The large number of these animals kept captive in the U.S. has become a national crisis. Across the U.S. more than an estimated 5,000 large cats are kept in USDA licensed facilities, and as many as another 10,000 are in private hands. It is unknown how many small wild cats, such as lynx, bobcats, and servals are held in captivity. The permitting, licensing and regulating of these wild exotic felines is not uniform across the U.S.; in some states it is more difficult to obtain a license for your dog than to purchase a lion or tiger for your backyard. Therefore it is impossible to arrive at an accurate number of these dangerous animals purchased as pets. The breeding continues.

Within the past 5 years, big cats have been responsible for over 32 known fatal attacks on people, and 574 known injuries. Recently in Kansas, 17 year-old Haley Hilderbrand was attacked and killed at a USDA licensed facility while she and other graduating classmates attended a photo session with a tiger. The year before, an attack in Minnesota left a 10 year-old boy unable to ever walk again or breathe on his own. Ask yourself, who in their right mind would allow this to continue? Big cats, driven by instinctual dictates, can be, and are, a danger to the public. Like any other danger to the public, such as illegal drugs or weapons, breeding dangerous animals must be legally controlled and/or stopped. Smaller wild cats can also be a danger, as they can inflict serious injuries.

Legitimate and reputable animal sanctuaries, which never breed, buy, sell, trade or use commercially, are struggling to take in the hundreds of wild cats who are dumped, seized, abandoned or abused every year. As an example, one sanctuary in Tennessee has over 200 cats. Another one in Colorado has over 100. The Shambala Preserve, the genesis of which occurred in 1972 during the filming of the movie Roar, supports 70 big cats. It is funded by The Roar Foundation, a 501(C)(3), which I founded in 1983.

That's just a small sample. Literally hundreds of these animals need sanctuary placement every year. Animal Sanctuaries struggle to keep up with the demand, but most have reached full capacity and cannot financially cope with these demands, especially in this current financial climate. Large cats can live for 20 years. Where will these animals go in the future? A kind, humane, and safe solution does not exist at this time. The only solution is passing stringent laws enforcing the ban on breeding the exotic feline to be sold as pets and for entertainment purposes. State wildlife agencies and the USDA admit that there are not enough investigators to properly visit and inspect the thousands of facilities that house these animals! An example was "Tiger Rescue" breeding tigers in a facility housing approximately 90 lions, tigers, and leopards in California, which has excellent laws, as long as they are enforced. 58 tiger cubs were found in a freezer and decomposing adult tiger carcasses were found on the premises when California Fish and Game finally closed it in November of 2003. This exotic feline death camp was not inspected by U.S.D.A. because "There aren't enough inspectors". Many such places exist throughout the US. Although Congress unanimously passed the Captive Wildlife Safety Act in 2003, which I co-authored, that stopped the interstate trafficking of exotic cats for personal possession, they insisted the Circuses be exempt. It passed unanimously in Congress and President Bush signed it on Dec. 19, 2003. Facilities are still allowed to breed big cats and, in states where private ownership is still legal, sell them within their own state. With the serious shortage of State and Federal wildlife inspectors, adequately policing this vast network of Black Market dealers has become impossible.

And finally, most individuals who own big cats privately cannot provide the appropriate environment, nutrition, security, and enrichment that these wild animals need to live a decent life in captivity. There is 'nothing' we can give a wild animal in captivity that it needs, except medical care. They are apex predators! In a misguided attempt to make these animals less dangerous to humans, many are victims of tooth removal and painful surgeries to remove their claws. To make matters even worse, some areas of the country do not have even one wildlife veterinarian who is skilled and trained to examine and treat big cats. This insanity must stop!…The breeding must stop! It is a grave human error to consider the exotic feline for personal possession.

I urge you to sponsor the introduction of the "Federal Ban on Breeding Exotic Cats for Personal Possession Act" in the U.S. Congress. I would be happy to provide you with any additional information. My experience of working directly in the field of rescuing the exotic feline since 1971, has given me and my associates a true perspective of the problems and dangers of this issue. If you have any questions, substantiating facts, or comments regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at 661-268-0380. I look forward to hearing from you pledging your support for the "Federal Ban on Breeding Exotic Cats for Personal Possession Act".

Most Sincerely,
Tippi Hedren, President
www.shambala.org
Phone: 661-268-0380
Fax: 661-268-8809

Co-sponsers: Representative Buck McKeon: (202) 225 2645
Representative Ed Perlmutter: (202) 225 1956