New exotic-animal rules due within weeks,
Minister hopes to present Wildlife Act amendment before end of spring session

2008-03-26

Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun

Nearly a year after a pet tiger killed a B.C. woman at her fiance's roadside zoo, there is still nothing in place to regulate exotic pets in the province.

Last May, Tania Dumstrey-Soos died after a Siberian tiger swiped at her leg at her fiance's private Siberian Magic Zoo near 100 Mile House. The tiger's owner, Kim Carlton, agreed to have the tiger destroyed following the incident.According to his zoo's website, he continues to keep tigers, lions, baboons and lemurs.

Environment Minister Barry Penner said he met with staff Tuesday to discuss progress on a possible amendment to the Wildlife Act, to be presented to the legislature before the end of May. Provincial law does not govern the sale, possession or care of exotic animals. Instead, it focuses on about 12,000 native species, he said.

"So what we'd need to do is seek a possible amendment to give us authority to restrict or limit the ownership of alien or non-native animal species," said Penner.

"It's my hope that we'll have some legislation ready before the end of the spring session." He said he is most concerned with regulating animals that pose a risk to people. "I would have less concern about domesticated cats and dogs and even llamas than I would for potentially hazardous and harmful species like poisonous cobras or large, strong tigers so we are working on that."

In December a Surrey man's pet cobra bit his finger when the man was changing its tank, putting the man in hospital for a week. And last March, a five-year-old girl was non-fatally choked by a corn snake at a pet expo in Abbotsford.

Lorie Chortyk of BC SPCA, said the group is concerned that no law exists to stop someone from simply going on the Internet and purchasing dangerous exotic animals, like tigers or poisonous snakes. In June, the SPCA joined other other animal rights groups in giving feedback to the province, after it announced plans to update the wildlife act for the first time in 26 years.

As part of its 18-page proposal asking the government to regulate exotic animals, the SPCA included a list of species it feels should not be possessed, bred or trafficked privately. The list included lemurs, elephants, sloths, bats, gazelles, kangaroos, dolphins, rattlesnakes, crocodiles, owls, walruses and tarantulas.

Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the BC SPCA, said there is little protection for privately owned exotic animals who are often kept in "heartbreaking" conditions, far removed from their natural habitat.

Sara Dubois, who works with the SPCA's wildlife services, added that since such pets don't have to be registered, it's impossible to gauge numbers. "You can't provide for a tiger or a baboon in a private home," she said. "Their needs are not met." Not to mention the dangers to the pet owner and the public, Dubois said, as illustrated by the death of Dumstrey-Soos.

While some municipalities, including Langley and Vancouver, have passed bylaws restricting ownership of exotic pets, Vancouver city Coun. Kim Capri said a provincial law is key. This will prevent pet owners from simply moving within B.C. to avoid restrictions.

"It creates a level playing field," said Capri. "It provides consistency across the province."

The BC SPCA will hold a symposium in Vancouver on exotic pets in May. It will include a speech by Hollywood actress and animal activist, Tippi Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 horror film, The Birds.