Randy Langelier, brother of Dr. Ken Langelier of the Island Veterinary Hospital in Nanaimo, had two servals on display at the VIEX (Vancouver Island Exhibition) during the weekend of August 15-17, 2003. Randy works with his brother at the Island Veterinary Hospital. Servals are really stunning looking and it's easy to see why people get fascinated and buy one. Randy said that he doesn't breed them, but he acquires them from people who find themselves unable to cope with them. Servals are totally unsuitable for purchase as household pets, so many owners give them up. Randy said that he was familiar with the breeders in Nanaimo, but he did not comment on them. I wonder how many fair visitors were tempted to look into buying one.
Servals are advertised in the Buy and Sell type of magazine on the island. I don't know if there are any expectations of would-be owners or if they are just sold to anybody with the money.
As servals are arboreal, it is not humane to declaw them. The same applies to all members of the cat family, in my opinion. I understand that they are usually sold declawed, presumably by a veterinarian with expertise in this type of surgery.
The sooner that we get legislation to control the private ownership of such exotic animals, the better it will be for all concerned, with the exception of those profiting from the business. At the present time, there are few controls on the breeding of species like servals.