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Nevada Laws Fail to Protect Exotic Species

Nevada Laws Fail to Protect Exotic Species

 

In November, Nevada state authorities responded to two exotic animal abuse cases that beg the question, “Why does Nevada have the least amount of protection for “exotic,” non-native animals than any other state?” Well, it’s high time for that to change!

On November 7, 2016, a woman fleeing charges of child endangerment in Harris County, Texas was arrested in Pahrump, Nevada. Texas authorities tracked Trisha Meyers there after her Texas landlord evicted her following her arrest for child endangerment. This was for keeping tigers, monkeys, a fox, a skunk, and a cougar freely roaming in her home with her 14-year-old homeschooled daughter. Trisha Meyers is expected to be extradited to Harris County, Texas to face her child endangerment charges. The animals were taken into custody, however Texas law also fails to protect exotic species which are kept quite prevalently and even allowed to be victims of canned hunts.

On November 17th, 2016, Jacki Freeman, also of Pahrump, Nevada, was cited after the Nye County Sheriffs’ Department investigated allegations of  neglected animals kept in cages on her property and in her home.  Three African lions, a Bengal tiger, eight Canadian Siberian Lynx hybrid cats, a black panther, a Fennec fox, and a Cervel Caracal hybrid cat were seized. Freeman and Abby Hedengran shared a Nye County license to possess “special conditions” animals.  Due to the filthy conditions the animals were subjected to, such as being locked in rooms in the home with lots of their excrement, the animals were seized. Freeman, being their current caregiver, was cited for animal cruelty and for illegally keeping the Fennec fox. The “Special Conditions” permit is being reviewed.

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