I know it was a matter of public safety, and I can’t say I have an answer to how officials could have or should have handled the situation, but the shooting death of 49 wild animals brings me to tears. 
I’m speaking of the situation in Ohio yesterday, where the owner of a 73-acre exotic animal farm opened all of the animal enclosures as well as the front gates, setting his collection of animals free, before shooting himself in the head. So what happened to these confused animals who suddenly wound up in places they were not permitted? They became the enemy. The wild beasts officials felt forced to slaughter.
It’s said the animals had remained close together, near the open gates of the farm. They were not on the attack.
But in fairness, who could know this for sure?
Even Jack Hanna – an animal lover I greatly admire – said officials had no choice. Night had fallen and the public safety concerns of the day had grown deeper.
I’m struggling with this. To see the bodies of these magnificent animals strewn upon the ground… it’s simply heartbreaking.
Why this man was allowed to own these animals is what baffles me. He had a criminal record. He’d been convicted of animal abuse for neglecting cattle on a hill he could not climb. He did not call for anyone to help and so they starved to death. Just this summer, he served time for weapons violations – 100 guns were found on his property. Add to that, the Ohio legislature’s failure to renew a law stating that people convicted of animal abuse or neglect could not own animals, and you have the makings for an avoidable disaster.
And that’s exactly what yesterday’s massacre was. An avoidable disaster.
Here is a more accurate take on that issue from MSN news –
An executive order issued by former Gov. Ted Strickland just days before he left office in January prohibited people convicted of animal cruelty from owning exotic animals. The administration of current Gov. John Kasich allowed the order to expire in April, noting concerns about its enforceability and its impact on small businesses.
There is nothing we can do about the heartbreaking events of yesterday. Those animals had no idea what was going on and died because some lowlife who ‘owned’ them set them “free”, knowing perfectly well what their fate would be.
However, there may be something we can do about other exotic animals. We can take a stand, as the Humane Society of the United States is urging, and see to it that laws about exotic animal ownership are changed and enforced – for the benefit of the public as well as the animals. You can do that by contacting the governor of Ohio or by sending your thoughts to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources via the link below. I’ve sent my thoughts. I can only hope you will send yours as well.
Contact the Department of Natural Resources
Whatever we do, we cannot allow something like this happen again.
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EDITED – SATURDAY – OCTOBER 22, 2011
The Humane Society has just released a statement regarding Ohio Governor John Kasich’s lackluster response to the Exotic Animal Horror that occurred in his state because his administration failed to renew a law protecting the public and animals alike. The Humane Society’s statement, explanation and plea for help is here – Ohio’s Response Lacks Teeth.
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I’m with you Debbie. It was an avoidable massacre. It makes me sick to see this. Both sides were wrong: the gov’t for letting the man have them and the man for letting them loose. The animals were the innocent victims. Was there another way to handle this? Possibly but shooting them was probably the fastest and easiest way. What a waste.
Jack Hanna said that as darkness fell, the danger of tranquilizing the animals and having them wander off unseen was too great to risk. I, as an armchair quarterback, was furious with officials for the shootings until I heard he was on board with it and why.
You’re right, though. It’s the fault of this governor whose administration allowed the law to lapse and the fault of this man. What makes it worse is that his animal cruelty charge stemmed from an incident where he couldn’t get to his animals to feed them and so they starved. That he didn’t call for help tells me there was something wrong with this guy to begin with. He didn’t abuse them, he neglected them because he couldn’t get there. ??? Something just isn’t right with that… and yet he was permitted to own 50+ wild animals. So wrong.
The part I really couldn’t understand was that the guy was allowed to keep these animals AT ALL after he was convicted of animal cruelty six years ago (never did see any details, but still!). There are others here in Ohio who are responsible caretakers of exotic animals – breeders for zoos, for example – and it’s unfortunate that rotten apples like these will make it more difficult for them. But I agree the laws need to be strengthened. I’m glad they were at least able to save the six that they did, but the rare tigers having to be killed is especially sickening.
It is sickening. Those beautiful, innocent animals. They must have been so confused and afraid. It’s heartbreaking. But you’re so right, there are responsible caretakers of exotic animals. If the law preventing ownership to those convicted of cruelty were renewed, it would not affect them. It would only affect those who had been convicted of that crime. Except for the party-line divide, I cannot understand why it was allowed to lapse. I think it was partisan politics at it’s worst.
I find the whole situation disturbing on so many levels. What a dreadful shame to see these animals–some of them rare–dead in a heap.
I debated posting that image but decided to because the horror of it isn’t “real” unless it’s seen. This shouldn’t have happened, and simply cannot happen again. It’s so incredibly sad.
This makes me so sad. Nothing, honestly, makes me sadder than animal cruelty. I could barely read the post and the picture at the end made me cry. Perhaps I’m too softhearted? What a d*mn shame. 🙁
You’re not too softhearted, Catie. You’re compassionate. Anyone who is would feel sick about this. About that picture, I debated whether to post it but thought I had to because this tragedy could have been avoided. If enough people see this image, maybe they’ll be furious enough to see that laws are changed and enforced. People have to speak up. It’s the only way change will come.
Ye gads! This is pretty awful. I’m sure it senselessly had to happen in order for them to act fast and set things in place to hopefully prevent something like this from EVER ing again. Fingers crossed. Truly disheartening 🙁
It is awful. Sadly. the governor’s response is almost as bad. I know the Human Society will not give up on this. I can only hope the rest of us don’t give up either. With luck, people will visit this post, click on the links, then follow through with their calls and emails. Every little bit helps. Here’s hoping.