Update (March, 2014): This bill failed to get a hearing before the committee deadline, so it cannot pass this year.
Bill Description:
Adds “any nonhuman primate; [and] any wolf, excluding hybrids” to the definition of “dangerous regulated animal,” which already includes lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and mountain lions, or any hybrid; bears or any hybrid; and all non-native, venomous snakes.
Removes exemptions on who may possess slaughter, sell, purchase or otherwise acquire a dangerous regulated animal – this makes it uniformly illegal for individuals to privately own these animals.
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Allows people to keep a dangerous regulated animal that they lawfully possessed prior to July 1, 2013, provided that they are 21 years of age or older and that they complete the required documentation and meet certain other criteria.
If a dangerous regulated animal potentially exposes a human to rabies or any other zoonotic disease, the owner of the dangerous regulated animal must report the potential exposure to the local animal control authority within 24 hours.
A dangerous regulated animal shall not be allowed to be in proximity to members of the public without sufficient distance and protective barriers, including, but not limited to, offering photographic opportunities next to dangerous regulated animals of any age.
Background:
Check out our page on exotic pets for more details on why private ownership of wild animals is both cruel and dangerous.
Take Action:
Kansas residents, call or email your state representative and urge them to support the reintroduction of this bill in 2015!
Read the full text here.