Legislative hearing targeting Big Cat Public Safety Act set for February 4

WASHINGTON (Jan. 30, 2026)—Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, released the following statements on the introduction of a misguided House bill (H.R. 7159). The bill would significantly weaken the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a law that passed with robust bipartisan support in 2022 to prevent the exploitation and abuse of lions, tigers, leopards and other big cats and keep the public safe from encounters with these animals.

Statement from Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals:

“The Big Cat Public Safety Act has been a lifeline for wild animals. It protects big cats from the gross cruelty of being held captive as pets or handled by the paying public during forced, dangerous interactions that turn a profit and boost social media profiles. The law’s historic protections prevent tragedies for countless animals like tigers Loki and Elsa who were once kept as pets confined in unsafe conditions and now thrive at our sanctuary, Black Beauty Ranch. There, they live in spacious habitats where they can express their natural behaviors instead of suffering in cramped and dismal cages. This dubious legislation would place big cats back in the crosshairs of predatory industries that profit from their harsh exploitation. We must protect them from ever having to experience that again.”

Statement from Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund:

“The ‘Protecting Local Zoos Act’ is not about protecting animals, communities or zoos as the sponsors want you to think. It’s a Trojan horse of loopholes that would open the door to the very abuse and cruelty that led Congress to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act in the first place. The measures proposed in this bill would significantly expand the private breeding and trafficking of big cats, increasing the risk of abuse, suffering and misery. Big cats don’t belong in backyards, basements, or the hands of untrained and unqualified individuals, and Congress should not turn back the clock on protections that save both human and animal lives.”

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries announced that it will hold a legislative hearing on the Protecting Local Zoos Act on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 10:00 a.m.

Download Photos/Video of big cats living at Black Beauty Ranch 

Media Contact:

•    Rodi Rosensweig; rrosensweig@humaneworld.org, 202-809-8711
•    Liz Bartolomeo; ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org, 240-472-0475