A leading rights group that works to protect the well-being of wild animals in Canada says that the mauling death of an Ontario man by his tiger is a wake-up call to governments at all levels to prevent people from owning exotic animals. Rob Laidlaw, the executive director of Zoo Check Canada, said the death of Norman Buwalda on Sunday was the result of Ontario’s weak laws that make it too easy for people to keep wild animals as pets without any oversight. … Barry Kent MacKay, the Canadian representative of Born Free USA, another animal rights group, said his organization has been warning communities for years to toughen laws. “We warned these communities to pass these bylaws, because people can have a plethora of animals,” MacKay said. “Private owners don’t see the danger, they think everything is fine.”
Animal groups urge tougher laws after Ontario tiger owner killed
Mark Iype, Canwest News Service
National Post