WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States praised Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas state legislators today for enacting S.B. 408, legislation making Kansas the 42nd state to have felony-level penalties for egregious acts of animal cruelty, and S.B. 578, a bill that prohibits the private ownership of dangerous exotic animals as pets – including tigers like the one who killed 17-year-old Haley Hilderbrand last August while she was posing with the big cat for senior high school pictures.
"We commend lawmakers in Kansas, especially Senator Vratil and Senator Haley of the Judiciary Committee who championed this cause, and made the great strides to pass this important legislation to protect public safety and save animals from cruelty and abuse," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS. "The anti-cruelty laws of a state are a reflection of our basic values and attitudes toward animals, and this pair of bills is a measurable step forward for the state of Kansas."
The new felony animal cruelty law, which passed the legislature overwhelmingly, classifies the most serious acts of animal cruelty as felonies, mandates that offenders convicted of such acts be subject to minimum jail sentences and fines and required to undergo a psychological evaluation. It prohibits offenders convicted of such acts from owning an animal for a period of five years. Kansas is the 42nd state to enact felony-level penalties for egregious acts of animal cruelty.
According to a year long report on animal cruelty in America conducted by The HSUS, a large number of the 1,600 cases examined involved some form of family violence, including domestic violence, child abuse or elder abuse – linked to violent acts of animal cruelty.
S.B. 578 prohibits the possession of dangerous wild animals such as tigers, lions, and bears as pets. These animals are simply too dangerous to public health and safety to be kept as pets, and the average pet owner cannot provide appropriate care for them.
"The tragic death last August of a 17-year-old student while posing for her senior photograph with a tiger at an exotic animal facility proves just how dangerous these animals can be," said Richard Farinato, HSUS director of captive wildlife protection. "If we're not safe from big cats in a licensed facility, they certainly should not be allowed as pets. Wild animals belong in the wild, not in our cages and basements."
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
