Urgent: Exotic Animals Could Be Euthanized

  • by: Amanda Whelan
  • recipient: Special Prosecutor, Ohio Department of Agriculture and John Kasich, Governor of Ohio.

"They won’t leave this property - One way or the other”

Kenny Hetrick, owner of Tiger Ridge Exotics

Please keep sharing this petition as this is NOT over. After ignoring a new state law requiring him to upgrade his facilities and enclosures for his wild animal sanctuary, owner Kenny Hetrick threatened to euthanize all his animals: an endangered black leopard, six endangered tigers, two lions, a brown bear, a liger and a bobcat. Tiger Ridge Exotics has publicly documented USDA violations and was once an exotic animal breeding facility.

The state gave Hetrick until Oct 22 to turn over his animals, and media reports made it clear he would have rather killed his animals than turn them over to the State. Attempts by numerous accredited sanctuaries waiting to rehome the animals in far better facilities have been ignored by Mr. Hetrick. We do not know how much time he was given to comply.

Multiple times Hetrick has threatened to kill the animals which is not acceptable or to be taken lightly. Please tell the State of Ohio to follow the law, secure the facility and make sure no harm comes to these innocent animals before they can be rehomed into licensed, proper sanctuaries to live out the rest of their lives. Thank you.

Ohio’s new exotic animals law is an important step in the right direction, but the animals of Tiger Ridge Exotics are caught in the middle of the process of increasing oversight of backyard ‘sanctuaries’, please act immediately to make sure no harm comes to these animals from an owner determined to flout the law. These innocent animals deserve to live the remainder of their lives in a safe, well-maintained, sanctuary.

Update #49 years ago
URGENT! Hetrick's animals were finally seized by Ohio without the proper procedure & now a judge has issued an injunction to return them! The exotics are at a new holding facility in Ohio while one of the top big cat sanctuaries in the USA awaits them in sunny California. Please call 1-614-728-6220 and ask for the Dept. Of Communications and wild animal health and tell them NOT to return the exotics. Thank you!
Update #39 years ago
Thank you for continuing to keep the petition going. Hetrick STILL remains "under review" by Ohio. and we continue to WAIT. The exotics are safe- for now. This is not over so please keep sharing. Please sign the petition to stop Ohio's LIVE tiger cub High school mascot too so we can stop more Tigers ending up Ohios backyards. Seasons greetings and thank you-Amanda Whelan http://www.thepetitionsite.com/807/480/353/stop-the-yearly-tiger-cub-purchase-by-ohios-massillon-washington-high-school/
Update #29 years ago
Due to Ohio's lax officials, Hetrick continues to get away with the law while raising money to catch up last minute & comply with new exotic animal laws. He was inspected by the state on November 14th and now it is in their hands to decide if his animals will go to the reputable sanctuaries waiting for them. PLEASE KEEP SHARING THIS PETITION. Thanks!
Update #19 years ago
Here is where things now stand: Hetrick filed a permit Tuesday which stopped the removal of the animals. This is grossly unfair as he's still breaking the law. We have to keep fighting to get the exotics moved to safety. Please keep this petition going and also sign to ban the YEARLY Tiger purchase by an Ohio school:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/807/480/353/stop-the-yearly-tiger-cub-purchase-by-ohios-massillon-washington-high-school/

We are not done!Thank you!


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