Animal ownership needs changes

On Oct. 18, investigators reported Ohio resident Terry Thompson released 56 exotic animals housed on his property before committing suicide.

Eighteen tigers, 17 lions and eight bears were among the animals that escaped into the Ohio countryside. An Oct. 19 Bloomberg Businessweek article reported on the event, which ended with the killing of 46 animals.

The incident points to inadequate animal regulation with regards to the ownership of exotic and dangerous pets.

Police reportedly visited Thompson’s property over 30 times since 2004 in response to allegations of animal cruelty. Yet his vast animal collection was allowed to remain in his ownership and on his property.

Regulations surrounding dangerous pets need to be strict, in order to make owners’ responsibilities clear and ensure that pets are appropriately cared for. Large animals require an immense amount of commitment. It’s unlikely that Thompson, who kept the animals in chain-link cages, was providing the necessary care.

In Thompson’s case, local authorities were legally bound from removing animals from his property. There needs to be an arm of animal services that can effectively remove dangerous animals from an owner’s custody. More needs to be done to prosecute people guilty of animal abuse and consequences must be apparent.

After the animals were set loose, local police worked with employees of the Columbus Zoo to try to capture the animals. Despite their efforts, 46 of the animals were shot and killed.

While tranquilization would have been preferable, killing was the right choice given that those attempting to control the situation were at great personal risk. Businessweek reported that one of the zoo’s veterinarians attempted to sedate a tiger but it began charging, forcing police to shoot.

What’s especially troubling is that the collection’s 18 tigers were Bengals, an endangered species. There’s no utility in keeping endangered species as pets, and it’s a practice that should be expressly illegal. Zoos are better equipped to provide care for an endangered animal than a singular owner.

The ownership of exotic animals needs to be highly regulated, but with special attention paid to whether or not an animal is potentially dangerous. A bear may not be as exotic as a peacock, but there’s no question that they’re more threatening.

It’s the animals who suffered most in this situation. They were penned up, treated unfairly and finally killed because of Thompson’s incompetence. It serves as an extreme example of why standards need to be set in place.

Tags

Animal Control, Exotic Pets

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