49 of 56 exotic wild animals were shot and killed in Zanesville, Ohio at Muskingum Country Animal Farm. The owner of the animals, Terry Thompson, let the out of their cage before committing suicide from a self inflicted wound. Escaped animals included lions, tigers, grizzly and black bears. cheetahs, wolves, giraffes and camels. However chimpanzees and orangutans were found in secured cages inside his home.
Thompson was recently released from prison on federal weapon charges. He also was convicted in 2005 of animal abuse and neglect, but did no jail time and was still allowed to keep exotic pets.
SOURCE:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/6106/OH/US
Had Thompson been given a maximum penalty in 2005, this tragedy might have been avoided. When peple are charged with animal abuse, start taking the cases seriously and impose maximum penalties. A slap on the wrist for these serious crimes is an injustice to communities and to innocent animal life and wastes tax dollars being little more than paperwork.
We ask for harsher penalities for animal abuse in Ohio.
Ohio Governor John Kasich
E-Mail: http://governor.ohio.gov/Contact/ContacttheGovernor.aspx
49 of 56 exotic wild animals were shot and killed in Zanesville, Ohio at Muskingum Country Animal Farm. The owner of the animals, Terry Thompson, let the out of their cage before committing suicide from a self inflicted wound. Escaped animals included lions, tigers, grizzly and black bears. cheetahs, wolves, giraffes and camels. However chimpanzees and orangutans were found in secured cages inside his home.
Thompson was recently released from prison on federal weapon charges. He also was convicted in 2005 of animal abuse and neglect, but did no jail time and was still allowed to keep exotic pets.
SOURCE:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/6106/OH/US
Had Thompson been given a maximum penalty in 2005, this tragedy might have been avoided. When peple are charged with animal abuse, start taking the cases seriously and impose maximum penalties. A slap on the wrist for these serious crimes is an injustice to communities and to innocent animal life and wastes tax dollars being little more than paperwork.
We ask for harsher penalities for animal abuse in Ohio.
