Tony the truckstop tiger - Letter to CNN

I am writing in regard to a long-time issue to many, involving Tony the Tiger at a Louisiana truck stop owned by Michael Sandlin. He is being kept as a roadside attraction in very small confinement. Tony is only residing there for the "mighty buck" for tourists which have been observed at about 100 visitors to Tony%u2019s habitat in about 45 minutes.

Sandlin has displayed five tigers since the Tiger Truck Stop opened in 1988 %u2014 "Our tigers before Tony, and now Tony, are what have made this truck stop famous," he said %u2014 and Tony, born in 2000, is the last one left. Sandlin was forced to turn over two other tigers in 2003.

We tried winning the fight for this poor cats release to a better environment but the council voted 11-1 to allow him to keep Tony %u2014 a decision that directly opposes parish ordinances restricting private ownership of exotic and dangerous animals.

Sandlin now qualifies for a permit from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that will enable him to legally keep the 550-pound tiger %u2014 that he has raised since it was a cub %u2014 at his truck stop for good. He was to comply with the conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the public and the welfare of the tiger but the only changes that have been shown were the painting of his cage. His 20 years of violations have included having an insufficient number of trained employees, keeping the tiger in unsound facilities, having no veterinary care program for the tigers, and providing improper nutrition for the animals. This is not to mention inhaling diesel fumes and walking around in his own waste.

Several complaints have been filed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and written to the owner of the Tiger Truck Stop offering to help pay the costs to get the animals transferred to real sanctuaries but Judge Robin Free's injunction is keeping him there.

There are many petitions circulating to get this poor tiger into a sanctuary but at this point there have been no accomplishments.

Please help us by airing this issue and letting the rest of the world know that this is cruelty and can still be resolved in a way that is healthy for this creature of God (not Sandlin).