Kentucky Bans Exotic Animals as "Pets"

From: info@api4animals.org
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 10:39:40 -0700


Great News for Animals:
Kentucky Bans Exotic Animals as "Pets"

Great News: A regulation that will prohibit the future private possession
of tigers, lions, monkeys, bears, venomous reptiles, and other dangerous
wildlife has been enacted in Kentucky!

The regulation is one of the most comprehensive restrictions on the
keeping of exotic animals as "pets" in the United States. This important
regulation will not only prohibit the future private possession of these
exotic animals but also prohibit existing animals from being bred.

As mentioned, this ban affects future possession of wild animals. Persons
currently possessing legally obtained animals can keep them, provided
that they maintain veterinary and acquisition records establishing that
the animal was possessed prior to the effective date of the regulation.

Background:

Wild animals are often kept captive in private homes as "pets." Common
animals kept as "pets" include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals,
wolves, bears, alligators, snakes, monkeys and other nonhuman primates.
These animals by their very nature are incapable of being domesticated or
tamed.

Wild animals are inherently dangerous. Across the country wild and exotic
animals privately held have attacked humans and other animals, and have
escaped from their enclosures, freely roaming the community. These
animals require the care that the average person simply cannot provide.
To date, 37 states have some form of law either banning or regulating the
private possession of exotic animals — it is now time for all other
states to act.

The Animal Protection Institute and the Primate Rescue Center worked
together in getting this important regulation passed in order to protect
animals and protect the people in Kentucky from the risk that exotic
animals pose when kept as "pets". API is working nationally on exotic
animal legislation and has extensive information relating to wild animals
in captivity, including incidents involving dangerous exotic animals in
private possession. For more information visit www.MoreBeautifulWild.com
http://www.MoreBeautifulWild.com

Thank you to all that took action on this very important issue. Stay
tuned for more ways to help animals in your state and across the country.