Animal Advocate Pushing For Tougher Laws On Exotic Animal Ownership
PHILADELPHIA(CBS) - This week's dangerous animal release in Ohio (see related story) has lawmakers in Pennsylvania calling for tougher regulations on the sale and ownership of exotic animals. Some lawmakers want to see something closer to New Jersey's law, which bans private ownership of most categories of large animals.
Tim Harrison, exotic pet rescuer and founder of the group Outreach for Animals, is leading the fight for tougher regulations in Ohio.
"You can have anything you want in this state," Harrison says. "We're number one for the sale of these animals, the number one for the ownership of dangerous exotics in the United States of America."
Harrison's fight has been chronicled in the documentary The Elephant in the Living Room. He says new laws need to be written to prevent the sale and ownership of dangerous animals. Just like an elephant in the living room, he says it's a cause too big to ignore.
Reported by Ukee Washington, CBS 3 Eyewitness News
