F1 Savannah Cat Confiscated in NH

[admin]

I know people think it will never happen to them, so they buy a savannah that is not legal in their state...we hear it all the time...I want one...I'll keep it in...no one will turn me in...I don't care if it is not legal, I want it...

Well, a breeder or someone supposed to be a breeder, in New York State, sold an F1 savannah to someone in NH, where it is illegal. Guess what? That F1 was seized by US fish and Wildlife and will now spend its life at a facility instead of being loved and cherished by a family or person.

So the next time anyone thinks about owning a savannah which is illegal in their state, county or city, please stop for one second and think about the cat - not yourself.

I am dealing with this with SV Rescue and it is heartbreaking. SV Rescue has dealt with it numerous times. I have been accused by buyers in NYC of being "rude" because I will not sell to them. So be it...better to be accused of being rude, than to have a kitten or cat confiscated...

 

[Trish Allearz]

Why won't they release the F1 to rescue, Paige? That's bull honky.

 

[admin]

They just won't, Trish! I'm not sure why, but I am going to try talking to the feline organization helping out with this. They are saying they will only release the boy to a USDA licensed facility it is a sad situation...

 

[Wild Tafari]

Speaking of NYC, we just received an email from someone that lives there and this is part of what they wrote:


"I also live in new york city but i know they have a hybrid law, which allows 5th gen hybrids. Wanted to see if you knew of any problem areas that could come up.
NYC law:

New York state 'owns' all wildlife, including hybrids of cats who have a wild felid parent within five generations of their pedigree "​

I promptly let this person know that we would not be able to sell to them, as well as the correct laws for NYC, per hybridlaw.com, where it states that all hybrids of an African Serval are considered a wild animal and are therefore prohibited in NYC.
I feel horrible for the F1 that now has to live out it's life in a facility because of a breeder and buyers' negligence.

​

 

[Ashley]

I "liked" a local breeder on facebook. Apparently she's been selling Savannahs (& knows people with Savannahs) in Seattle. Someone asked her if they are legal & she said "I believe F1s are illegal, but I know plenty of people with Bengals & Savannahs in Seattle." ::face palm:: ALL Savannahs are illegal within Seattle city limits, not just F1s. When I informed her of this she just said "Oops!" Um, YES OOPS! I hope those cats don't suffer because she & others failed to check their laws first.

 

[John Popp]

I'm always totally miffed by this. There is no measure of risk presented to society ever revealed when these laws get pushed through the legislature and they wouldn't even think of contesting someone's right to own an unneutered pit bull.

 

[Patti]

Why won't they release the F1 to rescue, Paige? That's bull honky.

They want to make sure that the cat isn't somehow repossessed by the owner and smuggled into the state again, so they want to send it to a facility, rather than to a foster or someone else associated with the breed who might feel sorry for the owner and return it to their care :-(

 

[Trish Allearz]

They want to make sure that the cat isn't somehow repossessed by the owner and smuggled into the state again, so they want to send it to a facility, rather than to a foster or someone else associated with the breed who might feel sorry for the owner and return it to their care :-(

That is freaking ridiculous and kinda worth going to the news about- except we probably don't want this type of publicity on the breed. What a crock. It is better for the cat to live in a freaking facility. Oh, some days, I just shouldn't sign online.

 

[jungle boy]

Does "FACILITY" mean some cage with a chain link fence for the next 15 plus years?

 

[WitchyWoman]

They want to make sure that the cat isn't somehow repossessed by the owner and smuggled into the state again, so they want to send it to a facility, rather than to a foster or someone else associated with the breed who might feel sorry for the owner and return it to their care :-(

Ok, so they can release it to a rescue with a written contract about its placement in a place where it's legal to own. Then when a new home is found, contact the local Fish & Wildlife office in the are where the cat is placed and let the local office do periodic checks to ensure the cat stays in its new home.