The Facts on the Keeping of The Facts on the Keeping of ““ExoticExotic”” Animals in NevadaAnimals in Nevada

Scott ShoemakerDirector, REXANO

OutlineOutline• Who is REXANO• Terms• “Exotic” Animal Data/Statistics• Nevada Current Laws• What the Proponents of SB245 wants

you to believe• The reality• The Particulars of SB245

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Who is REXANOWho is REXANOA 501c3 Non-Profit, also a domestic non profit corporation incorporated in the state of Nevada.

REXANO is committed to protect the rights of animal owners.

WE support responsible private ownership of exotic animals in any form, be it non commercial pet or sanctuary, as well as commercial breeder or exhibitor.

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TermsTerms• AZA- Association of Zoos and Aquariums, private non-profit organization

which accredits it own members

• Pet- Your money pit, no exhibiting

• Exotic Animals- For the purpose of this presentation, those species incorporated into SB245

• NDOW- Nevada Department of Wildlife

• USDA- The Animal Welfare Act, AWA, enforced by the Animal Care (AC) division of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), regulates wholesale breeders, dealers, exhibitors and caretakers of animals. Specifically exempts private collectors (pet owner)

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National NumbersNational Numbers-- MammalsMammalsLarge Mammal Related Fatalities by the Type of Facility and Animal, 2000 - 2012

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National Numbers Venomous ReptilesNational Numbers Venomous Reptiles

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National Numbers PerspectiveNational Numbers PerspectiveComparing human fatalities caused by captive exotic animals (avg from 1990 – 2008), to deaths caused in every day life in 2005

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Nevada NumbersNevada NumbersNevada: Captive Animal Related Human Fatalities, 2008-2012

Captive Animal / Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 NEVADA 5 YEAR TOTAL ALL ANIMALSBY SPECIES

NV YEARLY AVERAGE ALL ANIMALSBY SPECIES

BEARS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0BIG CATS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0HYENAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0NONHUMAN PRIMATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0NON VENOMOUS REPTILES

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

VENOMOUS REPTILES 0 0 0 0 0 0 0WOLVES 0 0 0 0 0 0 0ANY EXOTIC MAMMAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0DOGS 2 0 0 0 2 4 0.8HORSES 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.4TOTAL OF NV DEATHS CAUSED BY ALL ANIMALS

4 0 0 0 2 6 1.2X 8

Nevada NumbersNevada NumbersThe last documented fatal exotic animal attack in Nevada since 1990 occurred in USDA licensed Clark County facility

A trainer was killed by a tiger in 2001

This is a voluntarily accepted occupational hazard, not a public safety issue.

For comparison, in 2010 in Nevada, 158 people were murdered, 254 died in traffic accidents, 547 by suicide and 4,811 of heart disease.

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What Do The Numbers MeanWhat Do The Numbers Mean• In the last 23 years, since 1990, 21 people died in the

USA (0.91 per year) by captive big cat.

• In the last 23 years since 1990, only 6 people died in the USA (0.26 per year) by captive bears.

• In the last 23 years, since 1990, 0 people died from a primate

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For comparison, pet dogs account on avg 31 deaths a year

– 800,000 bites requiring medical treatment

– 400,000 injuries requiring hospitalization

– Dogs are not being banned

What Do The Numbers MeanWhat Do The Numbers Mean

Why are exotics held to a different standard?

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• Since 1990, there is no record of a member of the general public dying as a result of a captive big cat, bear or primate at large, meaning, unsupervised and OFF the property where the animals were kept

• Captive keeping these animals might be a slight voluntarily accepted hobby/occupational hazard, but it is NOT a public safety issue

What Do The Numbers MeanWhat Do The Numbers Mean

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Current Nevada LawsCurrent Nevada Laws• NRS 501.331 States that the Department of Wildlife

Shall administer the wildlife laws of this State

• NRS 501.097 “Wildlife” defined. “Wildlife” means any wild mammal, wild bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean found naturally in a wild state, whether indigenous to Nevada or not and whether raised in captivity or not.

• NDOW does regulate/permit bears, cougars and bobcats, reptiles. NDOW has minimum caging standards.

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• 13 of 17 Nevada Counties have ordinances regulating exotic animals

– Could not get the ordinances for 2, and the other two have no ordinance (extremely low populations)

• The cities also have ordinances, for example Henderson and North Las Vegas have exotic animal bans

Current Nevada LawsCurrent Nevada Laws

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What the Proponents of SB245 Want You to Believe What the Proponents of SB245 Want You to Believe

Unqualified people can easily purchase and breed lions and other big cats, keeping them in bad conditions and endangering the public.

That the animals are kept in tiny back yard cages and are neglected

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Proponents of SB245 Ask You to Ignore Reality Proponents of SB245 Ask You to Ignore Reality

Have been asking Senator Roberson since July 2012 to visit and see how exotics are kept…”He’s extremely busy”, as of yet haven’t even been able to talk to him on the phone.

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• Wild animals can attack, they can spread disease, and the average pet owner cannot provide the care they need in captivity.

• When exotic pets become too much to handle they may be kept in small cages or even let loose—putting other wildlife at risk.

• Nevada has no laws regulating exotic animals.

Proponents of SB245 PropagandaProponents of SB245 Propaganda

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• Senator Roberson’s statement "There's a big difference between a dog and a lion or tiger or wolf or an ape."

Proponents of SB245 PropagandaProponents of SB245 Propaganda

The statement is very true-Since dogs, on average, kill more people in one year than all exotics combined in the last 20 years.

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The Particulars of SB245The Particulars of SB245It is OKAY HereIt is OKAY Here--40 Million Tourist40 Million Tourist Must be Banned HereMust be Banned Here--

0 Tourist or Public0 Tourist or Public

This DoesnThis Doesn’’t Make Senset Make SenseX 19

• Removes a freedom Nevadans have enjoyed for 150 years, unless you are exempt (some are more equal than others)

• This is a ban and confiscation bill concentrates on setting the conditions for confiscating animals

• Removes property rights for some while exempting others• Circumvents and conflicts with NDOW regulations• Does not address public safety, no caging standards• Restricts commerce, will put people and businesses out of work• What was the criteria used for designating a species as “Dangerous”

– For other animals the designation of dangerous is a determination, the animal has done something

– No rhyme or reason for the species listed (other than fear)• Densely populated counties already regulate• Unfunded mandate on the counties

The Particulars of SB245The Particulars of SB245

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• Liability insurance required does not exist– Liability insurance is not a preventative measure, sucks money from

caging and care• 20 to 30 animals will be immediately confiscated• Gives control of animal acquisitions to the Large Casinos (is this

legal?)• The only AZA facility is Mandalay Bay (it is an aquarium)• A tax status qualifies for an exemption to the requirements

– 300 hours experience to work with animals (commercial pilots license is only 250 hrs)

• Written by HSUS, a Washington D.C. based Animal Rights organization with no hands on experience with these animals, not Nevadans

• Do you even know how many animals/owners there are? Do you care?

• No where to place animals, will the State have to build an exotic animal facility or just euthanize exotics?

The Particulars of SB245The Particulars of SB245

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SB 245 Bottom LineSB 245 Bottom Line• To many issues/items to fix• It is so bad that everyone will ask for an

exemption (USDA, ZAA, USZA, FCF, USARK)• Does not address public safety or fix any

problem

Reject SB 245X 22

Questions?Questions?X 23