In the News
"Tiger pushes council to ban exotic pets"
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VICTORIA -- Highlands council yesterday introduced a bylaw banning exotic pets, following a public outcry over a resident's attempt to keep a tiger at his home.
Mayor Mark Cardinal said council had little choice.
"It's not often that someone is proposing to house a Bengal tiger in your municipality," he said.
The bylaw was written in response to a move by Highlands resident David Bennett, who has spent more than $10,000 constructing a pen for a two-year-old tiger named Suzie.
Bennett noted there is no provincial law to prevent him bringing in a tiger: "You can buy them. There is a catalogue."
Environment Ministry spokeswoman Kate Thompson agreed. The legislature passed an exotic-animals bill last spring but the accompanying regulations have yet to be written.
Suzie currently lives near Lake Cowichan at a wild- animal sanctuary called Primate Estates.
Owner Jamie Bell said she attempted to place Suzie with various zoos, but because Suzie is most likely a cross between a Bengal and a Siberian tiger, none was interested.
The only other person interested in taking Suzie, besides Bennett, said he planned on killing her and selling her body parts, Bell said.
Meanwhile, a private sanctuary in Colorado called the Wild Animal Sanctuary has agreed to take Suzie in response to calls from Highlands officials.
Highlands Coun. Joe Kadar has volunteered to help raise the money to transport Suzie to the refuge.
Credit: Vancouver Province