These leopard cat babies, born at the Hauser compound are special. For the details see Page 5 Branches FLORIDA: Danny Treanor, 1898 Twin Lakes Drive, Winter Haven, Fl. 32787, (305) 877-6336 NORTHWEST EXOTIC FELINE SOCIETY: Ethel Hauser, 14622 N.E. 99th St., Vancouver, WA 98662 (206) 892,9994 GREATER NEW ENGLAND: Karen Jusseaume, 168 Taffrail Rd., Quincy, Mass. 02169 (617) 472-5826 MID-ATLANTIC STATES: John Van Stry, 7 Elford PI. E. Nolrthoort, N.Y. 11731 (516) 358-7041 SOUTHWESTERN: Jean Hamil, 31307 Debbi, Magnolia, TX 77355 (713) 356-2076 EXOTICS UNLTD: 343 Walnut St., Petaluma, CA 94952 Bonnie Cromwell (707) 762-6944 LEOPARD CAT S0CIETY:P.D.Box 7535, San Oiego, CA 92107 NATIONAL ASSOC! FOR SOUND WILDLIFE PROGRAMS-2455 S.E. 184 Terrace. Miami. F1. 33160 WORLD PET SOCIETY: P O.'BOX 343, Tarzana, CA 91356 ANIMAL FINDER'S GUIDE: P.O.Box 99, Prairie Creek, IN. 47969 (812)898-2678 or (812) 898-2701 Pat Hoctor Published bi-monthly by the LIOC Endangered Species Conservation Federation, Inc. LIOC is a non-profit, non-commercial organization In order for material to be included in international in membership, devoted to the the NEXT issue, it must be receivedno later welfare of exotic felines. than the 1st day of odd-numbered months. Reproduction of the material in this News- Contributions for the Feature should be letter may not be made without written sent to Elaine no later than the 1st of EVEN permission of the authors and/or the copy- right owner, LIOC. numbered months. TO AVOID MISSING ANY NEWSLETTERS IF YOU SHOULD MOVE, SEND YOUR CHANGE OF ADDRESS AS SOON AS FRED BOYAJIAN, PRESIDENT: 483 Armour Circle, POSSIBLE TO: Atlanta, GA 30324 800-251-5800 (4-7 PM-EST) or (404) 873-6000 Home: (404) 351-0519 Barbara Wilton WILLIAM BOYLE, VICE PRESIDENT: 611 N. Carr, Tacoma P.O.Box 66040 wA. 98403 (206) 272 3616-Homel383-1721-office Portland, Ore 97266 SUZI WOOD, SECRETARY/TREASURER: 6 E.Lake Circle Dr. Medford, N.J. 08055 (609) 983-6671 PLEASE SEND ALL APPLICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DIRECTLY TO BARBARA FOR FAST SERVICE. LIFE DIRECTORS : ALL NEWSLETTER RELATED MATERIAL SHOULD BE SENT CATHERINE CISIN, FOUNDER: Amagansett, N.Y. 11930 (516) 267-3852 TO THE EDITOR, SHIRLEY WAGNER ROGER HARMON: 405-C E. Pinecrest, Marshall, TX 75670 (214) 938-6113 KEN HATFIELD: 1991 S.W. 136 Ave., Davie, FL 33325 (305) 472-7276 Help Wanted ETHEL HAUSFR: 14622 N.E. 99th St, Vancouver, WA 98662 (206) 892-9994 REPORTERS TERM DIRECTORS LIOC urgently needs material for its newsletter publi- J.B. ANDERSON, Lake Rd 54-37, Rt 2, Box 2190, cation. We can only share those experiences, funny, Oranqe Beach, MO 65065 (314) 348-5092 happy, sad or tragic, which are sent to us. This CARIN CARMICHAEL (a/k/a Virginia Enqlish), 7009 sharing is a part of the enjoyment of exotic ownership. Willoughby, Hollywood, CA 90038 (213)874-9817 WRITING EXPERIENCE: None whatsoever KAREN JUSSEAUME, 168 Taffrail Rd, Quincy, M& 02169 (617) 472-5826 PREREQUISITES: Love of exotic cats SHIRLEY WAGNER, Rt 4, Box 377, Mobile, AL 36619 (205) 661-1342 (evenings) TYPE OF MATERIAL: Articles of happy and sad exper- Emergencies-7-4(CST) (205) 433-5418 iences, technical articles, opinions of any and a11 exotic cat related subjects (including LIOC) a11 ] Staff short and long items, also day to day experiences, announcements of : adoptions, pregnancies, births, EDITOR: Shirley Wagner, Rt 4, Box 377, Belle Isle Ln- deaths,(with autopsy report if one was done) all Mobile, Al. 36609 (205) 661-1342-eveninqs subjects of interest; all questions - give other ASST. EDITOR: Elaine Burke, P.O.Box 2126, Norwich, members a chance to help. Conn. 06360 (203) 859-3395 --., . EMBERSHIPSECRETARY: Barbara Wilton: P .O. Box 66040, SALARY"he love and gratitude of all exotics, their Portland, Ore, 97266 (503) 774,1657 owners and the Newsletter Editor. REGISTRAR: Karen Jusseaume, 168 Taffrail Rd., Quincy, Mass 02169, (617) 472-5826 STARTING TIME: IMMEDIATELY! The newsletter is waiting - 2 - on YOU. We do not approve of animals in the hands of the unqualified or irresponsible or those who attempt to 'escape or circumvent" the law. However we are not in favor of creating a legal situation for the vast majority of responsible owners that would be created by USDA exemption of holders of animals for personal use or non-commercial purposes because some states do not want to bear the costs if duplicate ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FEDERATION regulations. R.L. Crawford June 26, 1987 The net effect of the exemption, as written, would Animal Care Staff create the very situation that the designers of the VF, APHIF, USDA Animal Welfare Act were trying to avoid. The exempt Rm. 756, Federal Bldg. owners would then have illegal animals (if not 6505 Belcrest Rd. recognized by the states) which would then be Hyattsville, MD 20782 confiscated and euthanised as they are not enough legal facilities to handle them, resulting in the Dear Mr. Crawford: further suppression and endangerment of captive species. On behalf of the LIOC Endangered Species Conservation Federation, Inc., I would like to Therefore we request that you delete Part 2 subpart submit the fol-lowing observations and comments on A 2.1 Section 3 Items ii & viii. the Part #2 Proposed USDA-APHIS Rule Changes as noted in the March 31, 1987 Federal Register 9CFR The definition of a class "A" dealer should also be Parts 1 & 2 Animal Welfare. amended to permit the licensee to also buy, sell and exhibit his animals as a minor part of his business While we are specifically dedicated to the welfare of enhancing the breeding colony. Otherwise as of exotic felines and we have over 450.members that written it could be construed the class "A" licensee advocate responsible private ownership and have been would have to go to a class "B" licensee to acquire active in support of fair animal welfare laws based more stock for gene diversity or place progeny on facts that do not infringe our constitutional surplus to prevent inbreeding. rights to the personal or business ownership of all exotic animals. We do not support abuse of any animal or person including USDA Inspectors but it needs to be What we see evolving here is that the government is clarified that a licensee in vehemently defending attempting to regulate larger animal operators who his rights and opinions while disagreeing with the are involved in commercial activities and exempting inspector does not constitute personal verbal or those that are operating privately or physical abuse. noncommercially. Under the proposed rule changes there will be at least 10 exemptions for every We also recommend review of Part I the definition qualified licensee. This large class of small "housing facility" concerning to mean a owners should be entitled to the benefits and specified caged area actually occupied animals protection of the Animal Welfare Act. The animals and not an ajacent area or open range. need the benefits and protection too. The larger regulated operators not only sell to each other but Regarding veterinary care, we support a co-operative generate large amounts of surplus animals that are program that protects animals from disease and sold to the smaller exempt groups. An animal public health problems and for contingencies in protected in one facility would then become exempt emergency care. However we believe the owner as in another. generally more knowledgeable the vets in the husbandry care and handling of exotic animals. Why must there be a mandatory rather than voluntary Requiring the attending veterinarian to have species exemption? In other words, if a private owner specific knowledge beyond what is medically accepted decides that he wants to comply with USDA standards by veterinary schools and state licensing boards is and pay the minimum $50.00 fee and as a taxpayer, is -too extreme. he not entitled to a license? Is it USDA position that only the traders in animals are more qualified While we are willing to submit and support a for a license than those who care for animals all controlled program we will not be put into a day as collectors but sell none at all? precluded situation by inter-government bureaucracies and budget problems when our welfare Consider too that many small businesses or and that of our animals is at stake. The belief individuals may take several years to acquire and that it is easier to eliminate the a problem rather develop breeding pairs before they can sell any than to solve it, does not serve the taxpayers who surplus progeny. Without a USDA license beforehand charged you with the responsibility of administering they may not be able to acquire and maintain a the Animal Welfare Act fairly to ALL. population before they can sell any and therefore be qualified for license. Sincerely, Many states are now requiring USDA licenses or prohibit ownership of exotic animals unless they can obtain a USDA license. It is not an unreasonable Fred Boyajian position that they do not want to take the LIOC President responsibility and costs of inspecting a relatively small amount of citizens relative to the general population that indulges in exotics when the USDA is already in the business. Why should there be a redundant inspection program with no uniformity from state to state when in fact most exotic owners, weather public or private, commercial or non-commercial, large or small, generally obtain their animals on an interstate basis, the principal domain of the USDA not the states. And this question does not even consider the additional President's Perspective regulatory burden of the USDI with which exotic owners must also contend.