Keeping exotic animals as pets has had devastating and heartbreaking results.
In 2009 in Connecticut, Charla Nash went to assist her neighbor when
her 200-pound pet chimpanzee escaped. The chimp attacked Nash. She lost
her hands and face — including her nose, eyes, lips and cheekbones —
along with suffering significant brain trauma.Senate Bill 776, by Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, would place restrictions on the ownership, sale and breeding of big cats, bears and nonhuman primates. To be clear: Institutions such as accredited zoos, circuses and wildlife sanctuaries won’t be affected by this legislation; only individuals without the capacity or facilities to care for such dangerous animals. Additionally, people who already own exotic pets will be allowed to keep their animals, as long as they meet certain requirements. The bill also prohibits public contact with dangerous wild animals, a common sense safety precaution.
Keeping wild animals as pets poses serious public safety risks. Their wild instincts make them dangerous. They’re incapable of being tamed. Since 1990, there have been 250 recorded injuries to humans by primates, 54 by big cats and 11 by bears. These numbers are understated, as most incidents go unreported. Furthermore, many animals are carriers of diseases that are communicable — and potentially fatal — to humans. There is no reason such dangerous and unpredictable animals should be allowed to reside in a residential setting.
Additionally, private ownership of wild animals puts undue stress on law enforcement. When an exotic pet becomes a safety hazard to the owners or members of the public, it’s police officers who respond. Law enforcement officials routinely place their lives on the line to contain animals that don’t belong in a home in the first place.
And then what? Born Free USA operates a primate sanctuary in Texas that’s home to 630 primates, many of which were abandoned by or confiscated from private homes. The keepers see the scars — both physical and mental — that these animals bear from their isolated, abusive captivity. While the mission of these facilities is to provide humane lifetime care to needy animals, there is only so much they can do; nearly every sanctuary is at capacity.
As long as dangerous wild animals are kept as pets, it’s only a matter of time before there is another Charla Nash. She is a tragic and unequivocal testament to the fact that wild animals belong in the wild — not in someone’s home. Legislators should pass SB 776 and set an example for states that don’t yet have the protections that such a law would provide.
Place, of Marlow, is a member of the board of directors for the Stephens County Humane Society.
source
No comments:
Post a Comment