Captive Wildlife Safety Act - ENACTED!
S. 269 and H.R. 1006

Sponsors: Senators Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and John Ensign (R-NV); Representatives Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA/25th) and George Miller (D-CA/7th)

NM co-sponsors: NONE; Reps. Udall and Pearce sit on a committee that gave the bill a favorable review

NM votes: Reps. Wilson, Pearce, and Udall voted in favor of the legislation.

APV Position: SUPPORT

Bill Status:
Passed and signed into law by the president on December 19,2003.
Public Law 108-191.

What the law would do: This bill addresses public safety threats posed by private ownership of big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars). Specifically, it would amend the Lacey Act to ban the interstate movement of these animals for private use as pets—zoos, circuses, and accredited sanctuaries would not be affected.

Why it is needed: It is not hard to imagine the dangers keeping a large, powerful wild animal as a pet poses to humans, especially children. Big cats can kill an adult or a child and reports of deaths and injuries are not isolated, but on the rise. Also on the rise is the inevitable animal suffering that comes with keeping any wild animal in captivity. Few private "owners" are prepared to provide the intense care and attention these animals require. Many, if not most, of these animals endure terrible physical and psychological suffering before being dumped at a roadside zoo, sold to an exotic hunting ranch, or slaughtered for the exotic meat trade.

There are thousands of lions, tigers, and other big cats kept in small cages or on tethers in backyards, holed up in garages, and even living in people’s homes. In fact, there are more captive "pet" tigers than there are tigers left in the wild. Although many states do not restrict private ownership of dangerous exotic cats, New Mexico Department of Fish and Game requires a permit. The Department has not granted any permits for the last 2 years.