Clark County studies exotic animals plan

The recent escape of two chimps in a Las Vegas neighborhood is prompting Clark County Commissioners to examine Tuesday what county resources are available to deal with exotic animals.

While the county allows ownership of these animals, such as lions and tigers, it appears the means to deal with a potential escape while keeping the animals alive are lacking.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said the board also will discuss tightening zoning and land use procedures.

"For me, it comes down to that they are wild animals," Giunchigliani said. "Why do people need to own them? There is a role for them in the shows and zoos and so forth, but they're wild. God bless them, let them live where they're supposed to live."

Las Vegas and North Las Vegas police jointly responded when chimps Buddy and C.J. escaped from their cage last month. Las Vegas police shot and killed Buddy. C.J. was tranquilized by North Las Vegas police and survived.

Although North Las Vegas does not allow exotic animals, Sgt. Tim Bedwell said his department has equipment to tranquilize larger animals "because you never know when someone might have an animal illegally."

The equipment isn't solely for exotic animals. Police also may encounter larger beasts such as horses, cattle and mountain lions.

"We absolutely believe we need the resources to deal with those," Bedwell said. "... It gives us a tool to allow us to bring to an end a situation with a loose animal without resorting to deadly force or putting an officer in more danger than is necessary."

Bedwell said the department calls a veterinary hotline to describe the animal to determine what size dosage to administer. That's how officers "brought down the female chimp without resorting to deadly force."

County spokesman Erik Pappa said Animal Control does have dart guns, but the response to the chimp escape was regional and North Las Vegas arrived on the scene first.

When fully staffed, there are 15 Animal Control officers, including a senior officer and a supervisor who are the only two to use the tranquilizer guns. Currently, the county only has a senior officer trained with the gun and is looking to hire a supervisor.

As part of the ongoing discussion of hiring a new Animal Control boss, the county is also evaluating whether to get more tranquilizer guns, Pappa added.

Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said the department, which has six animal control officers, also has tranquilizers to deal with an emergency situation, but those are "a very infrequent occurrence."

The county treats keeping exotic animals as a land use issue rather than questioning an owner's qualifications. Animal Control officers perform inspections but generally only when land use permits are issued or when a neighbor expresses concern.

Fourteen properties in the county have permits for wild animals. Seven are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which conducts yearly inspections.

There was a push to increase regulations a decade ago after a tiger killed his handler at a licensed county property. That proposed ordinance would have employed someone in Animal Control to handle applications and inspections of exotic animals and require owners to keep liability insurance. But the idea never came to fruition, and it took Buddy and C.J.'s escape to bring the issue to light again.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak said there appears to be "a clear disconnect between allowing (animals) and escape provisions."

"What's reasonable here?" Sisolak said. "Are these chimps bred for captivity, or are people taking these chimps running around in the jungle and putting them in an eight-by-eight cage?"

Sisolak said he takes issue with the county regulating the number of horses and dogs a person can own but not exotic animals.

"This is not to get after Siegfried and Roy or other parts of an act on the Strip," Sisolak said. "But what about the ones who think it's fun to adopt a bear cub. What happens when it gets big? Let's find out more."

The chimp escape is generating discussion at a state level as Sen. Michael Roberson works on a bill to prohibit Nevadans from keeping chimps, large wild cats and other exotic animals as pets. The Las Vegas Republican is working with the Humane Society of the United States on the proposed ban.

It's an idea Commissioner Tom Collins said he won't support.

"If you license somebody properly with the state and the USDA and do a zoning use permit, and you get a report of a lion running down Fremont Street, you know where it comes from because you've got that information," Collins said. "You'll know there are 14 lions in Clark County, and you can start calling the owners while Animal Control and law enforcement respond. Then you've got the backup information about whether the animal is declawed and used in performances.

"When you ban something, it still takes place. When you regulate it, at least you know where it's at. "

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.