Ohio reviewing high school team's use of tiger cub mascot
Source: AP
By KANTELE FRANKO
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Officials are reviewing whether a live tiger cub being used as an Ohio high school football team mascot meets standards for possession of dangerous animals, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.
When Ohio lawmakers tightened rules on such animals, they created an exemption for the tiger cub so Massillon Washington High School could continue its live-mascot tradition. The exemption allowed the school and its boosters to possess a tiger locally, under certain restrictions. School boosters have displayed tiger cub mascots named Obie for decades, and leased the cats in recent years.
However, the caged cub at this season's opener came from and returned to a facility out of state, department spokeswoman Erica Hawkins said.
The facility indicated the arrangement with Massillon boosters would continue through the season, so officials who oversee enforcement of Ohio's regulations on dangerous animals are discussing the details to ensure the deal meets applicable restrictions, Hawkins said.
FULL story at link.
Obie is taken across the endzone at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium after a lap around the entire stadium before a football game, on Aug. 27, 2015 in Massillon, Ohio. Massillon's Washington High School started the season with Obie, its traditional mascot on hand, even though the district hasn't proved to the state that the mascot's display would meet stricter rules for possessing exotic animals. (Kevin Whitlock/Independent via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4e051d369ddf4208815987ab391ecbb4/ohio-reviewing-high-school-teams-use-tiger-cub-mascot
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