WHO SAYS THE VALLEY HAS NO WILDLIFE; LOCAL RESIDENTS BOAST ARRAY OF EXOTIC ANIMALS.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

With Hollywood next door and enough space to keep prying eyes out of back yards, San Fernando Valley residents own nearly half of the licensed exotic animals citywide - some so unusual they must be seen to be believed.

Like Jan Giacinto's serval, Taroo, an African cat with a golden coat and black spots that she is licensed to keep at her Tarzana home with an Amur leopard and other not-so-wild wildcats.

``Having a wild animal trust you gives you such an incredible high and a wonderful feeling,'' said Giacinto as her cats roamed freely like any house tabby. ``To be able to hug a tiger and scratch a cheetah and for them to give you kisses on the face - there is nothing like it.''

And then there is Bob Dunn, who has a couple of dozen chimpanzees, apes and zebras tucked away at his 5-acre Sylmar ranch. His pets have appeared in movies such as ``Ace Ventura Pet Detective II'' and ``The Jungle Book.''

``I've raised and housed Michael Jackson's chimp Bubbles since he was a baby,'' Dunn said.

As exotic as their animals, Giacinto and Dunn themselves are rare: In a city of some 3.7 million people, they are among only 97 people who hold wild animal permits, including Valley residents with 43.

``But that is just the tip of the iceberg,'' said Lt. Annetta Vernon, senior animal control officer for the Los Angeles City Animal Care and Control Center. ``There are lots of exotic animals and reptiles out there that are not under permit.''

Like the recent discovery of a serval in a Woodland Hills back yard. And last week, authorities found another house in Woodland Hills with an animal farm of live piranhas, black widows and rattlesnakes.

One of the more famous cases occurred in August 1997 when an unlicensed boa constrictor swallowed a West Hills woman's Chihuahua whole.

Many exotic animals end up in unlicensed hands after being smuggled into the United States. A snake can bring the seller $200, and people will pay $10,000 for a Komodo dragon.

``Los Angeles is the number one port for live pets and fish,'' said Mike Osborn, supervisory wildlife inspector for U.S. Fish and Game.

Giacinto, who is president of the 51-year-old, Tarzana-based World Wildlife Preservation Society, estimates there are 500 to 1,000 people in the Valley who own unlicensed exotic pets.

``There are hundreds of people in the Valley who have pets illegally,'' said Giacinto, who has bred and sold white and orange tigers, cheetahs and other wildcats for use in movies, television shows and by magicians. ``I know a lot of people who have snakes and hedgehogs who don't have permits.''

Licensed to growl

The licensing of exotic animals is for their welfare, and generally permits are issued only for animals used for educational or commercial purposes, such as the movie and television industry, officials said.

The boa constrictor-Chihuahua incident sparked stricter regulations that allow home inspections to ensure the animals' cages are large enough and secure and that the animal is properly cared for.

Keeping them is not easy - or cheap. For instance, Giacinto feeds Taroo 1-1/2 pounds of raw London broil steak every day.

On several occasions in the Valley, alligators kept as people's pets inside bathtubs outgrew their quarters, escaped and ended up lounging in the home's swimming pool, said West Valley animal shelter Lt. Richard Felosky, who helped fish the prehistoric beasts out.

On another occasion, a Valley resident discovered a bear wearing a top hat in his front yard.

``Naturally, you say to yourself, This guy has had too much to drink,'' said Louis Dedeaux, a senior animal control officer for Los Angeles animal services. ``But when I got out there, it was a bear with a top hat and a vest. It came from a circus.''

On July 19, state Fish and Game officials took possession of an African serval and a California bobcat in Woodland Hills because they were not licensed. Giacinto said the owner of the animals - who works in the movie industry - called her for advice after his animals were taken.

She told him to get permits.

``These are his babies,'' said Giacinto. ``You see something like that happen and it scares you. It would be like taking one of my kids away from me. I would die.''

Valley cats

Some of the people with permits are famous. Giacinto is currently taking care of two of Cher's Bengal cats.

``She calls up all the time to see how they are doing,'' said Giacinto, who has sold tigers to Las Vegas entertainers Siegfried & Roy and to Jermaine Jackson, whose family is from Encino.

Through the 105-member World Wildlife Preservation Society, Giacinto and other members encourage people to get permits for their animals and teach them how to properly care for their pets.

The society recently held its monthly meeting at the Sylmar home of 83-year-old Frank Inn, who gained fame in Hollywood as an animal trainer for teaching Benji tricks and for animals that have appeared on the television shows ``The Beverly Hillbillies,'' ``Green Acres'' and ``The Addams Family.''

He has also spent much of his life teaching others how to train and care for animals. ``I now have a dog I call Benji the III. They are talking about making another movie with him in it,'' Inn said.

Giacinto knows the pleasures of owning a pet that gives its owner unconditional love.

``I've been fascinated by big cats all my life,'' Giacinto said. ``Ever since I was a little kid, I've adored cats. My mother had to drag me out of `Tarzan.' I had dreams about swinging through the jungle.''

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Bob Dunn is licensed to keep 10-year-old orangutan Jerry and 5-year-old chimpanzee Kenuzy at his Sylmar home.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2--Color) An African serval found in Woodland Hills licks his bobcat pal as they relax at the Wildworks Wildlife Care Center in Topanga Canyon.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

(3--Color) Taroo, a 17-year-old African serval, nudges his owner, Jan Giacinto, who breeds Bengal cats and has a license for exotic animals.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

(4--Color) Romeo, an Amur leopard, hisses when he is approached.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer