United States: Support the Big Cat Public Safety Act

An alarming number of big cats — tigers, lions, leopards, and others — are being kept in private homes and backyards across the U.S.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act would help end the rampant abuse of big cats across the U.S. by prohibiting the private possession of these animals and making it illegal for exhibitors to allow direct contact with cubs.

Please use the form below to send a message to your federal lawmakers, urging them to support and co-sponsor the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Remember, personalizing your message can help it stand out.

The big cat “pet” trade is largely fueled by the dangerous, abusive “cub petting” industry, in which visitors to roadside zoos and other facilities pay high prices to interact directly with young cubs. This industry relies on a steady stream of young cubs, who quickly grow too big and strong to be handled. When they can no longer be used for “cub petting” interactions, they’re often sold to private individuals or roadside zoos.

Big cats don’t belong in backyards; they have complex physical and psychological needs and require large territories to truly flourish. Meanwhile, these animals can pose a major risk to public safety, and there have been numerous instances of big cats escaping private homes and roaming nearby neighborhoods.