Ensign bill sets rules on keeping big cats

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003 | 11:08 a.m.

Although a bill introduced earlier this year by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., would not ban exotic animals in shows such as Siegfried & Roy's, the legislation would make it harder to move pet lions and tigers between states, the senator said.

Since Roy Horn was bitten in the neck onstage Friday night by a 600-pound white tiger named Montecore, concerns have been raised about the safety of allowing exotic animals onstage.

Horn remained in critical but stable condition on Tuesday, neurosurgeon Derek Duke said.

The Humane Society of the United States approached Ensign, a veterinarian, and asked him to introduce the bill, estimating that 10,000 to 15,000 exotic cats are kept as pets in the country.

The Humane Society crafted companion bills in the Senate and House labeled the Captive Wildlife Safety Act and they were introduced earlier this year. Sens. Ensign and James Jeffords, I-Vt., co-sponsored the Senate version.

While the bill would ban keeping big cats as pets, the legislation does not prevent reputable sanctuaries, circuses, zoos and exhibits such as those at The Mirage from keeping tigers and lions as long as they are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Humane Society of Las Vegas is against putting wild animals onstage in general, society President Judith Ruiz said.

However, Siegfried & Roy have taken exceptionally good care of their animals and taught the public about wildcats in nature, Ruiz said.

"If it can happen to someone like Siegfried or Roy with all their training and skills, imagine that compared to someone who gets one of these cats from the back of a pickup truck in a parking lot," Ruiz said.

"We do wonder what will happen to the cats if they can't be used in the show."

An MGM MIRAGE spokesman said the tiger that attacked Horn will live out its days in a sanctuary.

Ensign said that cats, big or small, know their own strength. The senator appeared on "Face to Face with John Ralston" on Cox Cable channels 1 and 39 on Tuesday.

"One thing about animals is they know their own strength," Ensign said. "If the claws are extended, they know."

Pet cats aren't immune from going on a rampage, the senator said.

"You'll see them snap," Ensign said. "You take the nicest thing in the world, and something will happen and they will attack their owner."

Pets inflict less damage because of their size, he said, but a cat weighing hundreds of pounds can do major damage.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a second letter Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, urging Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman to ban any activities that permit direct contact with tigers, lions or other big cats.

Since 1990 there have been at least 151 dangerous incidents involving big cats in 34 states, Michael McGraw of PETA said.

Two children have been killed and 11 adults have died as a result of exotic pet attacks, he said. Another 40 people have lost limbs or suffered other injuries, he said.

"As evidenced by this latest Siegfried & Roy incident, experienced trainers cannot protect themselves, let alone the general public, when a dangerous animal rebels against a trainer's physical dominance," said Lisa Wathne, PETA's captive exotic animal specialist.

PETA also wrote a letter to Siegfried and Roy, asking them to retire their exotic animals and build a sanctuary where the animals can live out their lives.

A group calling itself S&R Against PETA said it will seek an apology to Horn from PETA after the original letter was sent to his hospital room.