Animal Shelter Push Bill Banning Exotic Pets

If owning a bear or lion sounds better to you than a dog or cat you better hurry, lawmakers in Iowa are looking to make owning these types of animals illegal.

Animal shelters across Iowa are pushing for a new law that would make it illegal for Iowans to own or possess many "dangerous animals."

Over the years the Iowa Animal Rescue League has been asked to find homes for the once-cuddly wild pets, but due to the increase in numbers it's becoming harder and harder to find them homes.

Maria Tiller of the Black Hawk County Animal Control says, "It's a public safety issue. Some of the animals are escaping which causes a threat to the residents in the area."

Many cities including Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Iowa City already have ordinances banning people from owning these types of animals.