Keeping the Public Safe From Dangerous Wild Animals
(Click on the photo above to watch an interview from CBS 58 with more information)
Recently, Milwaukee residents got a shock when a woman reported a lion roaming near her home on the northeast side. Unfortunately, last week's sighting is just one of many dangerous instances that have occurred in Wisconsin. In fact, law enforcement were recently called to a house in Kenosha where they eventually removed five rattlesnakes, a crocodile, two alligators, and a poisonous Gila monster. These events not only put citizens, law enforcement and emergency responders in danger, they also divert valuable time and resources from municipalities as they try to secure the animal. Many of you may be surprised to learn that Wisconsin is one of only five states that does not have a state law regulating the private possession of dangerous wild animals, and I believe it is past time to put these protections in place. To help keep our communities safe, I am introducing a bill that would prohibit the private possession of dangerous exotic animals such as lions, tigers, polar bears, gorillas and alligators. Under the bill, certain vets, zoos, and other reasonable institutions are exempt from this prohibition. This common sense measure has received widespread support from many groups including Wisconsin Professional Police Association, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Federated Human Societies and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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