Your Vancouver Sun

Exotic-animal rules mulled
Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, May 17, 2007

Representatives of the B.C. SPCA will meet with provincial Agriculture Minister Pat Bell and Environment Minister Barry Penner today to discuss regulations concerning exotic animals.

The meeting, rescheduled from Wednesday, was called last week after the death of 100 Mile House resident Tania Dumstrey-Soos, who was killed by a pet tiger kept by her fiance, exotic animal trainer Kim Carlton.

Governments have consistently refused to deal with exotic animals, but Dumstrey-Soos's death has forced the government to change its mind.

Meanwhile Vancouver city council voted unanimously Tuesday to ask the Union of B.C. Municipalities to ask the provincial government to regulate the keeping and sale of exotic animals.

NPA councillor Kim Capri, who spearheaded the motion, said she wants the provincial government to amend its Wildlife Act to include a list of exotic species -- including all large cats, primates and several species of reptiles -- whose keeping and sale should be prohibited or regulated.

If the ministry doesn't take steps to address the issue, Capri said she would take it to the UBCM convention in September. Vancouver passed a bylaw to prohibit the keeping and sale of some exotic animals in February.