Exotic Animals on the Loose in Ohio

why dont you go catch them then, i'll watch

ETA i'm sure you guys would be fine with one of these animals killing one of your kids/niece/nephew's also, sometimes lethal force is necessary, this is one of those days

 

remember that lady that got her face ripped off by a chimpanzie? damn straight i'd be scared if i saw that thing running at me, and i would dispatch it accordingly

 

You got to look at it from a public safety standpoint, the PD's first response was to tell their officers to load up on the AR's and just have it, in the interest of the public...

 

A lot of exotic animal sanctuaries get their animals from owners who think a lion or tiger cub is cute, want it for a pet, then realize they fucked up when the animals never conform to domestic life. I know in Tulsa, OK there is a place that gets almost all their animals from idiots who didn't realize that housing a wild animal is stupid idea. (granted, that place stayed current with its permits and vets)

Well this is just ignorant. 1.) Keep your kids inside if there is a public hazard. 2.) Lethal force isn't necessary, but it is logistically more efficient. 3.) There are plenty of people willing to help in their recapture. More than you think. Just because you are not doesn't mean that good people won't.

I had to think long about this, and while I don't like the idea or the methodology of the destruction of these animals, I do feel it's probably in the best interests of the community and possibly for the animals. These poor things probably never had a chance to grow in the wild, and most likely have lost any hunting/survival skills they may have picked up young. Unfortunately, bullets cost less than tranqs, and that has to be an issue. Not to mention, IF the animals were to be captured, where would they be housed? Who would treat them? Who would feed them? Transport them? Who would pay for it all? How could it be accomplished in a timely manner as to avoid malnutrition, prolonged inadequate captivity, human/animal altercations, etc.? I doubt many local zoos have the facilities to take on these beasts, and the manpower required to properly care for them far outweighs that needed to take them down. Would the citizens of Zanesville agree to a temporary tax hike to care for the animals? I doubt it.

While it's not the best thing to do, destroying them is probably the right thing and most certainly the most efficient thing. In the long run, it might be the most humane thing, too.

 

I completely agree with everything you guys have said.

I don't get easily upset, I hardly ever show true sadness...but when I see people putting animals in harms way out of their own stupidity/irresponsibility, I become enraged.

Animals are completely innocent. It is 100% the human race that has caused the demise of some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring creatures on this planet. All because some stuck up bitch in Beverly Hills (picked randomly, don't get offended) wants a real fur coat, or some bratty 16-year-old girl wants a croc-skin clutch. It's fucking ridiculous.

I can't even count the number of times I've seen somebody hitting their dog, or otherwise abusing it in broad daylight. I have no problem walking up to them, picking up the animal and driving off. I've done it several times already. Is that the "right" thing to do? No. But I'm not just going to keep on going.

It's one thing if you want to create a certified and legitimate reserve for animals, I commend you for that, but get the permits you need, get the volunteers you need and educate yourself appropriately or just don't fucking do it. The animals would be better off as they are in that case.

Sorry...I didn't mean to rant...these topics are really the only ones that I get worked up about. I'm done.



Fink

 

First of i live about a hour from there, but while its a shame that they are just killing the animals, I would rather have the problem taken care of and save human lives, sadly its cheaper to kill them than to tranq them and then pay to have them moved and then house them. The real problem was letting someone own the animals who was a potential suicide.

Im sure that this isnt just some fun hunting spree for the officers that have to take care of this, its just an unfortunate even that has to be settled

 

hahaha what is this a PETA forum? lethal force obviously was necessary to neutralize the threat to human life or they wouldn't have used it, Jack Hanna is there and he himself said there was no other option than the use of lethal force


maybe they should have locked down the city for a week while a bunch of hippies ran around the streets trying to catch 20+ wild animals, yeah, you're right that does sound like a better idea

 

You might as well have just said, "America, fuck yeah!"

Ignorance FTW.

Also, it's more than the fact that they shot them all. This fucktard should not have been allowed to own a hamster, much less 40+ exotic and dangerous animals. If he hadn't, this would have never been an issue.

Fink

 

Fink, right on point!

Toll is now to 4 dozen animals dead. What's the excuse for not using tranquilizers in the daytime? Bullshit to the max. I'm pisses and saddened. Take the PETA comments elsewhere, this is completely different.

I'll take it to another extreme...I don't value human life any more than animals. Why should I? Haven't we hunted animals in the wild for years? Don't humans sometime become the prey? And this might be news to you, but humans are a larger threat than any scared animal in the wild.

 

I guess you missed the remaining portion of the post where I agreed that termination was the right course of action. It was actually quite lengthy. I understand if the words I used were too big, though...

You don't let your kids out during a tornado, do you? Or a blizzard? Or into a swarm of locusts? How about during a plague?

Sorry I don't share your callous outlook on life. Next time I'll try and be more cynical when making kneejerk reactions.

 

This is one of the most retarted things I have heard in a while. They could easily capture these animals and put them right back in the same cages they were let out of. Problem solved for the short term. Call zoo's and get as many of them transfered as possible. Then if worst case no one will take them in put the animal down.

Why some trigger happy cops get to go hunting is beyond me. I would be more afraid of a stray bullet hitting my house than a tiger mauling me. Don't put yourself or anyone in a situation that give the animal a reason to attack. Plus the city should like it is on lockdown anyways. Those animals have just as much right to hunt us as we have to hunt them. Obviously if one came at a human I would have zero problems seeing it shot.

BTW the NRA should be all over this saying why we should all have .50 cals mounted on the chimney. LOL

 

Fink

 

Yes Yes!!! wow! I can understand the shooting of the Lions, ect especially if human lives are in danger. If it is possible they should dart as many if they can. if its not completely necessary they should keep them alive.

That would be scary if I lived near that! It's really that the people near there aren't used to it and are scared there are parts of the world where that is normal.

 

"There were animals standing outside their cages acting aggressive" Lets see, many different breeds of animals outside their cages, I'm pretty sure if they were being aggressive they would be attacking one another. I'm pretty sure the deputies were just scared, now they're just excited they get to go hunting. As for ohio law it requires permits for bears only. The other animals he had were legally owned. Right or wrong morally, he was in the right legally. Also I bet having so many animals that he had the tools required like tranqs to recapture and subdue the animals safely.

 

In my opinion, when you are talking about exotic and dangerous species of animals, if you use the words "standing" and "aggressive" in the same sentence...you need to reevaluate things.

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I used to volunteer some at that place you mentioned, I really like what they're doing there. I agree with everyone that said they should have been tranquilized. Should they be shot if they are being aggressive and a direct threat to human life? Yes, however I strongly doubt that this was the case with most of the animals. What really is bothering me is the deputies killing the animals still in the shelter... How aggressive could they be if they were "standing". I'm assuming the deputies got nervous and took some unnecessary action, which may have or may have not seemed appropriate at the time. And as far as the PETA comments go, that's ridiculous... I'm completely right wing and pro-gun, but what is going on here just seems like fairly senseless killing, mainly due to ignorance on behalf of the public and whatever government agencies are handling this.

 

I live less than two miles from this. Thompson is a notorious local. He's had much more trouble over the last twenty-five years reguarding firearms than he ever has with his animals. He just was released after a year for weapons charges and his wife was divorcing him. He let them all out, then put one in his dome. When I heard about it on the news this morning, the first thought that came to mind was "asshole". He had to have known that the animals would be shot. If he had left them caged, they couldve been dealt with in a more appropriate way. What a shame. I feel bad for the animals...its not their fault.

Best I can figure, this was a final FU to law enforcement. This guy has been in trouble with one facet or another since I was a kid. I remeber being young and hearing tales of multiple automatic weapons including an M60 being kept in his safe at the HD dealership he used to own. I think he may have crashed his personal helicopter into our river back in the day also. Lots of stories like that. Last time ATF raided his place they confiscated 100 plus guns and were digging around the property looking for more.

 

Couple pics.