Reptile & Amphibian Forums

AR just introduced this federal bill that would federally ban contact with even tiny exotic cats, like Jack Hanna on TV. The exhibitor where this occured has been punished, closed down by USDA and is also supposedly being sued by the family. KS state already has this bill passed on state level. Most importantly, how come parents were not being held responsible, the girl was 17. Also, what the exhibitor did was alreay against USDA regulations, it is against regs to let full grown animal (over 4 months/40 pounds) have full contact with public, so the exhibitor broke existing rules and was shut down, punished.
So why this bill???This bill is bad and needs to be killed.
Zuzana Kukol
www.rexano.org

===

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-23-2007/0004571417&EDATE=

Federal Legislation Introduced to Protect Public From Big Cat Attacks

WASHINGTON, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IFAW (the International
Fund for Animal Welfare) today commended members of the 110th Congress for
introducing bipartisan federal legislation to protect the public from
attacks by captive big cats, such as lions and tigers, at facilities
licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. H.R. 1947, also known as
Haley's Act, is named in memory of Haley Hilderbrand, a 17-year-old high
school student who was killed at a USDA-licensed facility by a 550-pound
Siberian tiger while being photographed for her senior picture. Haley was
originally scheduled to be photographed with two tiger cubs.
There are currently more than 10,000 captive big cats, such as tigers
and lions, held captive in the U.S. In recent years, captive big cats have
killed more than a dozen people and injured more than 50 people. Many big
cats are owned by individuals or organizations that have been licensed by
the USDA to exhibit, breed, or sell these dangerous wild animals. While the
terms of the license include certain requirements for the care of the big
cats, the license does not address risks to public safety, nor does it
firmly prohibit direct contact between the public and big cats.
"Lions and tigers are wild animals, not pets, and USDA-licensed
facilities should treat these creatures accordingly. Congress must
establish strict guidelines to prevent further tragedies from occurring due
to poor safety standards and minimal fines," said Congresswoman Nancy Boyda
(D-KS), whose legislation, H.R. 1947 is cosponsored by her three Kansas
colleagues Reps. Dennis Moore (D-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Todd Tiahrt
(R-KS), as well as Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Emanuel Cleaver
(D-MO), Barney Frank (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), George Miller (D-CA),
James Moran (D-VA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-CA),
and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Last year after Haley's death, the Kansas state legislature banned the
private ownership of big cats as pets and forbade public contact with big
cats at USDA facilities to help prevent future tragedies. However, the
problem extends well beyond Kansas. In 2006 and 2007 alone there were big
cat incidents, including escapes or attacks, from California to Texas to
Indiana to North Carolina and Florida. These states have yet to enact a
prohibition on direct contact at USDA facilities. "If a law to prevent
direct contact between big cats and the public were in place already, Haley
might still be with us today," said Haley Hilderbrand's parents, Ronda and
Mike Good, who have worked closely with legislators and IFAW to champion
the legislation in Topeka and Washington. "If Congress acts soon, we can
save lives."
Haley's Act would amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to prohibit direct
contact between the general public and big cats, including lions, tigers,
leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars and hybrids. The bill does not
discourage public display of big cats in accredited zoos, or housing big
cats in sanctuaries, but rather seeks to strengthen safety for the public.
It also significantly increases fines for violations of the AWA to further
encourage facilities to abide by the law and treat the animals well.
"Even in the hands of experienced trainers, big cats are unpredictable
and there is no margin for error," said Monica Medina, U.S. Deputy Director
of IFAW, who added that Haley's Act is one of IFAW's top legislative
priorities. "Haley's Act will spare families from the horrible anguish
caused by such attacks, while also ensuring the humane treatment of these
remarkable animals who are forced to live in captivity."
About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Founded in 1969, IFAW works around the globe to protect animals and
their habitats and to create a better world for animals and people. To
learn how to help, please visit http://www.ifaw.org.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related links:

· http://www.ifaw.org

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

Haley's Act (Introduced in House)

HR 1947 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1947

To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 19, 2007
Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas (for herself, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, and Mr. STARK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL

To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as `Haley's Act'.

SEC. 2. BIG CATS.
(a) Definitions- Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

`(p) The term `big cat' means any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species.

`(q) The term `direct contact' means any situation in which an individual may potentially touch or otherwise come into physical contact with any live specimen of a species.'.

(b) Applicability of State Law- Section 3 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2133) is amended by adding at the end the following: `The Secretary may deny or revoke a license based on a recommendation from the appropriate State or local officials with jurisdiction over captive wildlife.'

(c) Public Safety- Section 13(a)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2143(a)(2)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the final period and inserting `; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(C) to provide for public safety.'.

(d) Increased Fines- Section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is amended--

(1) in subsection (b)--

(A) in the first sentence, by striking `$2,500' and inserting `$10,000'; and

(B) in the seventh sentence, by striking `shall be subject to' and all that follows through `each offense' and inserting `shall be subject to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each offense' ; and

(2) in subsection (d) in the first sentence, by striking `$2,500' and inserting `$10,000'.

(e) Prohibition on Direct Contact With Big Cats- Such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`SEC. 30. PROHIBITION ON DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN PUBLIC AND BIG CATS.
`(a) In General- Subject to subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for an exhibitor or dealer licensed by the Secretary under this Act to allow direct contact between a big cat and a member of the public.

`(b) Exception-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) shall not apply to an exhibitor that is a zoo, as determined by the Secretary.

`(2) CONSIDERATION OF ACCREDITATION- In determining whether an exhibitor is a zoo under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider--

`(A) whether the exhibitor is accredited by, and in good standing with, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and

`(B) whether the exhibitor operates with sufficient regard for public safety.'.

(f) Regulations-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations pursuant to section 21 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2151) to implement the amendments made by this Act.

(2) RESTRICTION ON LICENSES-

(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture may not grant a license under section 3 of such Act to a dealer or exhibitor that possesses or intends to possess a big cat until the regulations described in paragraph (1) have been issued.

(B) EXCEPTION- The restriction described in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the renewal of an existing license.