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Horror, resignation at killing of Ohio animals
AP via YahooNews ^ | October 20, 2011 | ANDY BROWNFIELD and KANTELE FRANKO

Posted on 10/20/2011 11:24:27 AM PDT by Enchante

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Amid expressions of horror and revulsion at the killing of dozens of wild animals in Ohio — and photographs of their bloody carcasses — animal rights advocates agreed there was little local authorities could have done to save the dangerous creatures once they began roaming the countryside after their owner released them before taking his own life.

Sheriff's deputies shot 48 animals — including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions — after Terry Thompson, owner of the private Muskingum County Animal Farm near Zanesville, threw their cages open Tuesday and then committed suicide.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: animals; ohio; tigers; zanesville; zoo
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To: SMARTY

‘What is really INHUMANE is putting wild creatures in a cage in the first place. What could be more cruel for an animal that is meant to be free in the wild?

What human could exist for years in a small cage and keep their sanity?’


It’s called prison. We do it everyday.


21 posted on 10/20/2011 11:38:06 AM PDT by AlmaKing
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To: Enchante

I read that the animals hadn’t been fed in days also. Sad.


22 posted on 10/20/2011 11:38:39 AM PDT by SuzyQue
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To: Enchante; floriduh voter

We have all sorts of these wild animal “refuges” here in Florida. They mostly take in circus animals, such as lions, etc. - and all of the owners I have ever met are nuts.

Generally the neighbors don’t know in advance that dangerous animals are going to be housed there (the owner of the “refuge” will usually get a permit for something like monkeys or zebras, but not mention the tigers and leopards until the roaring starts to bother the neighbors). And when they do know, they don’t approve, for obvious reasons, but it is impossible to get these “refuges” out then because all of the single middle aged ladies who are animal nuts come out and pitch a fit at the city council meetings.

I had occasion to spend time at a house in a very nice subdivision where somebody had moved in to a large property behind the subdivision and installed a wild animal refuge. The roaring of the lions and tigers in the evening (at supper time for the animals) was bloodcurdling, and in the morning the apes and chimps would start to scream. But it was impossible to get the lady who had started it to move or get rid of her animals, even though she had gotten these predators in through deceit. The local police said that there was going to have to be an escape (not unlikely, because she was a little too comfy with the animals and was not careful, from what I heard) before anything could be done.

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for these places.


23 posted on 10/20/2011 11:39:32 AM PDT by livius
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To: HiTech RedNeck

The newspaper said that his corpse had been “bothered” by the animals.


24 posted on 10/20/2011 11:41:40 AM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Lions, tigers, IRS ... oh my!


25 posted on 10/20/2011 11:42:08 AM PDT by Dacula (When life gives you lemons, make apple juice and have people wonder how the hell you did it.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Lions, Tigers, IRS ... oh my!


26 posted on 10/20/2011 11:42:24 AM PDT by Dacula (When life gives you lemons, make apple juice and have people wonder how the hell you did it.)
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To: Enchante
"....but this is some crazy scary stuff...."

There is SO MUCH crazy scary stuff happening anymore.

27 posted on 10/20/2011 11:43:25 AM PDT by Spunky (Sarah Palin on Polls "Poles are for Strippers and Cross Country Skiers")
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To: HiTech RedNeck
What about the humane societies e.g. ASPCA?

They all pretty much agree. I wasn't there so it's would be hard to comment. If the animals were hungry, especially the big cats, then it could of been a very dangerous situation.
28 posted on 10/20/2011 11:43:25 AM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Enchante
A couple of dead cows and the animals would have been eating until the zoo people got there. However, the report was the cops started shooting the moment they hit the property, until someone pointed out killing a protected animal is illegal. It is done, just make sure the cops do not steal the widows property.
29 posted on 10/20/2011 11:44:37 AM PDT by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: org.whodat
A couple of dead cows and the animals would have been eating until the zoo people got there.

Animals eating each other for meat, what a concept!

30 posted on 10/20/2011 11:45:30 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: floriduh voter

“IF they had night vision goggles, they could have used more darts and less bullets.”

Maybe if it had been only one or two big cats, but there were over 30. Not practical. I’m surprised the only thing that got eaten by the cats was one of the monkeys.


31 posted on 10/20/2011 11:46:29 AM PDT by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: Enchante

I was sickened and saddened when I saw the picture of all of those beautifully animals lying dead on the ground. I just imagined the police running around like cowboys having a great time shooting those poor beasts so they could brag about it later. In reality, it was a very big liability for them not to shoot on sight because we all know who would get the blame if one of those animals attacked someone while the police waited for darts to take effect, etc.

All the blame for the unnecessary deaths of these beautiful animals has to be laid at the feet of the guy who let the animals go.


32 posted on 10/20/2011 11:46:29 AM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: Biggirl

Jack Hanna was consulted by the Sheriff and said they were doing the right thing. He was on Greta last night.

He said they couldn’t use dart guns to put down the animals at night because it would take at least 40 minutes for the drug to work and working in the dark was dangerous when trying to sedate these animals.


33 posted on 10/20/2011 11:48:08 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: Reddy
I just imagined the police running around like cowboys having a great time shooting those poor beasts so they could brag about it later.

Come on now, we don't know that. This is a situation that no local US LEO department is prepared for. I almost bet most of them were scared shitless.

This is coming from a big animal guy and a someone who questions LEO activity constantly.
34 posted on 10/20/2011 11:50:00 AM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Malsua

A .40 glock. That’s really not surprisng. I’ve taken on a black bear (eating my dog’s food) in flip flops and a t-shirt with a can of wasp spray.

Another killed a tiger with a side arm, about 30 shots, I think. Tigers are a whole other ball of wax.


35 posted on 10/20/2011 11:52:03 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
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To: Reddy
Meanwhile, the death threats keep pouring into the Sheriff's Department and to Jack Hanna.

I saw some true idiot FReepers on some of the other threads regarding this case. They sounded like ALF charter members posting on DU. The cop hating made me want to puke.

36 posted on 10/20/2011 11:52:27 AM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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To: kcvl
"Jack Hanna was consulted by the Sheriff and said they were doing the right thing. He was on Greta last night."

I watched him on a video and he said he cried when talking with the wife. He definitely said it was the only thing that could be done.

37 posted on 10/20/2011 11:52:44 AM PDT by Spunky (Sarah Palin on Polls "Poles are for Strippers and Cross Country Skiers")
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To: AlmaKing

It’s called prison, because it is the PENALTY for crime.

The animals committed no crime...they were just unlucky enough to be caught


38 posted on 10/20/2011 11:53:45 AM PDT by SMARTY ("The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." Edmund Burke)
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To: LouAvul
The main problem was they didn't have darts big enough for these animals, and the Columbus Zoo had to get authorization before they could assist. They did try to dart a tiger the next morning, but either they didn't have the right dosage, or the dart didn't dispense the drug, but the ended up having to shoot the tiger to protect the zoo employee who was trying to tranq it.

A few years ago, the Louisville Zoo "lost" one of their lions, and the cops were not taking any chances. They were out looking for him with some serious ordinance. It turned out that he'd just found a new hidy-hole inside the enclosure, but it was a tense few days. What was real exciting was how he was found; a cop and two zoo employees were in the enclosure, trying to figure out how he escaped, when the cop spotted him hiding under the rock. How'd you like to be face to face with a full grown African Lion and the only thing you have is your 9mm?

39 posted on 10/20/2011 11:55:29 AM PDT by Stonewall Jackson (Democrats: "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.")
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To: Spunky

He cried on the live local news coverage here, too. He was devastated, but pointed out that the law enforcement people were as well. He fully supported what had to be done. He was right; it was a miracle no humans were harmed. People who don’t have a clue about the area need to know that the farm was less than a mile from busy fast food restaurants and convenience stores/gas stations as well as a subdivision.


40 posted on 10/20/2011 11:58:04 AM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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