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Article published: Feb 20, 2007 Lions and tigers and bears, oh my
Des Moines State lawmakers see nothing exotic about dangerous
animals being turned loose or abandoned by private owners who no longer
can care for their pet lions and tigers and bears and monkeys.
A Senate subcommittee today took the first step toward making it
illegal for a person to own or possess a dangerous wild animal, and to
breed or transport such beasts into Iowa. The number of affected
animals included wolves, coyotes, primates other than humans,
lions, tigers, bears, leopards, cheetahs, venomous snakes, pandas,
rhinoceroses, elephants and other wild species.
"This issue has to be addressed by the state," said Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, who is a licensed veterinarian.
The problem has proliferated, he said, due to Internet sales offering
cuddly cubs that grow into an unmanageable situation for many owners
who then turn to zoos, animal shelters or sanctuaries for help.
However, many of those facilities are filling up or do not want to take
responsibility for unwanted animals, officials said.
"It's a
cycle that's getting worse and worse," said Josh Colvin of the Animal
Rescue League, who favored the phase-out of private ownership and
establishing a civil penalty of up to $2,000 for violations of the
proposed statute.
Rescue League officials cited 14 incidents
involving exotic animals that included 48 monkeys confiscated in
Swisher in 1996, four cougars in Poweshiek County in 2005, and three
cougars and a bear in Jackson County in 2006. Other incidents involved African lions, Bengal tigers and black bears.
Senate File 135 would not apply to animals currently owned by Iowans.
But those owners would be required to register the dangerous wild
animal with the state and to attach or install an electronic
identification device to the animal or beneath its skin or hide.
The legislation would exempt circuses, accredited zoos, fairs, animal
sanctuaries, pounds or shelters, or someone transporting a dangerous
animal through Iowa.
Jill Altringer of the Iowa Federation of
Animal Owners said her group opposes the bill because it would take
away property rights. She preferred a House version that would regulate
wild animals in Iowa but would not ban their ownership or possession.
Susan Fenton of the state Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship expressed concern that the bill would require new duties
for the agency without money for the positions and $300,000 it would
take to implement the legislation.
