BIG-CAT LAW GETS ITS CLAWS.Byline: Daily News The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has produced the regulations needed to implement the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, a locally-generated federal law to limit interstate and Internet sales of exotic big cats. The initial legislation was co-authored by U.S. Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, at the urging of actress Tippi Hedren Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren (born January 19, 1930)[1] is an American actress with a career spanning six decades. She is best known for her role as Melanie Daniels in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds , who runs a sanctuary for lions, tigers and other exotic animals - many of them discarded pets nursed back to health at her Shambala Preserve Shambala Preserve is wild animal preserve established in 1972 and located in Acton, California, a desert community. About Shambala is maintained by the Roar Foundation, founded by actress Tippi Hedren in 1983 as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization . in Acton. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law in December 2003, but it had no teeth until the Fish and Wildlife Service drew up regulations and penalties. ``The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spelled out why keeping big cats as pets is dangerous and inhumane in·hu·mane adj. Lacking pity or compassion. in  hu·mane ly adv. ,'' Richard Farinato of
the Humane Society of the United States The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a Washington, D.C-based animal welfare advocacy group. It is the largest animal welfare organization in the world, with nearly 10 million members and a 2006 budget of US$103 million. said in a prepared statement.
``Wild animals WILD ANIMALS. Animals in a state of nature; animals ferae naturae. Vide Animals; Ferae naturae. don't belong in our backyards and basements. These
are time bombs waiting to explode in our communities.''
The law prohibits interstate or Internet trade or transfer of live lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars or any hybrid combination of these species, unless certain exceptions are met. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 exotic cats, such as lions and tigers, are kept as pets in the United States, according to the Humane Society. The law does not affect federally licensed exhibitors, such as zoos and circuses, academic institutions, veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. wildlife sanctuaries. The guidelines recently filed in the Federal Register state that these animals are ``never completely tamed; nor are they totally predictable, even if they have lived their entire lives with humans.'' A 30-day public comment period will end March 2. Violations of the ban on interstate shipments of the animals are subject to a prison term of up to five years and fines up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for an organization. Information on the regulations, including how to submit comments, is available at www.regulations.gov. |
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