PETA WANTS BIG CATS BARRED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - An animal-rights group, citing a wild-animal show at a Saugus High School rally, wants the state to prohibit appearances by exotic cats at schools.

In a letter sent Jan. 21 to California State Superintendent Jack O'Connell, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals pointed to the African lion that appeared at a homecoming rally as a reason to bolster safety regulations involving animals at schools.

PETA wants the state to revise a board policy that addresses school safety ``to explicitly state that schools should have a plan to protect students from potentially dangerous or wild animals who are taken to school campuses by animal exhibitors,'' Amy Rhodes, animals in entertainment supervisor for PETA, wrote in a letter.

PETA contends that the lion's appearance at Saugus, a tiger mauling a kindergarten student at Scotts Valley Baymonte Christian School in 2002 and recent exotic-animal displays from Leopards, Etc. in the Ukiah Unified School District are examples of putting students in jeopardy.

``Captive big cats are deeply affected by the lack of freedom, exercise and stimulation,'' the letter continues. ``Many demonstrate neurotic behavior such as pacing. California students are being misinformed about the needs and behaviors of wild animals when they see big cats handled in classrooms and walked through auditoriums on leashes.''

Sid Yost, who brought African lion Jabari to Saugus High for its Oct. 8 homecoming rally, acknowledged that the lion was reluctant to walk across the slick gymnasium floor, adding that he would be more comfortable in the end zone of a football field, with grass underfoot.

Saugus students were cautioned to be silent when the lion was inside the gym, and their exposure to the big cat was limited, but Principal Bill Bolde put his head down near the lion's and stroked its mane during the rally.

Yost is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for various alleged violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Bolde said he was not aware of Yost's legal problems before hiring him to bring the feline rally performer on campus.

The Saugus, Sulphur Springs and Newhall elementary school districts do not allow exotic cats such as lions, tigers, cougars or leopards on campus due to concerns for students' allergies. No such restrictive policy could be found in a search of the Hart district regulations, leaving animal appearances up to each school.

The request from PETA comes at a time when the state annually reviews the safety policies that will be implemented on behalf of all students. The state Board of Education is required to review and update safety plans annually by March 1.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com