Last year, the bipartisan Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380 and S. 2561), which prohibits the ownership of big cats and makes it illegal for exhibitors to allow public contact with cubs, was introduced by Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois, along with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
According to Animal Defenders International (ADI), the life-saving bill is scheduled to go before the House of Representatives tomorrow, December 3rd. The bill needs a two-thirds majority to advance. That is why it is imperative that we answer ADI’s call to action today, which we have included below.
Tragically, throughout the United States, thousands of big cats such as: tigers, lions, leopards, and pumas are kept in miserable, insecure, and unsafe conditions by irresponsible owners. The Big Cat Public Safety Act works to address this issue by banning the private ownership of these animals and prohibits exhibitors, such as roadside zoos, from allowing public contact with cubs.
Sadly, these types of so-called zoos profit by charging the public a fee to interact with cubs and big cats for “selfies.” These facilities separate cubs from their mothers very soon after birth so they can be handled by visitors; it is an endless cycle of breeding to keep cubs available in order to make money off of them. Once cubs are grown and become too dangerous to handle, they may end up in the illegal wildlife trade, sold to other unscrupulous zoos or exhibitors, or to people who are unqualified to care for them as so-called “pets.”
Please join Animal Defenders International, Peace 4 Animals, WAN, and other animal welfare organizations and advocates in support of this important piece of legislation that will protect big cats from abusers and profiteers, as well as public safety.
How You Can Help!
Please request that your U.S. senators and representative support the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Find your federal legislators and their contact information, HERE!
1) Call your U.S. senators and U.S. representative using the information below to urge them to support the Big Cat Public Safety Act.
When you call, state your name, your town or city, and your phone number.
Animal Defenders International has provided an example of what you can send your legislators:
As your constituent, I want to encourage you to please support the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380 and S. 2561). This important legislation will protect tigers and other big cats from abuse, as well as protect the public by eliminating public contact with big cats and the possession of big cats as pets.
2) Send ADI’s letter to your U.S. senators and U.S. representative by filling out the form, HERE!
