Carole Baskin delighted as the Big Cat Public Safety Act goes to Biden for his signature

Carole Baskin, the founder and owner of Big Cat Rescue in Florida has vigorously and highly effectively promoted the Big Cat Public Safety Act for as long as it takes in order to get it through America's legislature, to turn it into an Act. She has done tremendously well, and the breaking news is that this legislation has passed the U.S. Senate and is heading to President Biden's desk for his signature.

Carole Baskin being interviewed by Wink news. Screenshot.

It is a vital bit of legislation because there's been far too much big cat abuse in private zoos in America over decades. The Humane Society of the United States described as "monumental legislation".

It will prohibit keeping tigers, lions and other big cat species as pets and bans public contact with the species including cub petting which is a form of animal abuse. Nathan Winograd states: "Under the new bill, possession of lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, cougars or any hybrid of these species would be limited to wildlife sanctuaries, universities and certified zoos."

The bill was passed by unanimous consent. The legislation was sponsored and championed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Rep. Michael Quigley, D-Ill., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Pres Biden has expressed support for the bill and therefore it's going to be law in the not-too-distant future much to the benefit of America.

Captive lion in barren cage. Image: Flickr photographer, Andrey.

The Backyard Tiger – Big Cat Public Safety Act will end big cat abuse

Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and CEO of Humane Society Legislative Fund, said:

"An extraordinarily cruel era for big cats in the U.S. finally comes to an end with the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act. We’ve been fighting for this moment for years because so many so-called ‘Tiger Kings’ have been breeding tigers and other big cats to use them for profit. And once the cubs grow too large for cub-petting or selfies, these poor animals get dumped at roadside zoos or passed into the pet trade, which is not only a terrible wrong for the animals, but also a threat to public safety. Now that the Big Cat Public Safety Act will become law, it’s the beginning of the end of the big cat crisis in the U.S.”

It is the final nail in the coffin for people like Joe Exotic and his ilk, who consistently abused big cats for financial gain. Mr Exotic is, as you might remember, languishing in prison for his conspiracy to murder Carole Baskin, his nemesis.

Baskin won the war against the big cat abusers. She expanded her operation from big cat rescue in Florida to doing something even bigger and better which is promoting proactive steps to stop the abuse of these iconic species.

Her rescue centre in Florida is in effect a reactive response to abuse. I am sure that she is delighted that she can now bask in the glory of having promoted this wonderful Act which is a proactive measure which is sure to improve animal welfare in America.

Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund said:

 “Passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act addresses a reckless cruelty that has festered for years. For too long tiger cubs have been exploited by ‘pay to play’ operators like Joe Exotic and Doc Antle who profited from charging people for photo ops of their children holding these potentially dangerous wild animals. Since 1990, more than 400 incidents involving captive big cats have occurred in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Five children and 19 adults have been killed and hundreds of others injured, some losing limbs or suffering other traumatic injuries. The bill’s enactment stops what was an endless cycle of exploiting and mistreating big cat cubs, who were dumped after they grew too large for photo ops. The legislation’s lead sponsors Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Mike Quigley and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick rightly saw this as a public safety threat and a gross cruelty. We urge President Biden to sign the bill without delay.”

Everyone knows that keeping the cats as pets in barren cages in private zoos is inhumane. It is an act of cruelty and it's been going on for far too long.

In is not just cruel to the animals, it is dangerous to the human participants of this horrible trade. How many people have been harmed in private zoos? How many big cats have gone mad in a conrete environment without the means to express their complex behavioural needs?

How many big cats have been fed a diet which is highly unsuited to them causing ill-health and where the pieces have been picked up by Big Cat Rescue?

Apparently, since 1990, more than 400 dangerous incidents have occurred involving captive big cats in America, specifically, 46 states and the District of Columbia.

19 adults and five children have been killed and hundreds of people have been injured some losing limbs and other suffering traumatic injuries having been attacked by captive big cats in private zoos. People lack the knowledge and the skills to manage captive big cats very often.

America should see the end of this animal abuse.