In a major win for animal rights, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act with a vote of 272 to 114 on Thursday!
The bill expands the current Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 and limits the possession, sale, transportation, and breeding of big cats — including lions, tigers, cheetahs, and others.
If the bill becomes law, all public contact with big cats — including cub petting, animal selfies, and hand-feedings — will be outlawed entirely. Most individuals will also be banned from privately owning big cats. But there are exceptions for wildlife sanctuaries, colleges and universities, state-licensed veterinarians, facilities with a specific license from the Department of Agriculture, and a select few others, according to CBS.
Violations of the Big Cat Public Safety Act could result in up to five years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
Why Pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act?
Gaining bipartisan support in the House, the bill is intended to improve both animal welfare and public safety.
Throughout the United States, there are more captive tigers than tigers in the wild. And in some jurisdictions, it’s easier to own a tiger than to adopt a dog — only 20 states have comprehensive bans on owning wildlife. The Big Cat Public Safety Act would ban big cat ownership for most people at the federal level.
Big cats are miserable in captivity. At for-profit roadside zoos and other animal attractions, tiger and lion cubs are ripped away from their mothers at birth and forced to interact with park visitors for cub petting and selfie opportunities until they’re 12 weeks old. At that age, they’re no longer profitable because they’re too dangerous for public contact. Some are sold to abusive owners or even killed, as the cost of caring for them is high.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act will save human lives, too. In a 22-year span, more than 300 dangerous incidents involving big cats happened in the United States. Tragically, four children and 16 adults died, with dozens more having their limbs ripped off. Keeping big cats around people is deadly.
What Happens Next, and How Can I Help?
After passing in the House, the Big Cat Public Safety Act has moved to the Senate. If it passes in the Senate, the bill will be sent to the President, who can then sign it into law.
If you haven’t yet, sign LFT’s petition urging the Senate to pass this lifesaving bill, which would save both big cats and people from imminent danger.
In addition, contact your state senator directly and urge them to support and vote in favor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act when it reaches the floor for approval.
SIGN: Save Tigers and Lions from Miserable Captivity As ‘Pets’
What’s New…
This os good news.
Poor animals.
This country is getting bad in how we treat animals
This country is getting bad in how we treat animals
OMG!!!! THIS IS A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT,… FAR FAR TOO LATE FOR MILLIONS OF CATS IN CAGES IN SOME IDIOTS BACK YARD. TOTALLY CONDONED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS NO PROBLEMO. MORE CATS IN CAPTIVITY THAN IN THE WILD!!?!???,……IS NOTHING LESS THAN COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE AND IS A COMPLETE FAILIURE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MORESO FOR CATS AND/OR OTHER ANIMAL!!!!!!!! WHY DOES IT TAKE DISASTERS FOR THESE INCOMPETANTS TO FINALLY (SORT OF BUT NOT REALLY) COME TO THEIR (BRAIN DEAD ABOUT ANIMALS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT OF THEM) SENSES. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC FOR US GOVERNMENTS TO ALLOW ANY (OTHER) IDIOT TO OWN A BIG CAT OR ANY OTHER WILD ANIMAL FOR THAT MATTER. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUE WITH ANY ANIMAL ATTACKING AND KILLING THEIR OWNERS. NO PROBLEM WHAT SO EVER!!!! OTHER PEOPLE WHO “OPPS,..I WAS HAVING COFFEE AND …..THE CAT GOT OUT THAT ARE ATTACKED AND KILLED AND ARE INNOCENT,…YES,..THIS IS NOT GOOD BUT THE GOVERNMENT ALWAYS PUTS THE TWIST ON….PROTECTING PEOPLE (JOKE ) WHEN IT IS THEM WHO WE NEED PROTECTING FROM WITH SUCH IDIOTIC AND TOTALLY INEPT LAWS (OR LACK OF THEM). ANIMALS THE CAT OWNERS NEED TO BE CHARGED WITH MURDER AND PUT IN JAIL ABSOLUTELY!!!! BUT THE ANIMAL GETS PUT DOWN AND THE OWNER GOES,..”OPPS,…AND WALKS AWAY. THANKS FOR TIGER KING MOVIE FOR BRINGING LIGHT TO THIS COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT,…AND A COMPLETE FAILURE TO MANAGE. AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF OTHER CATS AND WILD ANIMALS IN CAGES IN….BACK YARDS….SUFFER HORRIBLY AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW THIS,……..IS COMPLETE INCOMPETANCE AND IGNORANCE. A COMPLETE FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT. QUITE POSSIBLY THE LION KING DOCUMENTRY,…EMBARRASSED THE GOVERNMENT AS THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE,…AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF ANIMALS SUFFER BECAUSE OF THIS INSANITY. BUT IT’S OUT OF SIGHT,…SO NO PROBLEM TO LET ANY IDIOT WHO WANTS A PET CHIMP FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY PRESENT IS COMPLETELY OK. APPAULING AND DISGUSTING.
Oh please let the Senate see sense and kindness.
Anything to help
Such awesome news but please don’t send the bill to this current “president” to be signed, the creature is now too demented to do the right thing “he never has” Wait until a human president is in the White House.