Letter: Big cat legislation is long overdue

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 | 8:49 a.m.

I was happy to read in the Las Vegas Sun about the bill sponsored by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to halt the trade in big cats, even if it's just to stop their shipment.

Two years ago I served on a Clark County committee to craft a law to help with both public safety and the welfare of the animals. On the committee were representatives of area animal-control offices, the U.S. Agriculture Department, and the state Division of Wildlife. Also serving were veterinarians, exotic animal trainers and animal advocates such as myself. We worked for 10 months and came up with a good ordinance but it had to be shelved for lack of funding.

I must tell you, the exotic animal people will say whatever it takes to continue making money off of the animals. They never want laws -- if it's a local law they say they want federal enforcement, and if it's a federal law they say they want local laws. Sure they do. The truth is, they want no laws because they have run amok for so long with almost no oversight that they fight anything that would get in their way.

Protecting the public from big cats is long overdue. Because the animals almost always suffer, they should also be protected. My hat is off to Sen. Ensign.

TINA TRENNER