Posted on 10/19/2011 6:26:30 AM PDT by Daffynition
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WTVN) -- A number of exotic animals, including lions, bears and cheetahs, were running loose in Muskingum County after someone opened their cages.
The owner of the wild animal preserve on Kopchak Rd, which runs along I-70, was found dead.
During a press conference Tuesday night, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz urged residents to stay indoors and recommended that some area schools cancel classes on Wednesday.
Zanesville City Schools, West Muskingum Local Schools and Maysville Local Schools had cancelled classes.
There were reportedly upwards of 50 animals at the farm.
(Excerpt) Read more at 610wtvn.com ...
I'm with you on that one!
One article Drudge linked to said the cops were cornering the animals and shooting them. I’m no animal rights anything, but that’s sad and I don’t like it.
**Not a joke here.This farm is exactly 5.3 miles on the other side of the woods from me.Our school district is one of them effected.Local news says there were 48 large animals and 24 have been shot.That still eaves several lions and a grizzly bear out there somewhere.
Terry was a Nam vet who was a helicopter pilot and could fly anything.He held a speed boat race record and used to own the Harley dealership here from the 1970’ until about 1993.I heard his wife just left him in the past week.He was sentenced to 1 year and one day in jail in 2010 and had been out for 3 weeks.He used to have a federal gun license and had let it expire and was arrested for the automatic weapons he still had.He must’ve just snapped is all I can say.They have had the animals for decades.**
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Since these critters have been captive for so long, I think the public is more at danger from the hyped-up-on-testosterone cops shooting wildly than the critters themselves. Sure, they'll revert to their *wildness* in a heartbeat, but what special training in hunting do the cops have? I refer to the ethics of making a clean-kill.
Terry killed himself,He just got out of jail on the federal gun charge 3 weeks ago and his wife of 30+ years left him recently.We think he just lost it and this was a big middle finger to the local/state and federal law enforcement community.We knew Terry he wasn’t a criminal.They have had a legal rescue for over 24 years.The charges for cruelty stem from a lion being loose and unreported in 2004 and they went through everything with a fine tooth comb to find any and all violations.We are basically on lock down here in Zanesville.The farm is 5.3 mi away on the other side of the woods from us.Pretty scary knowing there are 30+ animals out there that could eat you if they wanted to.
That should be 27 years.That is how long ago I met them an they had the fair and animals then.
That should be 27 years.That is how long ago I met them an they had the farm and animals then.
Up date says there are only 3 left on the loose.A Grizzly bear, a lion and a monkey are still on the loose.
Nah, just need to lure them near a Tyrannosaur, and he’ll take care of them!
AMEN to what both you and what Mr. Hanna hanna had said. This is bad all around.
A grizzly bear, a lion and a monkey walk into a bar...
The Columbus Zoo had monkeys escape back in the 70’s IIRC. They traveled I-71 all the way to Cleveland before being captured. They were on the loose about 7 months. I hope Jack Hanna is advising the police.
Most of these would be sold to zoos or Mike Tyson.
“Up date says there are only 3 left on the loose.”
Have they looked at the nearest “Occupy” protest location?
>>I’m no animal rights anything, but that’s sad and I don’t like it.<<
It’s very tragic...for everyone/thing involved. In itself, it is the most bizarre story, I’ve read in a long, long time.
Here in Connecticut, we had the chimp that went berserk a couple of years ago, and torn a woman’s face and hands off.
From here: http://www.examiner.com/children-s-recreation-in-harrisburg/exotic-animals-ohio-being-shot-after-being-released
**If you remember, a few months ago, Hershey Park shot 1 Bison and another one drowned after a flood in the area. Many people were upset at the parks reaction or lack their of due to the flood. Between these two events, and many others, many we will be able to finally instill a law preventing the average citizen from owning animals they have no rights to.**
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I what I read, the owner had the proper permits for the critters. There will be a rush to rewrite laws of ownership of exotics in Ohio...of that we can be sure. Wonder if they'll put pit bulls on the list? Politicians? OWSers?
..or Michael Jackson...if he was still around. Whatever happened to *Bubbles*?
Jack Hanna: “He said the animals were probably hiding out from the rain, but his advice to anyone who encountered one was this: Don’t run. Just scream.”
Stay safe! The only animal to worry about would be mountain lion....when s/he gets hungry....he’ll resort to his wildness to survive. With any luck he’ll keep running east and will get run over on a Connecticut highway...if history repeats itself. Stay safe.
I appreciate your anecdotes...we’re learning stuff we don’t get from the MSN....which is all hyperbole.
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