex predators, top of the food chain, one of
four of the most dangerous animals in the world, to
be used for financial gain and sold as pets. In 2003
I co-authored a bill titled "The Captive Wildlife
Safety Act" to stop the interstate traffic of the
big cats. I brought that bill to my U.S. Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, 25th District, who introduced it. It was
passed unanimously in the House and Senate, and
signed into law by Pres. Bush on Dec. 19, 2003, and
finally enforced in 2005. It was a beginning step to
a bill to stop the breeding of these animals which
became a huge business in the U.S. and which, over
decades, has been responsible for hundreds of
killings and maimings of children and adults. These
animals, being born in captivity by the thousands,
many living in squalor in homes, or beaten to do
ridiculous tricks for circuses and shows, are
confiscated by authorities because of animal abuse.
This is where facilities like The Shambala Preserve
come in to place, providing a sanctuary for Exotic
Cats to live out their lives in dignity.
My goal, to stop the breeding
of these magnificent, highly dangerous wild beings
is now in the stages of coming to fruition. Several
years ago I brought another bill to Rep. "Buck"
McKeon, who along with Rep. Loretta Sanchez
introduced my bill, H.R. 1998 – “Big Cats
and Public
Safety Protection Act”, in the House on May 16,
2013. On July 29, 2013 it was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Richard Blumenthal as S. 1381. We now await the date for the bill to go to
committee, then the vote in the House and Senate,
then, God Willing, to the President to be signed
into law.
Your help is going to be
needed right now!!!....Please
write, e-mail, or call your Legislators about H.R.
1998 and S. 1381, to stop the breeding of these extremely
dangerous Big Cats. I love these animals more than
my next breath, but they are not pets, nor should
they be subjected to the abuse of being in the
circus, or variety shows.
Again, Please......Your voice
is important, please use it!!!!...H.R. 1998 and S.
1381 - "BIG
CATS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT."
You will be a very important
part of changing history to save the lives of these
Great Cats, forever......
Thank you, my Representative
“Buck” McKeon for hearing me on this highly
important issue!
With love for The Wild Ones,
Everywhere!
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Report on International Regulations Concerning the
Private Possession of Big Cats
Tippi's
letter of thanks to Oscar Urteaga-legislative assistant to
Congressman Buck McKeon:
Dear Oscar....Thank you for so quickly
following thru on my suggestion to research the permits, licenses
and various rulings of owning, breeding and selling of the Exotic
Feline in other countries on our planet. This is not common
knowledge and I believe important that our our legislators and their
constituents have more on which to gage and make decisions about
this important issue. Our bill, "Big Cats and Public Safety
Protection Act", H R 1998 is potent and controversial. The more we
can substantiate our cause the better.
Again, Oscar I thank you, and Laney Zhang at
The Library of Congress who facilitated our request for this special
report in such a timely manner. I'm so anxious to have everyone
equipped with all the information possible to make an educated, sane
and compassionate decision on H R 1998.
With my strongest and most powerful wishes for
the success of "Big Cats, Public Safety Protection Act", H R
1998!!!!!
Tippi Hedren
President, The Roar Foundation |
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©2013
The Roar Foundation - Photos © Bill
Dow
No images may be removed from this web site without written permission
from the Roar Foundation
The Roar Foundation
is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Shambala is a member of the American
Sanctuary Association.
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