The Fight For Big Cat Protections Still Awaiting Senate Vote

Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/big-cats-pets-ars/

The desire to have a tiger as a house pet is understandable, but for most people, it’s a daydream, as it should be. The reality is that big cats are wild animals, and no matter what age you bond with them, no matter how affectionate they might be, they cannot survive as a pet.

At best, keeping a tiger as a pet is a safety hazard to both the animal and humans alike, OneGreen Planet reports.

big cats pets ars 8 - The Fight For Big Cat Protections Still Awaiting Senate Vote — Big cats do not make good house pets.

Despite the obvious difficulties of trying to feed and house a tiger or lion, the majority of “owners” are unable to care for the animals through adulthood, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The cost of keeping a tiger alive and healthy in captivity is upwards of $6,000 a year, and many people simply abandon the animals or neglect them to an abhorrent degree.

Currently, there are an estimated 5,000-7,000 big cats in private captivity in the United States. That’s more than are still alive in the wild, The Guardian reports. In fact, there are not enough sanctuaries in the US to house and care for the number of big cats abandoned each year, leading to a massive issue for humans and animals alike.

big cats pets ars 7 - The Fight For Big Cat Protections Still Awaiting Senate Vote — There are an estimated 5,000-7,000 big cats in private captivity in the United States.

Purchasing a big cat is surprisingly easy, and while sanctuaries and zoos are held to safety and cruelty standards by the Department of Agriculture, each state in the country has different laws regarding exotic animals.

The Endangered Species Act does not prohibit breeding or selling endangered animals, so tracking every sale is impossible, especially across state lines. Some states have blanket bans in place, and some states lack any kind of regulation at all.

big cats pets ars 6 - The Fight For Big Cat Protections Still Awaiting Senate Vote — The cost of keeping a tiger alive and healthy in captivity is upwards of $6,000 a year.

Worst of all, the Department of Agriculture has no regulatory power over private owners, meaning the most severely abused animals have next to no hope, Rolling Stone reports.

The House has passed H.R. 1380, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, banning the selling, purchasing, and housing of big cats.

big cats pets ars 5 - The Fight For Big Cat Protections Still Awaiting Senate Vote — Take a stand for big cats!

The next step is for the Senate to do the same, by passing S.2561, “A bill to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and for other purposes.”

Click below and ask the House and Senate chairmen of the Department of Agriculture to amend the Lacey Act to protect big cats!