Tiger, Cougars, and Bobcats Abandoned in Kansas

It is illegal in Kansas to have custody of dangerous animals, but the ease in which one can sidestep the law was demonstrated when a tiger, two cougars, three bobcats, two lynx, and a serval were discovered abandoned in cages on private property in Atchison, KS. Animal-welfare groups such as The Humane Society of the United States, Big Cat Rescue, and In-Sync Exotics extracted the felines and put them in sanctuaries. The perpetrator has been charged with cruelty to animals and violating the Dangerous Regulated Animals Act. “This case exemplifies the inherent problems with the existing law and the need for it to be strengthened,” says Atchison County Undersheriff Joe Butner, as quoted by The Humane Society of the United States. “Most private individuals cannot provide humane and safe care for captive wild animals, which leaves law enforcement, taxpayers, and sanctuaries to shoulder the financial burden.”