Legislation protecting "big cats" heads to POTUS

News and headlines for December 4 - December 9, 2022

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act. The legislation shuts down roadside petting zoos. “Under the new bill, possession of lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, cougars or any hybrid of these species would be limited to wildlife sanctuaries, universities and certified zoos.” According to supporters of the bill, “facilities that offer cub petting have been known to kill tigers once they can no longer be used to make money.” As the House of Representatives previously passed the bill, it now heads to President Biden for his signature.

These are some of the stories making headlines in animal protection:

A Texas man was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals for leaving a dog tied up outside without shelter, food, and water during heavy rains, strong winds, and cold temperatures under a new law that makes that illegal.

The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which became law last year, abolishes short restraints and requires shelter, shade, food, water, and the ability of dogs to protect themselves.

Dogs offer people undying loyalty and unconditional love. In return, they ask for nothing more than a sense of belonging. Yet to banish a dog permanently to a chain is a betrayal of what should be a loving pact. And that is no way to treat our best friends.

If you live in a state that does not ban chaining, The No Kill Advocacy Center has model legislation, a guide on how to get it introduced, and NKAC attorneys stand ready to help.

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Clark County, NV, unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale of commercially-bred dogs, cats, rabbits, and pigs in pet stores. Pet stores can partner with shelters and rescue groups if they want to have animals.

These laws work. Because of them, the number of USDA-licensed breeders has declined by 30%, and “Nebraska Department of Agriculture records show that half of the state’s commercial dog and cat breeders have left the business.”

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“More than a dozen residents in Merryville [LA] were given notice that if they had a pit bull, they needed to move it out of city limits within 48 hours.”

Banning dogs based on how they look is immoral. It is also ineffective. That’s not just opinion; it’s science:

• The breed of a dog indicates how they look, not how they behave;

• 50% of dogs labeled as pit bulls lacked DNA breed signatures of breeds commonly classified as pit bulls;

• Dogs targeted for breed discriminatory laws are not more likely to bite, do not bite harder, and such bans do not result in fewer dog bites or bite-related hospitalization rates;

• Enforcement is expensive with no measurable impact on public safety; and,

• Bans also negatively impact surrounding communities and rescue groups, which have to take on the burden of such regressive and selfish policies to save the lives of these dogs.

Good dogs die when a city targets dogs based on their appearance. It’s that simple.

Fueling irrational hatred, despite studies to the contrary, are those trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of these dogs, including an “academic imposter” and a fortune-teller.

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