Update: While a hearing was held, this bill did not complete the legislative process prior to adjournment.
Bill Description: If passed, this bill would strengthen the existing law which requires that possessors of certain dangerous wild animals register with local officials. S 1032 would apply to possessors of lions and other wild cats, wolves, bears, hyenas, and nonhuman primates.
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Dangerous wild animals belong in their natural habitat and not in the hands of private individuals as “pets.” By their very nature, these animals are potentially dangerous and do not adjust well to a captive environment. Across the country, many incidents have been reported where exotic animals held in private hands have attacked humans and other animals, or have escaped from their enclosure and freely roamed the community. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all oppose private possession of certain dangerous wild animals.