18 fucking Bengal tigers, alone. Killed. This afternoon. Not to mention the other animals, lions.

[Poll_Blind]

I typed up some thoughts. Erased em. Typed up some more thoughts and erased them too. I figure the picture says it all.

PB

[City Lights]

1. !

:cry:

Rec'd.

[ellisonz]

2. Jack Hanna said it had to been done. I respect his opinion.

The problem is Ohio's entire lack of regulation in regard to ownership of exotic animals.

[Poll_Blind]

9. I agree with him. And it wasn't the tiger's fault it wound up in Ohio.

That's the real problem. And it's not the sheriffs' fault for killing them.

I cannot fathom series of events which took place, the waste of incredibly unique animal life, because of the vanity of a man.

PB

[Warpy]

13. Exactly, the lack of laws that would have prevented this asshole

from owning exotic and endangered animals as living trophies is the real reason those beautiful cats and other animals were killed.

I just wonder what the cause of death was, it would tell us who the misguided fool who opened the cages and sent them to their deaths might have been.

[mod mom]

26. Dispatch said Kasich allowed Exec Order regulating this to expire:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2145823

[ellisonz]

35. It's been reported he openend and destroyed the pens and committed suicide.

http://news.yahoo.com/ohio-farm-owner-mistreated-animals-animal-welfare-181859564.html

[Lisa0825]

51. Big Cat Rescue concurred. nt

[malaise]

63. They should never have been imported

It's fucking stupid - leave them in their natural habitat.

[ellisonz]

67. Agreed.

Mankind is fucking up nature around the world.

[backscatter712]

110. The scale of this problem is enormous.

There are more tigers illegally owned by dumbasses in Texas, literally, than there are wild tigers left in their natural habitats.

Thousands of big cats, owned by total fucking idiots, who buy a tiger cub, thinking it would be cute, then before long, kitty becomes an adolescent tiger that's as big as you or I, that's rambunctious as hell, wants to wrestle you all the time, and has claws and fangs. They quickly become too much for their owners to handle, so a lot of them get locked up in tiny cages, or in one case I heard of, an old horse trailer, get neglected, become neurotic, and live that way for years.

[WCGreen]

115. The same thing happened up here in the Cleveland area a couple

of years ago...

I a suburb of Cleveland. About 15 miles from my house.

[polly7]

3. Recommend. I agree, it's heartbreaking. n/t.

[RebelOne]

4. I know, it is sad. They are such beautiful animals.

What makes me sick is that these poor animals have been caged all their lives, and when they finally got a little freedom, they were killed.

[CoffeeCat]

5. Why couldn't they have tranquilized them...

...and contained them until they found zoos or other appropriate places that could
take these animals.

After all, these animals should not be punished because this state/city has horrible
laws and regulations regarding wild animals.

It makes me sick to think how these animals were hunted and killed--when they did nothing
wrong. It's not fair. So sad. They lived their lives, probably miserably, and in
captivity--then they're shot dead.

Heartbreaking.

[Dreamer Tatum]

8. Blame the idiot who set them free before killing himself. nt

[onethatcares]

15. blame the idiots that would take a wild animal like that and try to make a housepet

out of it.

those are the 1% because sure as hell the other 99% couldn't afford to wade through the paperwork to own one.

Damn, killing them, that sucks to no end.

[Rebubula]

27. In this case...

...the idiots are one and the same

[uppityperson]

29. Seriously. Monkeys are one thing but setting tigers lose? What a thing to do.

[StarryNite]

52. Yes! Exactly!

The fault goes to the asshole that let them loose! Those animals were his 'collateral' damage. They were the true victims in all of this. The authorities were forced into making the choice in order to protect the people. And it really sucks because it was the fault of a person to begin with. Not to mention the screwed up laws that allowed this psycho to keep these animals to begin with.

It's so fucking heartbreaking...:cry:

[Drahthaardogs]

11. Tranquilizer guns are rare, it is not something that is easy to get in a minute's notice

There was not enough time considering there were people around. I agree the animals should not be punished but neither should a little kid walking to school.

[femrap]

40. Only 26 miles from Zanesville

is The Wilds, a 10,000 acre Endangered Animal Refuge. They should have been alerted IMMEDIATELY..... They know how to deal w/ large animals and have dart guns. They have medical facilities as well.

Again......only 26 miles from Zanesville!!!!!!!! So don't let these stupid macho assholes say that they had no choice. They did. They're just fucking lazy and didn't want to save some of the animals. I'm heart broken.

I was just at The Wilds on Sunday...this is heartbreaking to me. I'm so sick of being surrounded with a bunch of macho, stupid men who have no idea as to how to solve a problem without using a gun and destroying it. SICK OF IT.

[riderinthestorm]

49. They did try the tranquilizer method on the first Bengal they came across

It was on NPR, the vet - at great risk to her life - got close enough to the animal to have a perfect shot. On NPR the sheriff said the Bengal was lying under a bush and calm. After getting hit with the dart, it actually charged the woman vet and went to kill her.

The officers on the scene killed it first.

That's when the order went out to shoot them. That order came from the vets on hand in conjunction with the police.

It may be fashionable to blame the "macho" cops but the reality was this was a terrible situation for everyone and honestly, they did the only rational thing. These are first class predators in a suburban zone. While I grieve the animal loss, the fault lies with the damn (now dead) owner who opened the cages and doomed them all.

[femrap]

80. The fault lies with

King Kasich who let the prior Governor's law expire...I live in this area.

I see helicopters in the air looking for pot all the time...yet this massive illegal farm exists.

I'm sick of it. I'm sick of stupid people ruling the community. This situation has been around for years and yet NO ONE did anything about it...now look at the mess.

Kasich makes Ohio look like a bunch of stupid people...the blame rests at his dirty fucking feet.

[PavePusher]

101. So your talking probably a one hour MINIMUM time to get supplied and get on-scene....

will animals scatter.

Then, assuming you can succefully trank them all (and it's not at all the instant process you see on TV-land, dangerous for both the humans and the animals) you have to arrange secure holding and transport and find facilities able to take that many animals FAST.....

Yeah, good luck with that.

[Name removed]

107. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PavePusher]

112. WTF??? n/t

[femrap]

108. Well....here you are

again....stalking???? Did your boyfriends get you to follow me?

dogs bite, cats scratch, birds shit, geese peck....hope you run into one.

buh-bye.

[Warpy]

44. Animal control here in NM is well stocked with them

because this is bear and cougar country and the protocol is to try to capture the animal alive and resettle it away from people. That extends to homeowners in the boonies who generally fire a warning shot first to get the bears out of the garbage cans.

[Nevernose]

82. Actually, they're more common than you realize

The complicated thing is getting a Federally qualified veterinarian that has the rightndrugs available. And then one has to measure precisely the dosage, and even that can he wrong depending upon the temperament of the animal. Don't ask me for the specifics, but I actually own a tranquilizer pistol and the flechettes (won it in a bet about ten years ago).

Still a damned shame about the animals. The mistake was in breeding them in the first place.

[femrap]

113. The mistake

is letting dumb fucks operate 'exotic' farms and especially having ENDANGERED ANIMALS on the premises.

Ohio is filled w/ stupid people....everyone w/ a brain and knows how to operate it has left except for a few.

[Mendocino]

121. Broad brush much?

No, Ohio has plenty of smart people. I can guess you aren't one of them.

[femrap]

126. you live here?

I grew up here...left for many years....and returned. Returned to a place I didn't recognize. Maybe you're too young to have seen how great this state once was. Most of my friends and associates have left for better places.

Mendocino....as in CA?

Another added to the list. buh-bye.

[Mendocino]

135. Yes I do.

Too young.. hmmm.. is 54 young? All of those years here. I didn't leave for a "better place". Perhaps if people didn't run away, this state could be better?

Mendocino-because I've visited there and like the name. Also the title of a great song by Doug Sahm.

You denigrate a state and the people there, then run to the ignore list when called on it.

Boo Hoo!

[PavePusher]

137. This one seems to have... issues. Best left at arms-length, methinks. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

12. But these animals were punished because this state/city has horrible laws.

Unfortunately, the line of reasoning about tranquilizing them is naive. I'm not trying to poke you, though, it was my first thought too. I read an article describing the situation and I believe this was almost certainly unavoidable given the situation. The logistics of it, the realities of actually carrying out an operation like this are extremely difficult, even for trained professionals. With the sheer number of animals involved, and so many of them top-level predators...it just couldn't have happened in a way that doesn't break a person's heart.

:cry:

PB

[AngryOldDem]

17. Here's why

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/19/sheriff-defends-shooting-animals.html

<<He said that officials from the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds came in shortly after the discovery with tranquilizer guns, hoping to capture some animals alive.

The darkness, rain, and potential danger contributed to the law-enforcement decision to shoot the animals.

“It was a very unstable situation, and we were unable to tranquilize any of the animals,” said Gwen Myers, an associate veterinarian at the zoo. “There are lots of dynamics here in play.”

Tranquilizing large animals in controlled settings is hard enough, she said. In this case, experts faced not only an uncontrolled environment but did not have even basic information on the animals, such as how much they weighed or when they last ate.<<

And the risk of them coming into contact with humans was just too much to take a chance on.

[FrodosPet]

22. It really sucks, but tranquilizer darts are not fast acting

My understanding is that it can take several hours for the tranquilizer to work, and sometimes it still does not. In the meantime, you have an upset cat capable of killing people in an urban environment.

Those cats are so beautiful. It hurts knowing they are being killed because of one man's selfishness.

[drmeow]

42. and passing out somewhere

in the dark where they can't be found.

Breaks my heart but I understand.

[kestrel91316]

24. Here's why:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2147499

Because it's very difficult, very dangerous, and requires a highly trained person to do it.

[Arkansas Granny]

34. It was a public safety issue. Also, not many cities have the resources

to tranquilize and contain so many animals. It ws tragic for the animals, but there was nothing else they could do.

[Sherman A1]

57. Listening to NPR on the way home

the situation did not allow for the use of tranquilizers, there simply wasn't time and public safety trumped everything else. The Sheriff did say that they called for help from the Columbus Zoo & their County animal control. In one case an animal control officer did attempt to tranquilize a tiger, but the animal ran away and they had to put it down. It was an unfortunate situation and from his report the Sheriff & officers took absolutely no delight in the need to put the animals down.

[riderinthestorm]

59. The report on NPR that I heard was that it was a vet from the Wilds who managed a perfect shot

from her tranquilizer gun (she got very close and was experienced enough to get it right).

But the tiger charged her after getting hit.

The cops then shot it. And I agree, the officer on the NPR report took no glee from this. He said they put in a call for deputies who had hunting experience and none of them thought this was a fun time in the city.

Try to imagine shooting a wild thing in a suburban environment!! What a nightmare, and nerve wracking. What if you missed and shot a person??!!

[redgiant]

58. It is heartbreaking, but...

...consider the situation as it unfolded.

Authorities started to get reports of exotic animal sightings and went to the location of the private facility, which was know to them.

They found many, many open cages and large carnivores roaming outside the compound. With nightfall approaching, and with residential areas nearby, the sheriff made a call in favor of public safety--his primary duty. He ordered his deputies to shoot to kill. Consider what the situation would be had the animals been able to wander into nearby wooded or residential areas during darkness. They were in completely unfamiliar surroundings (out of their cages and compound), probably scared, confused, and unpredictable. No, it's not their fault, but they did pose a serious public safety threat. Also, the sheriff had to consider the danger to his people trying to track animals on foot in wooded areas.

It was a correct call, as unfortunate as it may have been.

I suspect that an outcome of this incident will be revised regulations concerning the whole issue of keeping exotic animals, especially potentially dangerous ones.

[SoCalDem]

60. 58 predators roaming loose at dusk, with woodland nearby and homes

that's why:cry:

Animal shows make tranquilizing look easy, but it's not..and when the animal is hit with the dart, its natural instinct is to run & hide. That means the human has to follow, and try to avoid being attacked by another un-tranquilized, scared predator.

Those animals had no natural fear of humans (as a species), but having been used to particular humans, they would have been dangerous to the unknown humans.

They had less than an hour to round up those animals or risk mayhem in the morning, when those animals would have been hunting.

[graywarrior]

6. Grrrrrr

GRRRRRRRR!

[BrendaBrick]

7. Aren't Bengal Tigers an endangered species?

Why weren't they just tranquilized instead?

[RebelOne]

10. Yes, they are.

/www.blackpineanimalpark.com/Animals/tigers.htm

[AngkorWot]

14. In the wild, I don't know how it works when you talk about captive bred animals

"Why weren't they just tranquilized instead?"

Uh, because it takes a high degree of training to tranquilize an animal, well outside of typical police training. You have to accurately estimate the animal's weight and since you're shooting a syringe instead of a rifle bullet, you have to stalk the animal and get in very, very close, which takes considerable amount of time.

[kestrel91316]

25. Here's why (it is far some simple):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2147499

VERY difficult, VERY dangerous for everyone involved, and requires highly skilled and trained personnel.

[BrendaBrick]

28. Thanks for the link

[NYC_SKP]

16. A link to an actual story to go along with whatever this is.... ....would be nice.

Some people are working, might not have been reading up on this.

I hadn't heard anything.

So I Googled it.

Tragic news, Ohio...

Here's a link for our members who might not have yet learned about this tragic event.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/zanesville-animal-massacre-included-18-rare-bengal-tigers/story?id=14767017

:patriot:

[WinkyDink]

23. Well, people ignored my earlier thread..........

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2146589

[Obamanaut]

37. A self-serving kick would have put it back on top. That is done a lot. And with

each one, some more amplifying remarks.

That works.

[sabrina 1]

116. Thank you, I had no idea what this was about.

[sakabatou]

118. So sad

:cry:

[LoZoccolo]

18. Do you think that the man who set them free was an hero? n/t

[RebelOne]

32. No. He was a villain, as I am sure he was fully aware of what would happen. n't

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

64. I see what you did there... (n/t)

[AngryOldDem]

19. This could have been prevented but for John Kasich

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/19/humane-society-head-wants-ohio-exotic-animal-ban.html


<<An executive order that Gov. John Kasich allowed to lapse after taking office would have prevented Terry Thompson from owning exotic animals.

The order, issued by Gov. Ted Strickland but permitted to expire by Kasich last spring, prohibited anyone who had been “convicted of an offense involving the abuse or neglect of any animal pursuant to any state, local, or federal law” from owning exotic animals.

Speaking at a conference in Canton, Ohio, today, Kasich called the situation “a mess” and a “ terrible thing,” but took no blame for allowing Strickland’s order to lapse.<<

[mod mom]

33. are you kidding? Republicans never accept blame for their actions.

:mad:

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[former9thward]

46. The guy has had problems with his animals since at least 2005.

So it was going on long before Kasich came on the scene. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/18/Wild-animals-loose-in-Muskingum-County.html

[FarCenter]

20. Privately owned tigers are usually inbred. Also no longer representative of wild subspecies

The Humane Society estimates there are 5,000 - 7,000 tigers in private ownership in the United States, part of some 15,000 wildcats estimated to be in private hands. By contrast, approximately 3,200 tigers remain in the wild.

http://www.carolinatigerrescue.org/animals/rescue.asp

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. beautiful animal

[Brickbat]

30. Rarely is there a good outcome for captive animals that shouldn't be. They are often inbred,

poorly treated, in cages and stressed. Not a happy life, and there is little to do to help them but try to prevent this kind of crap.

[occupyeverywhere]

31. Why didn't this guy just allow animal control to come in?

His final act condemned all of these beautiful creatures. Horrible.

[Marrah_G]

129. Because he was mentally ill

Sadly this was a really sick guy, as are the majority of people who own these types of deadly animals. I think it was Animal Planet who did a series on people who had compulsions to own these sorts of animals and it never ended well.

The whole situation is so very sad and fortunately it didn't end with even more human deaths.

[FedUpWithIt All]

36. It was raining, it was dark and they did try and capture and tranqualize many of the animals.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/19/us/ohio-animals-on-loose/?hpt=us_c1

He said his deputies, who found themselves in a volatile situation, had to shoot some of the animals at close range. A Bengal tiger was killed after it got agitated from a tranquilizer shot.

The report says that one of the cats had been hit by a car.

What has happened is senseless but i hold no blame for the authorities trying to right the situation. The blame lies with the "owner" and the laws.

[femrap]

38. It's fucking heart-breaking to

me to see these endangered animals murdered. There is a 10,000 acre Endangered Animal Facility (The Wilds) only 26 miles from Zanesville....Why weren't they called IMMEDIATELY????????? These people are experts in dealing w/ large animals.

But NO, the fucking cops have to be all macho and murder these beautiful animals.

Kasich, our stupid-fuck governor, really deserves all the blame....he thought that not allowing individuals to have 'exotic' animals was TOO RESTRICTIVE. This man is dumber than dirt. And more evil and cruel than Satan, Lucifer, and the Devil combined.

I place the blame at Kasich's feet. I live in Ohio and I am ashamed of the lack of leadership.

I'm distraught over the handling of this entire situation.

[Brickbat]

41. Yes, yes -- they should have sat and waited for a facility a half-hour away to mobilize its mulitple

ready-response teams it keeps on hand when someone needs to swoop in, subdue, capture, transport and then care for a dozen lions and 18 tigers.

[riderinthestorm]

54. NPR reported they actually did wait and did try to tranq the animals and save them

The first Bengal was a perfect hit. The vet managed to get very close and got it perfectly.

Then it charged her, enraged.

The sheriff said they had no choice but to shoot it or it would have killed the woman vet it was moving that fast.

AFter that the decision was made by the vet team and cops to shoot them on sight. It was just too dark and dangerous and in a suburban area with too many people.

It really is the (now dead) owner's fault for unleashing them on the community. What a damn shame.

[Brickbat]

55. Yup, I heard that too.

I was just being snarky.

[femrap]

84. An 'endangered' farm

that has been a known problem for FUCKING YEARS....nothing done until a crisis smacks them upside the head.

Stupid fucking 'leadership' in a state that was once known for 'EDUCATION.'

I've got to get the fuck out of here. I'm sure the beautiful animals are at peace now that they are out of this stupid state of ohio.

[Throckmorton]

68. Please read Kestrel's post on the subject.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2147499

It explains clearly why anything besides this outcome was ever possible.

[femrap]

88. I read it....

thx. How do these insane males all over the country get away with treating some of the most endangered animals so cruelly?? Why does no one ACT responsibly and take these animals to a humane place to live??

I hate patriarchy and all of its oppression.

Kasich deserves the blame....he let Strickland's Executive Order expire saying that it would restrict small business owners of exotic animals. Fucking idiot.

[PavePusher]

102. And you can drop the misandry too, it does nothing for your cause. n/t

[femrap]

106. I could give

a rat's butthole what you think of patriarchy....obviously just another so-called leftie boy who doesn't get it.

You do realize that OWS is non-hierarchy, don't you?

Another to the list. buh-bye.

[PavePusher]

111. Wow.... who pissed in your cereal this morning?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

[Tuesday Afternoon]

125. U2

are amusing me this morning :D

[PavePusher]

132. Thank you!

I'm feeling bright and sunshiney, myself... :toast:

[WildEyedLiberal]

77. Would you please read the thread and stop engaging in trendy cop-hating?

They TRIED to tranquilize one of the tigers. It didn't work - the tiger became upset and enraged and charged, and they had to shoot it. The police's number one priority in this situation is the safety of the people in the county. With 40+ (!!!!!) wild, confused, and upset alpha predators roaming around, that's way too great a gamble to make. What if some kids were out playing in the woods and didn't know about the incident? You'd be ok with the cops letting a tiger maul them to death while they wait for a fully trained tranq team to come in?

Every animal welfare expert and organization I have read about this has said the police made the right call. Yes, it is an UNSPEAKABLE tragedy, but you are not helping anyone by trashing the cops who did their jobs and protected the safety of the people. This tragedy lies with the asshole who freed those defenseless animals and Kasich who through his teabagging ignorance allowed the law to look the other way.

[femrap]

81. At least you see that

Kasich is at fault. Since you live in Zanesvile, I'm sure you know the local authorities and know that they are smart as whips.

This was a situation that should have been SOLVED years ago. The Sheriff knew about it forever....but nothing had been done.

They just waited for a disaster.

I'm so sick of being around dumb fucks who just wait for trouble instead of solving problems.

[WildEyedLiberal]

117. What on earth do you expect the sheriff to have done?

As has been stated numerous times here, Ohio has practically no restrictions on exotic animal ownership. What was the sheriff supposed to do - arrest the guy for something that isn't a crime? You really need to focus your anger on the true culprits - Kasich and the teabagging idiots in the legislature who think it's a-okay for their state to have absolutely no regulation of people owning rare and endangered species.

LAW ENFORCEMENT exists to, shockingly, enforce the laws. Therefore, if something isn't illegal, there's really dick all they can do about it.

[femrap]

134. There was a law that

if guilty of animal cruelty, one could not have exotic animals. Obviously it was NOT enforced. Thompson was convicted of animal cruelty.

And I do blame King Kasich for letting Strickland's Executive Order expire. I live in Ohio and deal w/ the lack of enforcement on a daily basis. Thank Goddess for Mississippi, as they say in KY where I also lived....at least KY knows the Truth while OH stick their heads in the sand....stereotypically speaking, of course. After all OH did not re-elect Dem Strickland. Now we're forced to gather signatures and vote to try to get rid of SB5.

America has become like The Roman Empire....too much bureaucracy and laws w/ no common sense. Alas, We, The People suffer and the Corporations and Rich continue to use the Loopholes.

And please be aware that LAW ENFORCEMENT has lots of leeway regarding arrests....ever wonder why all those Black dudes are in prison for smoking pot while the White ones are still safely smoking and smiling???? If LAW ENFORCEMENT wants you in jail, they will find a way to do it....that's a fact.

[kas125]

78. They DID call the experts from The Wilds immediately. It was a

vet from The Wilds who shot a tranquilizer dart at a tiger who immediately turned on her and was killed by the police before it could get to her. She was on tv today and explained that when an animal is shot with a tranquilizer dart, it takes an average of eight minutes before they go down. A pissed off tiger who has just been hit by a dart can do a lot of damage in eight minutes. They DID call The Wilds and the zoo and animal control and they did try to save the animals, but it just couldn't be done in the dark, in the rain, with so many wild animals all at the same time.

[femrap]

83. This endangered animal

'farm' had been known for YEARS...nothing done until it was too late.

I blame Kasich and the local law 'enforcement' for doing nothing.

I'm sick of living around stupid people who couldn't look 2 days ahead and see what was going to smack them upside the head.

Ohio is an embarrassing place to live...

[kas125]

87. I'm sorry, but I know how you feel - Indiana and Mitch Daniels

are pretty embarrassing, too...

It is horrible that people are allowed to own exotic animals. I heard today that it's not just Ohio, there are 21 states that allow it. It's insane. And that there are less than 3,000 tigers in the wild, but at least 8,000 living in people's homes in the US! Here, there was a guy who owned a business and had several caged tigers inside it for years and years. I hate, absolutely detest, seeing caged animals and the thought of those poor things in that building made me sick. Those tigers were finally seized by the authorities - after he became ill and from some reports, addicted to pain meds, and pretty much stopped taking care of them. The man died not long after the tigers were taken away, but I was really glad when I read that they were taken out of that place.

[Tx4obama]

39. Thank goodness no PEOPLE were killed by the animals, especially children. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

66. I agree. nt

[deacon]

133. +1

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tx4obama]

47. Zanesville Sheriff Describes Fighting ‘Crazy’ Tigers And More In The Woods Of Ohio - VIDEO

Zanesville Sheriff Describes Fighting ‘Crazy’ Tigers And More In The Woods Of Ohio

Article and VIDEO: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/local-sheriff-describes-fighting-crazy-tigers-and-more-in-the-woods-of-ohio/

[Number23]

48. It is very, very sad those animals were killed

They are beautiful and rare. No idea why anyone would want to keep one in a cage, let alone 18 and then set them free upon a community for no damn reason.

[Lisa0825]

50. I just went to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa last month and got to see those beautiful cats up close...

That makes it even more sad to me, because seeing them... they are so majestic... and so many are living in cages, being abused in this country. I don't know if the man who killed himself was a rescue or not because I have not had the heart to read about it, but either way it doesn't matter.... either he was an owner and keeping cats where they did not deserve to be, or he was trying to be a rescuer and failed, but would not have have them at all if they hadn't needed rescuing from elsewhere... either way, it is tragic, and I have been on the verge of tears every time I see this situation mentioned. It's just so unnecessary.

:cry:

[tnlefty]

86. Is this the santuary that I've seen on teevee that takes in big

cats that some stupid humans thought would be fun to have as pets, until it wasn't? If it's the same place they realize that having big cats in captivity is boring to the animals and they are constantly working on ways to enrich their environment to stave off the boredom. I do believe they also advocate for stupid humans to STOP thinking that having these animals is a good idea, as their space and capacity to care for these animals is limited, and there aren't enough sanctuaries to take them in?

Kudos to them, if it's the same group, and any group who tries to care for animals who usually pay a heavy price as a result of stupid humans. It is tragic and can be avoided.

[kctim]

91. But

you can't bring politics into it IF that is the case. And everybody knows political points are more important than facts.

[tnlefty]

136. Whatever...

I have no idea of your point.

[Lisa0825]

94. Yes, that is them. They are lthe largest accredited wild animal sanctuary in the country.

They are awesome! Sadly, they have to turn away animals every year because they have a limited capacity, but they do as much as they can. They just recently acquired 3 new tigers from another sanctuary in Texas that went bankrupt. I really can't say enough good things about them.

[tnlefty]

138. Thanks and I saw your other thread about Big Cat Rescue...

thanks for posting that I rec'd it without comment.

Jeebus, Animal Planet was running back to back episodes about private individuals having the majestic, big cats, and not much of ended well for the humans.

The breeding and acquiring of these animals needs to stop, AFAIC, because there aren't enough facilities available to take the animals in when everything blows to hell.

[LanternWaste]

100. A close friend of mine owns property that abuts to a Big Cat preservation/reserve

A close friend of mine owns property that abuts to a Big Cat preservation/reserve. Many of the cats were "famous" (one of the tigers was in many petrol commercial back in his younger days). I asked the owner for a tour and she allowed me to walk through the area.

In one particular case, I was allowed to get in the (large) cage and pet the mane of an elderly, somewhat-socialized lion (I signed a disclaimer prior to all of this-- my own choice).

I'm going to say this: sitting next to a lion who's sprawled out on his side and back like a giant.. well, cat has got to be one of the most memorable, wonderful and humbling experiences I've ever had the honor of doing.

When a lion rolls onto its back and begins to squirm like a kitten, places its paws gently and softly on your face, and then (most amazingly) starts to purr, it's an animal lovers dream. (and the purr of a lion sounds so incredibly deep and rich).

BTW-- the cages were for the cats during visitation hours. For the most part, they simply roamed a 150 acre wooded lot. And the cages were big, well-ventilated, and air-conditioned (because this is Texas and summers get pretty damn hot for cats too I'd guess). I say that because I don't want anyone to think these cats were being mistreated-- the couple who acted as stewards for the cats loved them too much for the kind of cages you described.

[KoKo]

53. It's disgusting...I tried to avoid reading anything but Subject Lines...it tears the guts out to see

endangered species and others culled out like this and to read DU'ers condoning it saying: "Bugetary Problems, Danger to the Populace, they can't be tranquilized.

I sometimes feel I'm on a freeper site...but, I wake up and find that it's ALL OF US. :cry:

K&R!

[riderinthestorm]

56. Uh, maybe you should read the story. They did try to tranquilize them first.

They had pros out there who knew exactly what to do, and tried to do it.

And after failing at trying to tranquilize them, everyone agreed that shooting them was the next best thing.

One of the Bengals got run over by a car! You think that's better? the HUMAN in the car could have lost their life running over an animal that size. Children could have been mauled and killed.

[joshcryer]

85. "I tried to avoid reading anything but subject lines."

You can't expect someone who admits that to actually... have read the articles pertaining to this event.

[Shagbark Hickory]

61. Some laws need to be written in that state.

Ohiya has the most lax laws for exotic animals and they supposedly have the most problems, even more than floreeduh.

This can't be allowed to happen again.

[Lisa0825]

62. Laws are needed all over!!! Please click here to read more!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2149395&mesg_id=2149395

[tawadi]

65. +1

[Tx4obama]

69. Rescued Exotic Animals Arrive At Zoo

Rescued Exotic Animals Arrive At Zoo

POWELL, Ohio - Six animals rescued after escaping an exotic animal farm in Zanesville farm were transported to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Wednesday.

Those animals included three leopards, two macaque monkeys, and a grizzly bear, 10TV’s Josh Poland reported.

The animals will undergo a complete evaluation by the zoo’s veterinarian staff.

SNIP

Rest of article and VIDEO here: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2011/10/19/powell-rescued-animals-zoo.html

[polly7]

72. So good to hear some of them are safe.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/10/wild-animals-owner-terry-thompson-unusual-fellow-says-mayor-zanesville

All but three of the escapees - a lion, a monkey and a bear - have been captured.

"A lot of them have been shot but I don’t know how many. There were a lot of animals deaths," Zwelling revealed to RadarOnline.com, others were lucky enough to be tranquilized and transported to wildlife centers and the Columbus Zoo.

"Animal expert Jack Hannah has been here since the early hours of the morning to tranquilize them," said the mayor, known to locals as Butch.

While local people have been warned to stay in their homes and the nearby schools are closed, the mayor said that many of them are more worried about the animals' welfare than their own safety."

[femrap]

114. I'm glad to hear that....

I guess the cheetahs were killed.

This morning I heard that a Mountain Lion, Bear and a Monkey are still out there.

I still have problems believing what the MSM says...but I can certainly do WITHOUT THE PICTURES OF A PILE OF DEAD, BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS.

[BlueCheese]

70. I remember reading The Life of Pi...

and the narrator saying that if you took any major city, turned it upside down, and shook, you'd be astonished at the animals that would come falling out. Apparently there are more tigers kept privately in the US than there are in the wild worldwide.

Just today the Oakland Zoo took possession of four unwanted female tigers that had been rescued from a roadside freak show. Apparently they were unwanted because they were a mix of subspecies, and most zoos prefer animals that are genetically from a single subspecies, such as Bengal, Sumatran, Siberian, etc. These subspecies are of course more vulnerable than the tiger species as a whole.

Is it clear that the tigers released in Ohio were genetically Bengal tigers? Not that it isn't a sad story in any case...

[Firebrand Gary]

71. Regulation works.

Fucking jerks!

[Canuckistanian]

73. Blame Kasich of Ohio

He let anyone in Ohio keep a personal zoo. No rules. No regulations.

This situation is a libertarian's dream.

[ginnyinWI]

75. If any good can come out of this, let's hope they beef up the law now. n/t

[tuckessee]

96. Actually, I blame the a-hole who let them out. n/t

[fishwax]

74. Indeed. Amazing animals. Terrible thing.

:grr:
:(

[Divine Discontent]

76. tranq guns apparently weren't in enough supply, there was so little time, etc, it's just a sad story

any way you look at it. a shame the guy didn't call up a zoo before doing his self-destruction act, he clearly wasn't thinking clearly.



Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486eping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Major Hogwash]

79. This event is so bad, that it made me physically sick today.

I can't believe someone had these many wild animals to begin with.
My heart is low tonight.
My soul aches.

I don't think mankind can survive another 1000 years.

[TwilightGardener]

89. I am keeping some distance from this story, because it's just too sad and sickening.

[Erose999]

90. Pictures of the guy show him wearing a "Sigfried & Roy" hat. That explains a lot.

[kctim]

92. Better that than even one human being harmed or even killed

[Rex]

93. Sad beyond words.

Did the guy kill himself or do they suspect foul play? This is a horrible story, as tragic as they come.

[tuckessee]

97. He killed himself.

I suspect he wanted the animals to kill people so he let them loose before taking his own miserable life.

[Rex]

122. That is horrible!

[DefenseLawyer]

95. I'm not sure some local cop should have made the call on this.

Yes it was a dangerous situation requiring quick action, but it seems to me there would be resources that could have been tapped that had the expertise and equipment to do something other than "shoot to kill". When it's left to local police, it's hard to imagine that "shoot to kill" wouldn't have been their #1 solution no matter what.

[hack89]

98. Was there time to make another decision?

a bunch of wild animals running around in the dark with no way to contain them - it seems to me that time was of the essence before they dispersed and could not be found.

The danger to human life was too great - all those animals were not worth the life of a single human.

[moondust]

104. I think Jack Hanna may have been involved in the call.

I saw a couple interviews with Jack on TV last night and he seemed to know all the details. He said they only had four tranquilizer guns for around 50 animals on the loose and the tranquilizer does not take effect right away. And the cops have no wild animal training of any kind. So to avert "carnage" they put them down.

[DefenseLawyer]

105. I've heard all the explanations

And that may very well be the case. At any rate what's done is done. It just seems like there would have been other resources out there beyond the retired guy from the Johnny Carson Show and the Zanesville sheriff that could have quickly put together a plan. Maybe not, and hindsight is 20/20. Everyone just seemed to assume it was this sheriff's problem and however he decided to handle it was the only option. Given that, as you said, the local police have "no training of any kind" along these lines, maybe he shouldn't have had the last word. There are plenty of things a sheriff can act upon that maybe he shouldn't. Russian attack? Ebola outbreak? I doubt the sheriff gets the last word on those. I'm not sure where tigers on the loose fits in there. I'm just pondering the question.

[PavePusher]

124. How far up the chain should the decision have been pushed...

and how long should they have waited, while large predators scattered into the area?

They tried the tranking route, and it wasn't going to work.

Perhaps you could list some of the alternatives and associated timelines required?

[Marrah_G]

130. This was a residential area, there wasn't time

You can't exactly hang around waiting for the zoo cat guy to show up and hunt down each one while hoping that one or more of the animals doesn't decide humans are yummy or fun to play cat and mouse with. The police did what they had to and will probably have a really hard time dealing with it emotionally.

[1776Forever]

99. (R) Gov. Kasich of Ohio let Former Dem Gov. Strickland's Execuitive Order lapse:

Here is the story:

Bloomberg

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-19/wild-animal-escape-from-ohio-farm-like-noah-s-ark-wrecking-.html

Wild Animal Escape From Ohio Farm Like ‘Noah’s Ark Wrecking’
October 19, 2011, 5:45 PM EDT

Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Jack Hanna says the scene of wild and dangerous animals running from an eastern Ohio farm after their owner freed them and killed himself was “like Noah’s Ark wrecking.”
“Not full of birds and things, just lions and tigers and bears,” the director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said today near Zanesville. “I can’t imagine any more animals that would be worse to have out here.”

<...>

Even as law officers tracked the feral escapees, Ohio officials are considering regulations on exotic and wild pets. Former Governor Ted Strickland (a Democrat) issued an executive order banning their keeping before leaving office in January, though it expired under Governor John Kasich.

(read more at the link)

..........

Shameful!

[moondust]

103. Is it a macho thing?

I don't get it. Why would somebody keep all those wild animals just for their own private satisfaction? It would surely cost a small fortune in money and resources to buy, house, feed, and care for them.

"I'm not a schlub, I'm a great lion tamer!"

:wtf:

[Marrah_G]

131. No--- women do this too. It's a mental illness

It gives them a feeling of specialness to put it in really simple terms.

Much like the Grizzly bear guy, or the woman with the chimp who ate her friends face, these people think they have some magical powers that will keep them safe. The animals however, just do what wild animals do.

[backscatter712]

109. The Wild Animal Sanctuary near Keenesburg, CO might have taken them in.

There's a big wildlife refuge, the Wild Animal Sanctuary, near Keenesburg, CO, not too far from where my sister lives, that would have provided a very good home for these cats. They do know how to treat them well, rehabilitate them if they were abused, give them lots of land to roam, a decent diet, everything they need that so many dumbasses who own big cats cannot provide.

I can't say enough good things about this place.

[Major Hogwash]

119. 50+ wild animals were killed and they had a report on teevee last night about it.

I didn't remember the Ligertown incident that happened near Lava Hot Springs in Idaho in 1995. But 2 of the police officers who were involved with that event said they are still feeling remorse for having to kill innocent wild animals that had escaped from that private "zoo" that was located there.

According to the almanac, Lava Hot Springs only has 420 residents, but according to the report last night, many of them were afraid that those wild lions, tigers, bears, hybrid wolves, and hybrid ligers would someday escape from that makeshift zoo. They showed old file footage of it and it looked like the cages had been erected by 6th graders because they were so poorly designed.

[Mimosa]

120. It's so sad.

There should be laws to stop irresponsible people from running animal 'sanctuarues' for wild animals. And nobody should be able to own wild animals as pets.

[greybear]

123. Now our spirit friends.

Their spirts are okay, and in a better place. I am sure all your love is not in vain. The animals are part of us as we are them. I think when our hearts cry for others, we gain more strength to help save: that poor cat, the beaten dog (kick your neighbors ass, if not physically, then lawfully), the "trinket' animals that are confined to cages, self-grandiose animals like snakes and reptiles, who end up in the wild. Educate, and be not afraid to do so! I will help you!

[Mz Pip]

127. I'm confused

People are blaming Kasich for letting a law expire. Okay, I get that. But how long had this guy had these animals? Seems like he had them before the law expired and nothing was done when something could have been done.

If he had the animals for years then Kasich is not the only one to blame. This should have been dealt with when it started.

[Marrah_G]

128. The pictures of all the dead animals was heart-breaking

This happened because we do not have a countrywide ban on owning these wild animals and because we have such a horrible mental health care system in this country. This man was mentally ill and not only was there no way to make him get treatment, there was also no way to stop him from owning these animals. It's amazing no one else was killed.

Wild animals are wild animals, they are never pets, no matter how much a person thinks they have special powers in regards to them.