Big Cat Rescue
November 2011
[Ed. Note: On a related note: Big Cat Rescue Frees Male Serval from Birdcage in Basement.]
Killed were 2 wolves, 6 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, 9 male lions, 8 lionesses, 1 baboon, 3 mountain lions, and 18 tigers. Six animals survived including; 3 leopards, 2 monkeys, and a grizzly bear that did not attempt to escape their cages.
The recent events in Zanesville, OH will haunt our minds forever. Our
only hope is that in the wake of such tragedy public outcry will demand
better laws to protect captive exotic animals as well as the people that
reside near the back yard collectors who house them.
62-year-old Terry Thompson had been released from a federal prison September
30 after pleading guilty earlier this year to possessing illegal firearms,
including five fully automatic firearms. He had also been convicted in 2005
for animal cruelty. Thompson returned to his 73-acre farm where he housed
his personal collection of 56 exotic animals including lions, tigers,
leopards, bears, monkeys and more. For reasons unknown, on October 18th,
Thompson released his collection of exotic pets, damaging the enclosures so
the animals could not be recaptured, and then took his own life.
Shortly after, around 5 PM, 911 calls reported of lions and bears roaming
freely along the side of the road near his farm. Officers dispatched to the
scene were ordered to kill the animals instead of trying to bring them down
with tranquilizers for fear that those hit with darts would escape in the
darkness and soon regain consciousness. Thompson's farm was located just
outside of Zanesville that has a population of 25,000, authorities could not
take the risk of losing sight of these dangerous animals that could
potentially harm or even kill nearby neighbors.
Killed were 2 wolves, 6 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, 9 male lions, 8
lionesses, 1 baboon, 3 mountain lions, and 18 tigers. Six animals survived
including; 3 leopards, 2 monkeys, and a grizzly bear that did not attempt to
escape their cages. These animals taken to the Columbus Zoo where they
remain today. At this point, the only animal still unaccounted for is a
macaque monkey that may be infected with the Herpes B virus, however
authorities believe that his animal may have been eaten by one of the big
cats.
Ohio has some of the nation’s weakest restrictions on exotic pets and among
the highest number of injuries and deaths caused by them. Lax state laws
coupled with an urge to own an exotic creature is often a death sentence for
both the owners and their pets. According to the Captive Wild Animal
Protection Campaign in Washington, D.C., 90 percent of large animals
considered wild or exotic die within the first two years of captivity. The
Governor of Ohio, John Kasich, is working with wildlife expert Jack Hanna to
create new regulations in the state for nonnative animals so this kind of
disaster never happens again. According to reports a task force has already
been assembled and they're about six weeks away from the new restrictions.
You can speak out for these animals as well as for the countless others that
are hidden away in cramped sub-standard conditions in back yards all across
the country. Visit CatLaws.com to let your legislators know that you want
better laws that will protect both exotic animals and the public. At
CatLaws.com we make it easy for you to advocate for the animals. Each
current issue is concisely outlined, choose to write your own letter or
select from available pre-written letters, enter your zip code to send your
letter automatically to your local legislator or choose the option of
printing your letter and mailing it. With just a few clicks of the mouse and
less than 5 minutes you can make a difference and protect wild animals from
falling victim to tragedies such as the Zanesville massacre.
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