UPDATE Send Tony the Tiger to Sanctuary

HERE IS THE COMPLETE UPDATE I RECEIVED ON HIM.

Dear Ms. Rogers,

Thanks for contacting us about Tony, the tiger at the Tiger Truck Stop in Louisiana. We share your outrage that this situation has not been resolved and that Tony still exists in this awful situation. First, some background about this situation.

PETA has campaigned against this roadside display for many years. We have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Louisiana officials, posted action alerts and have written countless letters in an effort to get the tigers "retired" (there used to be multiple tigers in two different locations). We wrote to the owner of the truck stop, offering to help pay the costs of moving the tigers to a sanctuary.

After years of complaints, in July 2002, the USDA charged the owner of the Tiger Truck Stop, Michael Sandlin, with violating the Animal Welfare Act, including keeping the tigers in unsound facilities, lack of a veterinary care program and improper nutrition.  Sandlin paid a $1,000 fine and was ordered not to possess or exhibit more than two exotic cats. As a result, Sandlin moved three of his four tigers to a facility in Tennessee, leaving one—Tony—still on display.

Fast forward to 2009. Despite aggressive campaigning over the legality of keeping a wild animal in the parish, local officials voted to allow Sandlin to keep Tony at the truck stop, which opened the door for Sandlin to qualify for a state permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The department granted him one and the campaign continued.

In May 2011, a Louisiana district granted the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s (ALDF) request for a permanent injunction against the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, preventing the department from renewing Sandlin’s annual permit. The ruling was later upheld under appeal when the court ruled that the permit was illegally issued in the first place. Sandlin will no longer be able to keep Tony confined at the truck stop where he has languished for over a decade.  Sandlin is appealing the case yet again.

If ordered to move Tony, as expected, Sandlin has announced that he intends to send Tony to a notoriously awful zoo in Oklahoma called G.W. Exotics. Please appeal to Sandlin to retire Tony to a reputable sanctuary with large grassy enclosures where he can run, jump and swim—not be moved to another cramped, barren cage at G.W. Exotics where nearly two dozen tigers have reportedly perished.

You can find all the information here: http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2011/12/14/send-tony-the-tiger-to-sanctuary.aspx. Please share with as many people as you can. 

Regarding the other tigers that you mentioned in your email –could you please clarify which facility you are referring to? I can then try to give you an update on the situation.

Thanks again for your email and for being an activist for animals.

THIS IS AN ACTIVE LINK: http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2011/12/14/send-tony-the-tiger-to-sanctuary.aspx

Sincerely,

Lora Adomeit

Membership Correspondent

PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL YOU KNOW.  WE NEED TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE