SENATE FILE 319

BY  SENG

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the possession of cats classified as bengals and savannahs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 717F.1, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  “Dangerous wild animal” includes an animal which is the offspring of an animal provided in paragraph “a”, and another animal provided in that paragraph or any other animal. It also includes animals which are the offspring of each subsequent generation. However, a dangerous wild animal does not include any of the following:
   (1)  The offspring of a domestic dog and a wolf, or the offspring from each subsequent generation in which at least one parent is a domestic dog.
   (2)  The offspring of a domestic cat and another member of the family felidae classified as any of the following:
   (a)  A bengal with an ancestor classified as an Asian leopard cat which is a member of the species prionailurus bengalensis. The bengal must be the fourth or later filial generation of offspring with the first filial generation being the offspring of a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat, and each subsequent generation being the offspring of a domestic cat.
   (b)  A savannah with an ancestor classified as a serval which is a member of the species leptailurus serval. The savannah must be the fourth or later filial generation of offspring with the first filial generation being the offspring of a domestic cat and serval, and each subsequent generation being the offspring of a domestic cat.
EXPLANATION
   GENERAL. This bill amends Code chapter 717F, which regulates the possession of dangerous wild animals under the authority of the department of agriculture and land stewardship. Generally, the Code chapter prohibits a person from owning or possessing a dangerous wild animal or transporting a dangerous wild animal into this state unless the person is licensed by the United States department of agriculture and registered by the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship. A dangerous animal includes cats (classified as belonging to the family felidae) other than domestic cats. It also includes the offspring of a dangerous wild animal and any subsequent generation of offspring.
   EXEMPTING CATS CLASSIFIED AS F-4 BENGALS AND SAVANNAHS. The bill provides an exemption for a cat classified as a bengal which is a cross between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat or classified as a savannah which is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval. In both cases the bill requires a separation of four filial generations between the Asian leopard cat or serval and the exempted cat. The generations are calculated by counting from the first filial generation which is the offspring of the original crossing. The filial generations are sometimes referred to as F-1 through F-4 to identify the first four filial generations of offspring. The bill’s exemption applies to those cats classified as F-4 bengals and savannahs.