[CAT] On a Toronto nightclub that apparently hosted a lion cub

[rfmcdonald]

The Toronto Star reports.

Toronto Animal Services has reportedly been called in to investigate a Toronto nightclub after photos of patrons holding a lion cub surfaced on Instagram, according to an animal advocacy group.

The images show patrons of Lavelle, a King St. W. club with a rooftop patio, carrying the cub.

This violates Toronto bylaws that prohibit possessing lions and other exotic animals, according to Animal Justice, an animal advocacy group who made animal services aware of the issue on Friday.

“It’s illegal in Toronto to parade exotic animals around nightclubs for marketing purposes,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, in a statement on the group’s website.

“Baby animals aren’t toys. This lion cub should be with her mother, not used as a prop for selfies,” she said, adding that Toronto Animal Services — which did not respond to requests for comment — was now on the case.