MEBANE, N.C. -- Lawmakers continue to debate a proposed bill that would seek to limit who could own exotic animals in North Carolina. But for one Mebane conservation group it's about more than just limiting who can and cannot own these animals, it's about them being able to continue their mission of providing sanctuary for wild animals and breeding those that are in danger of extinction.

Mindy Stinner and Doug Evans opened the Conservators' Center in 1999 after many years of working with animals in a conservation setting. When they started they had simple goals, rescue animals, help breed endangered species and educate the public.

“The rescue work takes most of our resources and the endangered species breeding is going, although slowly, it is actually happening,” Doug Evans, chair of the board at Conservators’ Center said.

Evans pointed out while they have about 80 different animals on their property; the conservators' center is not open to the public.

“What we do like to do is outreach programs, and we like to bring in school children and college interns,” he said.

But these two animal lovers worry what would happen to their sanctuary if a bill in a State Senate is passed.

“This bill is about getting the animal out of the backyard, It's not about putting anyone out of business, It's holding people accountable for their actions out here,” said Senator Ed Jones, who introduced the bill.

Officials said the bill was created to protect both the public and the animals, but the founders at the Conservators' Center say this bill does neither of those.

“We would recommend and in fact have recommended to our senators two options for bills that either require a registration process so that anyone who currently owns these animals has to meet a few standards, In addition we believe that if there is a grandfather clause that it should include a cage inspection because otherwise we are not providing safety for children in the area," said Mindy Stinner, executive director at the Conservators’ Center.

Stinner said the bill limits their ability to exhibit, breed and take the animals off of their property but the biggest repercussion is their rescue work.

“We would not be able to accept additional sanctuary animals, either from in or out of state and that means that as these animals age out and die, there would be nothing to replace them and we are going to loose half of our mission in being able to work with these species,” Stinner said.

Both Stinner and Evans said they are not against regulations but they want to make sure that those regulations actually do protect the public.

The bill has been sent to a sub committee where lawmakers will continue to debate over the issue.