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Bizarro by Dan Piraro. Reprinted with permission. Visit BIZARRO.com for more info.

Considering adopting a cat? For most people, this would equate to visiting your local animal shelter and adopting a “domestic” cat. However, for many people across the country, their little kitty is a 500-pound killer.

It might surprise you that large cats—defined as any lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar—are being kept by thousands of people all across the country. They are kept as household “pets,” or exploited in circuses and roadside attractions, in magic shows, trade shows, and at fairs. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 tigers in captivity in the U.S.—more than twice the number left in the wild!

This past October, three major tiger attacks occurred in the space of less than a week. Roy Horn, 59, of the performing duo Siegfried and Roy, was mauled by one of his tigers before an audience of 1,500 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Antoine Yates, 37, was attacked by his pet tiger, who he kept captive in a New York City apartment. And Sarah Roy, 21, a trainer at the Keepers of the Wild animal sanctuary in Golden Valley, Arizona, was bitten while cleaning a cage.

These attacks are not rare; since 1990, more than 150 incidents have been reported in which captive large cats have bitten, scratched, or killed people. This rash of attacks shows that large cats are untamable, unpredictable animals and should not be possessed; and if Roy Horn, who had over 44 years of experience handling tigers, can be attacked, then no one is safe. Every large cat is a possible killer. As long as people insist on possessing them and forcing them to perform and conform to unnatural behavior, both the cats and those who profess to adore them remain at risk.

The trade in exotic animals is a multibillion-dollar industry. People are breeding large cats in great numbers. Every year, hundreds enter the exotic animal trade from a variety of sources. These animals are either “surplus” from various roadside menageries; are sold at auctions, pet stores, through Animal Finders’ Guide, or over the Internet; or come from backyard breeders similar to “puppy mills.” Tigers reproduce easily and can be purchased for as little as $300—cheaper than what people pay for a purebred dog.

Exhibitors of large cats legitimize the display of these animals by claiming that they are saving various species, most notably the tiger, from extinction. However, this claim is disingenuous; audiences attend exotic animal shows to be entertained, not educated. There is no indication that individuals viewing large cats either at zoos, in a person’s backyard, or at an exotic animal show are interested particularly in the population status of an animal or what steps are being taken to ensure its survival in the wild. Indeed, the conservation/education claim used by many exotic animal possessors who display their animals is merely a veiled attempt to justify the exploitation of exotic species for personal profit. Their interest in providing shows is primarily commercial and, as such, the “conservation” claim is merely the means to that end.

Big Cats and the Law
The life of captive large cats is one of great suffering. Unfortunately, our laws provide them minimum protection on the whole. These animals are being freely bred and sold on the open market and are readily available to individuals who lack the expertise, facilities, and finances necessary to properly care for them. Very few federal laws address captive wild animals. Those that do exist primarily regulate the importation of wild animals and outline minimal care and treatment standards; they do not restrict or prohibit the display or private possession of captive wild animals in the U.S. What we are left with is a patchwork of state and local laws dealing with the issue.

State governments have taken the lead in establishing regulations of exotic animals in the U.S. The majority have laws regulating either the private possession or exhibition of captive wild animals at roadside zoos or menageries. Laws vary from state to state on the type of regulation imposed, which is either a prohibition, a license, or no regulation at all; and also vary on the specific animals regulated.

Private Possession Laws
• 20 states prohibit the private possession of exotic animals as “pets”: AK, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, MD, MA, MI, NE, NH, NJ, NM, TN, UT, VT, VA, WY.

• 14 states require that a license or permit be obtained from the relevant state agency to privately possess a big cat (excludes states only requiring import permits): AZ, DE, IN, ME, MS, MT, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX.

• Of the 16 states that have no license or permit requirements, some regulate some aspect thereof (entry permit, veterinary certificate), others have no statute governing this issue: AL, AR, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, NV, NC, OH, SC, WA, WV, WI.

To date, no state has passed laws prohibiting large cats from being displayed at animal circuses or from performing within its borders. This has been traditionally addressed on the local level. Twenty-six cities and counties have adopted ordinances prohibiting the display of large cats in the U.S.

The only way to stop the proliferation of captive wild animals is to stop the breeding, bartering, sale, and possession of captive wild animals for personal profit and amusement and by educating the public to understand that wild animals belong in the wild, not in our homes. Thus, we need stronger laws on all levels that address these issues.

The Animal Protection Institute (API) actively writes and introduces legislation in states that do not currently have any prohibitions on the private possession of captive wild animals as “pets,” roadside menageries, and circuses and traveling shows. API has model legislation and ordinances to help captive wild animals in all areas, and also works with cities on passing ordinances in these areas, and, in fact, is helping with the majority of legislative attempts.

Imagine yourself in a wide-open field, seeking food, water, and a place to rest; having the freedom to roam as your nature and instinct guide; living in a complex family and community structure, free from human interference and exploitation. This is the life wild animals need, but which captivity denies them. Through a national effort of passing legislation to prohibit the possession and use of captive wild animals for entertainment, helping to enforce current laws, and a concerted public education campaign, we can stop the surplus trade and one day have wild animals where they belong—in the wild!

Nicole Paquette is the General Counsel for the Animal Protection Institute (API). Nicole actively writes and introduces local- and state-level legislation on captive wild and exotic animal issues. She assisted in passage of an exotic “pet” ban in Lexington County, South Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio, and has helped other municipal governments pass strong legislation relating to exotic animals. For information about exotic animals in captivity, visit www.api4animals.org.

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