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LIONS TIGERS Escape! Ohio...Freedom to die by Doug Smith

PressRoom
35 Lions and Tigers Shot to Death in Ohio

Summary: October 19, 2011 Zanesville, OH: 56 lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, wolves, giraffes, camels and bears escaped from a the Muskingum County Animal Farm, and the owner Terry Thompson, who had just gotten out of prison was found dead there after shooting himself. Neighbor Danielle White, whose father’s property abuts the animal preserve, said she didn’t see loose animals this time but did in 2006, when a lion escaped. Thompson, who lived on the property, had orangutans and chimps in his home, but those were still in their cages. 18 tigers and 17 lions were shot to death because the owner had cut all of the doors off the cages to prevent their containment. A cougar is still at large. Compilation of all news stories on the Zanesville Massacre of Escaped Wild Animals

FL Class 1 and Class 2 owners
Big Cat Rescue heard the devastating news starting at 5:30 am on Oct. 19, 2011 as our facebook fans began calling to let us know that wild cats had been turned loose by their owner in Zanesville, OH and were being shot by local authorities. The one question that most animal lovers raise is “why can’t they just tranquilize them?” The reason is that the government’s first responsibility is to protect people and it isn’t like you what you see on T.V. where an animal is darted and falls asleep right away. Even in a calm, captive situation it takes 20-30 minutes for the drugs to take effect. When wild animals are excited; like being free for the first time in their lives, the drugs often have no effect. You only get one chance when dealing with an escaped wild animal and law enforcement rarely will try something as unreliable as sedation when there are human lives at stake. It breaks our hearts that these animals are being killed, but the blame is on those who breed, deal and trade in wild animals and the government agencies that have allowed it.

The leading cause for so many lions and tigers to end up this way are people who pay to pose with them or play with them as cubs. They can only be used, legally, between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, so the exploiters have to breed a new litter every month to meet the demand. If people refuse to go see the newest cubs at zoos, fairs and in their neighbors back yards, this problem would die out of old age in the next 20 years. As we speak, cubs are being pimped by Joe Schreibvogel at the Northgate Mall in Cincinnati. Take action here: http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=54917501

These are links to information that will help explain the origin of the big cat crises in America, the statistics and what needs to be done

List of Killings, Maulings and Escapes by big cats shows that Florida leads the nation in the number of these incidents, followed by Ohio and then Texas.

Big cat bans have been the only effective way to deal with the problem. A case in point is that OH has virtually no rules regarding the private possession of wild animals and yet is second to Florida, which boasts the nation’s toughest regulations, in the number of killings, maulings and escapes by captive wild cats. See why there is no way to effectively regulate the trade and why bans are necessary.

Chart Abandoned Big Cats VS Incidents

Where do all of these wild animals come from and how do they end up in backyards?

Charts that show the break down by state, species and type of big cat incident. More up to date charts are available by emailing MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org
2011USDAfacilitiesWithTigersVs2004
Notes based upon USDA’s info from 2004 and 2011
In 2004 there were 4,845 tigers in 666 USDA facilities
In 2011 there are 2,121 tigers in 348 USDA facilites
There are 2,724 missing tigers plus any born since 2004
There are 81 facilities that had no tigers in 2004 but do now
There are 399 facilities that had tigers in 2004 but do not now
These numbers do not include all of the tiger pet owners out there
Where are they now?

What happens when big cat facilities go under? http://bigcatrescue.org/2011/failed-big-cat-facilities/

Florida Based Info

In 2007 it became law that all big cat exhibitors post a $10,000 bond so that if someone were injured or killed or in the event of an escape, that there would be some recourse for the victims. Big cat owners are not supposed to be able to renew their state permits each year without posting the bond, but four years later there are still 69 back yard breeders, dealers and exotic pet owners who are licensed by the Florida Wildlife Commission to keep big cats and yet they have never posted the liability bond. Get the list of facilities, marked with an N for no bond here: FWC no Bond Posted
On the second tab there are a handful of people who havent posted the bond at their facility but are claiming to have a shared facility with someone who does, such as Sandlin and Valbuena sharing a bond. I don’t think that was the intent of the law, but there are still plenty of people who just haven’t complied at all and it does not appear that the FWC is doing anything about it, since they keep renewing their licenses.
Three non compliant facilities that are in the news frequently in the Tampabay area are Vernon Yates of Wildlife Rescue, Kathy Stearns with her pay to swim with tigers at Dade City’s Wild Things and “doc” Antle of T.I.G.E.R.S. in Miami who recently had a tiger escape.

If January 2011 Emergency Rule Had Not Been Allowed to Expire, Convicted Animal Abuser Would Almost Certainly Have Been Barred from Owning Exotics
The Humane Society of the United States Urges Gov. Kasich to Issue Emergency Order on Exotic Pets in Wake of Zanesville Tragedy
(Oct. 19, 2011) — After about 50 dangerous wild animals such as lions, bears and wolves escaped the home of a convicted felon in Muskingum County, with dozens already killed by authorities, The Humane Society of the United States is calling on state officials to issue an emergency rule to crack down on keeping dangerous exotics until the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or the Legislature can adopt a permanent legal solution. A previous emergency order issued by former Gov. Ted Strickland, which expired in April, prohibited people convicted of animal cruelty from owning exotic animals. Terry Thompson, found dead on his Zanesville property, had been convicted of animal cruelty in 2005, and would almost certainly have had his animals removed by May 1, 2011, if the emergency order had not expired.

The Kasich Administration has convened a stakeholder group to develop standards, including The HSUS, but immediate interim action is required given the public health and animal cruelty concerns. Ohio law authorizes the DNR to regulate the ownership of wild animals, and the governor has broad constitutional authority to issue emergency orders to protect public health and safety.

“Every month brings a new, bizarre, almost surreal incident involving privately held dangerous wild animals,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “In recent years, Ohioans have died and suffered injuries because the state hasn’t stopped private citizens from keeping dangerous wild animals as pets or as roadside attractions. Owners of large, exotic animals are a menace to society, and it’s time for the delaying on the rulemaking to end.”

Local authorities are now spending enormous resources on personnel, helicopters, infrared and equipment chasing down and killing free-roaming exotic animals in order to protect public safety. The paucity of rules on this issue is not only a threat to public safety, but also a fiscal drain on government resources. The HSUS has offered its assistance to the Ohio DNR, Columbus Zoo and other responding agencies on the ground.

The previous emergency order had banned the sale and acquisition of certain dangerous exotic animals such as bears, big cats, primates, wolves and large constrictor and venomous snakes, but grandfathered in existing owners, as long as they registered with the state by May 1, 2011, and had not been “convicted of an offense involving the abuse or neglect of any animal pursuant to any state, local, or federal law.” Terry Thompson was convicted in December 2005 on one count of having an animal at large, two counts of rendering animal waste without a license, one count of cruelty to animals.

Ohio is one of fewer than 10 states that don’t regulate private ownership of dangerous wild animals, jeopardizing public safety and animal welfare. Addressing the issue was one of the elements of a deal struck by The HSUS and agricultural leaders in the state to advance a series of animal welfare policies in the state.

Last year, a 24-year old man, Brent Kendra, was killed by a captive black bear in Lorain County. The HSUS has documented 22 incidents with dangerous exotic animals in Ohio since 2003, demonstrating risks to public health and safety and animal welfare. A full list is available here.

Terry Thompson in the News in 2006 for De-Clawing 3 Tigers to Use for Display
(despite no USDA license to do so)
Owner says tiger cubs declawed for use by Make-A-Wish Foundation
Declawed cubs one day will grant kids’ wishes
By LIZA MARTIN
Advocate ReporterHEATH, Ohio — Dr. James Underwood’s most recent cat declawing procedure was a little out of the ordinary.Actually, it was downright wild.The veteran veterinarian declawed three Siberian tiger cubs Monday at his Underwood Animal Hospital in Heath, where the tigers’ owners, Terry and Marian Thompson, of Zanesville, take their tigers, lions and leopards for care. Other exotic animals go elsewhere, Terry Thompson said.”(Declawing) is pretty much the same for a large cat as for a regular feline,” Underwood said.
The 23-pound cubs, named Sophia, Sovia and Samson, were up and walking the morning after their surgery, cuddling with Underwood and rubbing against the legs of reporters.
“They’re pretty darn lovey,” Underwood said while cradling one of the 2-month old cubs.
Thompson said he owns 21 tigers, including seven that have been born in the past year.
“They’re a passion of mine, and I like the animals,” he said.
Thompson said the three tigers were declawed Monday so they could be handled by children who have their wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
He has sent two other declawed tigers to an Akron hospital in the past three months to be part of the wish-granting.
“It’s pretty gratifying,” he said.
Siberian tigers are an endangered species, indigenous to eastern Russia, northeast China and parts of North Korea. The largest of all living cats, the males can grow to weigh an average of 650 pounds, while females tip the scales at about 350 pounds, according to www.tigerhomes.org.
It’s estimated only about 350 to 410 Siberian tigers are living in the wild, with another 490 managed in conservation programs.
There are no laws in Ohio regulating the private ownership of any exotic animals, unless they are used as part of a business. State law requires only a permit to possess native endangered species, such as the bobcat, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
However, an Ohio House bill introduced in August would require people who possess dangerous wild animals or exotic animals to obtain a personal possession permit. The bill also would establish requirements regarding the possession and care of dangerous wild animals and exotic animals.
Liza Martin can be reached at (740) 328-8544 or lmmartin@newarkadvocate.com.
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20060913/NEWS01/609130305/1002
In the last six years, local authorities visited Thompson’s farm nearly 30 times in response to complaints about escaped animals, animal cruelty, and more. Police knew the rare animals were at a huge risk, but there was nothing they could do.

In April 2011 80% of Ohioans Say People Should Not Own Exotic Animals. Sam Mazzola was later found dead.

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Big Cat Rescue hosts high resolution video at Veoh.com so that you can easily download the clips you need. If you need b-roll you can download it online for $1.99 and it is about 5 minutes of High Quality digital video of lions, tigers and other big cats roaming about the sanctuary.
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Need Experts for a Story?

CEO & Founder Carole Baskin 813 493-4564 MakeADifference@bigcatrescue.org Bio for Carole Baskin
President Jamie Veronica 813 323-3263 Info@bigcatrescue.org Bio for Jamie Veronica
Sanctuary Operations Gale Ingham 813 850-7052 Gale.Ingham@bigcatrescue.org
Education Dr. Beth Kamhi 813 323-3265 Beth.Kamhi@bigcatrescue.org
Advisory Board Howard Baskin 813 889-7244 HBaskin@bigcatrescue.org Bio for Howard Baskin
We have photos of all exotic cat species on high resolution CD. If you are doing a story about us, or quoting us, the images are free for that purpose. If you need them to augment a story that does not include us, all we ask if for photo credits to be displayed on or next to the image that includes our web address of www.bigcatrescue.org These images can be mailed or emailed. Contact Carole at MakeADifference@bigcatrescue.org
ABOUT BIG CAT RESCUE:

Big Cat Rescue, a non-profit organization founded in 1992, provides a permanent home for unwanted, abused and neglected exotic cats. The 55 acre sanctuary houses over 100 lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats and more. Big Cat Rescue is the largest big cat sanctuary in the world and one of three in the Eastern United States that meet the strict standards of care required to receive accreditation from The Global Federation of Sanctuaries (GFAS). Big Cat Rescue is located at 12802 Easy Street, across the street from Westfield Shoppingtown in Citrus Park, between Smokey Bones Restaurant and McDonalds. For tour times and other information, visit www.bigcatrescue.org. For more details, including finances, annual reports, awards and affiliations visit About Us.
MEDIA CONTACT: To arrange for in-studio or at-location interviews, please contact: Carole Baskin at 813 493-4564 or MakeADifference@bigcatrescue.org

Big Cat Rescue, a non profit educational sanctuary, is devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats, and to educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild.

Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/LIONS-TIGERS-Escape--Ohio---Freedom-to-die/1266413