The Large Carnivore Act is an important piece of legislation because it protects both the well being of captive carnivores as well as the health and safety of the public. The proposed changes to this legislature would relax these restrictions and make it easier to own large carnivores in the state of Michigan.

The changes to the act would allow institutions accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) to be exempt from the Large Carnivore Act. The ZAA is a relatively new organization lacking long-time experience and a rigorous accreditation process. The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums is allowed to remain exempt from the Large Carnivore Act because it has the afore mentioned characteristics and is an internationally recognized, non-profit group that has proven itself. The Zoological Association of America on the other hand is still growing and should not be exempt from the act until its accreditation process calls for standards closer to those of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This will ensure optimal health and living conditions for animals and the highest safety standards to protect the public. 

The recent tragedy in Zanesville, Ohio highlights the importance of tightened exotic animal ownership regulations. Over 50 large, dangerous animals were released from a private, unaccredited collection. This put the lives of countless citizens on the line and cost the lives of the majority of the animals in the collection. While deeply saddening and unfortunate, this should serve as a wake up call and we need to learn from others' mistakes and ensure such an incident does not occur again.