Exotic Animal Farms

On October 18, Terry Thompson released 56 wild exotic animals from his farm in Zanesville Ohio, then committed suicide. The unfortunate incident that followed left 48 animals killed by local law enforcement including 18 endangered Bengal tigers, 17 lions and eight bears. The local law enforcement were untrained and unprepared to properly engage and trap these wild animals and so killing them became the easiest way to deal with the situation.

Mr. Thompson had numerous complaints against him for animal cruelty. In 2004, he was charged with animal cruelty by the local authorities. He had been reported to the USDA in 2008 and 2009 for animal mistreatment and neglect. The USDA decided they did not have jurisdiction and could not act in this matter.

Beyond the animal cruelty and neglect issues is the fact that these animals were wild and in some cases endangered. No one should own these animals as pets. Owning them not only impedes their natural growth and behavior, it also removes their ability to procreate. Removing these animals from their natural habitats is unjust not only because they are wild and are incarcerated, but is also facilitating their extinction. There are only approximately 2,500 Bengal Tigers left in the wild, so the loss of even one is heartbreaking.

Currently, nine states do not have any regulations or rules on exotic pet ownership. There is virtually no oversight on treatment of these animals and no guidelines in place for limits on their trade and ownership. People can own as many tigers and lions as they want with no regard to the animal's welfare or the public safety.

Please join with me in telling the governors of these states that owning a wild animal is unacceptable, not only because it is unjust to the animal but because it endangers people living near these animal zoos.

You can contact the governors of the individual states yourself:
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Contact/ContacttheGovernor.aspx
http://walker.wi.gov/
http://www.governor.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.governor.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.governor.state.nc.us/
http://gov.nv.gov/
http://governor.mo.gov/
http://gov.idaho.gov/
http://www.alabama.gov/sliverheader/Welcome.do?url=http://governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx