WASHINGTON - Today, The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, issued the following statement after learning of the tiger attack on legendary Las Vegas performer Roy Horn:

“We feel terribly for Roy and fervently hope that he recovers from these grave injuries,” states Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. “When I first met Roy some years ago at the opening of a new humane society in Las Vegas, we spoke then about the dangers of untrained people keeping big cats as pets.”

“When the best-trained and most experienced handlers of big cats can be attacked and dragged around like rag dolls, it is plainly obvious that untrained private citizens should not keep big cats as pets. Yet, there are perhaps 15,000 private citizens who keep lions tigers, cougars, and other big cats as pets. These animals are sold at exotic animal auctions and even on the Internet, and, once acquired by private citizens, they typically languish in backyards or basements. There have been dozens of injuries and fatalities to children and adults, and more will surely follow until keeping these animals as pets is banned at the state and federal level,” added Pacelle.

Pacelle and actress Tippi Hedren have spearheaded the effort to pass federal legislation in the 108th Congress to ban private citizens from keeping big cats as pets. S. 269 and H.R. 1006, labeled as the “the Captive Wildlife Safety Act,” were introduced earlier this year by Senators James Jeffords (I-VT) and John Ensign (R-NV) and Representatives Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). The House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works have passed each chamber’s bill, and action on the House and Senate floor is pending. While banning keeping big cats as pets, the legislation exempts circuses, zoos, and other facilities licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep big cats.

“This legislation should be passed by the end of this year in order to shrink the big cat pet trade and prevent more tragedies from occurring,” noted Pacelle. “What’s more, every state should have a law barring people from keeping dangerous wild animals as pets.”

The Humane Society of the United States represents more than seven million members and constituents. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country.