Look but don’t touch, says bill addressing wild animal ownership | Politics
INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana’s a pet-loving condition. We’re reportedly rated 3rd for pet possession, completely half of us have dogs and—with a permit—you could even very own a wolf, bear or wildcat.
But the Senate Organic Means Committee heard a monthly bill Monday searching for to limit some of the state’s legislation around trying to keep wild animals as pets.
Coming in shut call with wild animals such as cats and bears can be quite dangerous, in accordance to Rep. David Abbott, R-Rome Metropolis, who authored Property Invoice 1248. It would aim to avert attacks by animals from taking place by setting up laws for maintaining them in captivity. HB 1248 “prohibits a man or woman that owns or possesses a specified animal from permitting a member of the public to arrive into direct contact, or enter into a proximity that allows for or permits direct contact.”
Jeff Watson, also identified as “the Bear Guy,” testified in guidance of the bill. Watson explained the barrier involving the general public and the animal could just be “a line of demarcation. Just paint a line on the floor and say ‘just stay on this side.’”
Samantha Morton, the Indiana state director for the Humane Culture of the United States, also arrived in guidance of HB 1248. “This bill would greatly enhance general public well being and security,” Morton explained.
Indiana-unique figures were not presented, but in the case of wild cats, the Humane Culture counted 20 human fatalities, 244 human accidents and 125 animal fatalities because 1990. Most attacks were being from “unaccredited breeding amenities, badly run roadside zoos, traveling zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries and personal menageries.” For context, the culture estimates less than 400 of the nation’s 5,000-7,000 tigers are in accredited zoos, an concern just lately highlighted by the hit documentary “Tiger King,” which Abbott cited as an example.
Additionally, Morton mentioned there have been six incidents in Indiana where by animals have attracted COVID-19 by near call. The USDA has recommended minimizing close call with wild animals.
HB 1248 handed the committee 7- and now goes to the Senate floor. If the monthly bill is adopted, Indiana would be a part of 11 other states, which include Tennessee, New York, New Hampshire and Nevada, with a identical regulation, Abbott explained.
Madeline Alexander is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a information internet site powered by Franklin Higher education journalism learners.
