Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh Cry!

Just this past week authorities in Zanesville, Ohio received a report that 62-year-old Terry Thompson freed about 56 animals, before he took his  own life.  The small town was filled with the dangerous animals including, bears, leopards, monkeys, tigers and wolves.
While police officers tried to save the lives of the animals, apparently the high risk of danger caused them to kill many of them using their pistols before they were able to be tranquilized. I find myself questioning this statement. Did they really do all they could to try and save these animals or was is just more convenient to kill them. All the people in the town were under strict orders to remain indoors and schools were shut down so there was little risk of people getting injured and indeed no one did so why did they not do more to save the animals.Of the 56 animals released 48 ANIMALS WERE KILLED (1-Wolf, 6 black bears, 2-grizzly bears, 9 lions, 8 lionessess, 1 baboon, 3 mountain lions and 18 tigers).  ONLY SIX REMAIN ALIVE and two have not been captured yet. .
I find it absolutely appalling that dozens of beautiful (and some endangered) animals had to be destroyed because of this man’s actions. He had been convicted of animal cruelty in the past so why was he still allowed to keep these (or any animals for that matter) on his property. Would we have to deal with this massive problem in the first place if there had been better controls?

Reports state that the owner was released from jail just three weeks ago after a one year sentence. It seems that this man had broken the law several times including a few instances involving animal cruelty. So my question is why was absolutely NO ONE aware of all the animals that were kept on his property? Who cared for them for that year he was in jail? I get that safety was the issue that drove the sheriff to kill all the animals but this could of been prevented. Those animals could have been rescued and saved during that year the owner was in jail. I find it shameful that there are not better laws that protect our animals! It so easy now to say we had to do it (kill them), that we had no choice. Ohio you had so many choices and in my mind you made the wrong one and to make matters worse now you want to justify your cruel actions by saying you did the public a service.

All of this reminded me once again of an excellent film which I will suggest you take a look at. It’s a documentary by Michael Webber called, “The Elephant in the Living Room” and it examines the complex issue of private ownership of dangerous wild animals.

                                                          

   From beasts we scorn as soulless,
In forest, field and den,
The cry goes up to witness
The soullessness of men.
~M. Frida Hartley