22,399,977 members doing good!
about our ads
share your passions, stories, inspirations, and more
TONY THE TRUCK STOP TIGER
Oct 22, 2009
Focus: Animal Welfare
Action Request: Various
Location: Louisiana, United States
TONY THE TRUCK STOP TIGER -

FIRST POSTED:                     23rd October 2009
 
NEW DETAILS ADDED:          21st NOVEMBER 2009

MY CAMPAIGN TO FREE 'TONY THE TIGER' FROM THE TRUCK STOP

FULL STORY & DETAILS OF EMAILS/LETTERS I HAVE SENT & RECEIVED & SOME OF THE ACTIONS I HAVE TAKEN ON BEHALF OF  -  'TONY THE TIGER'  

INCLUDING:  CONTACT DETAILS OF ORGANISATIONS, LOCAL COUNCIL & GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO SEND LETTERS & EMAILS TO.               

_____________________________________________________________

I wanted to write about a friend I have on Care 2 Charlie L.  When I sent messages out to all my friends, asking them to email Maria Davidson, at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries the above message is the response I had from Charlie.  I was heartened by his enthusiasm & the fact that he was going that extra mile to post a letter to Maria Davidson's Civic Address, even though his printer wasn't working & he had to go to the Library to print it.   Charlie is spot on, sending letters by post DOES have a greater impact.  Charlie also came up with an idea regarding printing 'flyers' and placing them in strategic places in Grosse Tete on car windscreens.  I think this is a really good idea & could prove very effective.  Thank-you Charlie, it is people like you who really make a difference & it is your idea that made me think of this other idea using 'flyers'!!!  

_______________________________________________________________

I have had some thoughts on the 'flyers' too.  I thought that if we are going to get 'flyers' placed on car windscreens, maybe we could also approach a Marketing/Advertising company that provided a 'printing & delivery service.'  Some Marketing/Advertising companies in the UK work in conjunction with 'freebie' newspapers and will co-ordinate the printing & distribution of the 'flyers', as inserts inside the 'freebie' newspapers. Maybe, there are companies in the US that provide a similar service?  Basically, the overall cost would be based on:

  • The Marketing Companies costs incurred to print 'flyers'
  • The Marketing companies costs incurred to get 'freebie'         newspaper companies to insert the 'flyers' in their newspapers &  distribute them
  • Plus, their profit margin


This is achieveable & shouldn't be to difficult to arrange. We could set up a donation/funding page to raise the money to cover the costs.  I think the population of Grosse Tete, is only about 670. So the costs to deliver to residents shouldn't be too much.  If we managed to raise enough money, maybe we could even extend the distribution of the 'flyers' to the part of the city of Baton Rouge that is nearest to Grosse Tete?  

I mentioned Charlie's idea of placing 'flyers' on car windscreens & my idea of having 'flyers' distributed inside 'freebie' newspapers & my friend James Platt thought they were both good ideas & worth a try.  James Platt has done a lot of research, written loads of blogs, put up petitions & basically put a lot of hard work and effort into the 'Tony the Tiger Campaign', so I value his opinion.  James told me he would try & look into it & see if there were any Marketing/Advertising Companies that provided this service in conjunction with 'freebie' newspapers around Grosse Tete & the surrounding area.

As I am in the UK, I cannot get involved with the printing & distribution of the 'flyers', but I wanted to do my bit.  I have been working on the design of a 'flyer' using a software called 'Concept Draw' (for layout) & photo editing software.  I have put a photo of 'Tony' in his Cage, alongside a photo of a 'Tiger' at the Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary, who have offered 'Tony' a home for life. I have put a poignant sentence beneath each photograph that I think will be hard hitting and make people really think of the welfare of 'Tony the Tiger'      I have also put a small paragraph outlining the background of the story of 'Tony' to the bottom left of the 'flyer'.  Along the bottom of the 'flyer' I thought I would type serveral URL addresses that 'link' to information, blogs, stories & petitions regarding 'Tony the Tiger'.  I think James Platt has a decent wordpress blog that basically 'links' to all his information about 'Tony', so this might be an idea for one of the URL addresses to print on the bottom of the 'flyer'

When I have finished the 'flyer', I will try and upload a copy to my Share Page & send it out to all my friends.

 

_______________________________________________________________

THE LATEST NEWS I HAVE FOUND ON EXAMINER.COM

For those of you following the fate of Tony, the Bengal tiger caged at a truck stop in Grosse Tete, here is the latest from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

According to a letter postmarked August 11, 2009, from Maria Davidson, Large Carnivore Program Manager,  the Iberville parish permit has been issued and "the Department (Wildlife and Fisheries) is in the process of reviewing the state Tiger Truck Stop application." 

Davidson further writes, "It is the Department's position that private possession of tigers poses a significant hazard to public safety and is detrimental to the health of the animal. Prolonged confinement is by its nature stressful to tigers and proper long-term care by experienced persons is essential to the health of the animal."

These are promising words. Let's see what happens next.

______________________________________________________________

Dear Friends,   UPDATE

MY LETTER SENT ON:         14th AUGUST 2009

TO IBERVILLE PARISH COUNCIL & SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS

Dear Sir/Madam
 
Please help Tony The Truck Stop Tiger.  This beautiful majestic animal has been living in a concrete jungle for years.  He paces up and down a small metal cage with a concrete floor.  He is constantly breathing in the fumes of the Giant Trucks that stop at the Truck Stop.  Tony has no shade, as the roof of his prison is metal & just heats up.  He has to endure members of the public shouting and taunting him, throwing things at him to get him to move so they can see him more clearly.  He has a very small pool of water in the cage, which is not big enough for him to even swim in. 
 
Tony has been offered a place at Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary, where he could live out his days in luxury.  He would have large areas to roam around.  The ground would be natural soil, which is how it would be in his natural habitat.  There are caves to explore, trees to give him shade and a large pool big enough to swim in. 
 
Tony would be placed into an area where it was away from the public where it would be quiet and peaceful, so that Tony would have the chance to get used to his new surroundings. 
 
I have signed many petitions regarding 'Tony The Truck Stop Tiger', on various Animal Welfare Sites.  Care 2 has been campaigning vehemently to get Tony released for a very long time.  It was in fact one of the most active stories on Care 2.  I am a member of Care 2 and I have been actively campaigning to give Tony the freedom he deserves. I have signed many petitions, commented on news stories and blogs and sent emails to Organisations & Officials.  I have also forwarded petitons to all my contacts on various Animal Welfare sites for them to sign & they have fowarded on to their contacts.  The response has been huge. 
 
There are laws being broken and exploited by legal loopholes, to keep Tony where he is.  One argumente even stated that Tony would be  be scared and stressed if he were put into an environment with other tigers.  This argument was based on the fact that Tony has been hand raised and hand-fed and had never been in an environment with other Tigers.  This is like saying a 'puppy' that has been in a puppy mill for so many years, should stay there because he/she has never known any different.  It is an absurd argument and has no bearing whatsoever.  Domestic cats and dogs are extremely adaptable and have been re-homed into families with other animals after spending years in a kennel or rescue centre.  Big Cats are also very adaptable & Tony would adapt to the change in his environment, especially as he is to be placed in a quiet area away from the public eye.  The freedom Tony would experience, the ability to roam freely on soft soil, to laze under the trees, to explore caves, to swim in the pool would be heaven to him.  In this environment, which mimics his natural environment, Tony would thrive. The freedom he would experience, the ability to run & excercise properly, the lush grass to roll around in and the trees to sleep under, would be such a relief for him, that he would have no trouble adapting whatsoever.  Infact, he would be given his spirit back, he would be happy & he deserves this right to live out the rest of his years in this paradise, which is a million miles away from the appalling conditions he has lived in for so many years. 
 
Please support our efforts on Care 2 and all the other sites that have been campaigning to free Tony.  The law is being broken by keeping Tony caged in such atrocious conditions in his concrete jungle. 
 
We owe Tony our full support, he must be freed, he has suffered for far too long. 
 
Please implement the laws appropriately and do not issue a permit for the owner of the Truck Stop to keep 'Tony' in this 'Chamber of Horrors'.  Do not turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to Tony's plight and to the efforts of hundreds of thousands of people all over the world that want to have Tony sent to the Big Cat Rescue.  We are many and we are not wrong, it is just that we are fighting against a law that has been corrupted by profit and greed. 
 
TONY MAY NOT HAVE LONG TO LIVE, IF HE IS LEFT AT THE TRUCK STOP.  PLEASE DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO FREE TONY NOW.  FROM ONE WHO SPEAKS FOR THE MAJORITY AND CARES DEEPLY ABOUT TONY'S PLIGHT.  PLEASE LET HIM LIVE OUT THE REST OF HIS LIFE WHERE HE CAN BE A FREE SPIRIT AND EXPERIENCE LIFE AS IT SHOULD BE FOR A TIGER.
 
SALLY DIX
_________________________________________________

IBERVILLE PARISH SWAMPED WITH EMAILS

If you read the full message it will explain everything.  Please feel free to use 'My Template Letter' or compose your own letter if you wish.  Please send to the eight 'Council Member Email Addresses' highlighted in yellow (one of which I think is the Main Parish Email Address: parishcouncil@eatel.net.)  We have already been receiving 'mailer-daemon notices', "user is over quota" from this particular email, which suggests they have been swamped with emails.

We want to be sending out so many emails that we are receiving 'mailer-daemon notices', "user is over quota" from all eight of the Council Member Email Addresses which will suggest that they too are  swamped with emails.     


This will put alot of pressure on the Iberville Parish Council.  They are the Council that will be issuing the 'permit' that will allow Tony's owner to keep him at the Truck Stop. 

We have come such a long way, in the fight to free 'Tony the Tiger' & I believe we can still WIN.

_____________________________________________________________


19th AUGUST 2009 - UPDATE

I have sent the letter that I sent to the Iberville Parish Council & Council Members (slightly adapted) to:

Maria Davidson, Large Carnivore Manager, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

Maria Davidson will be reviewing the state Tiger Truck Stop Application. 

I am hoping my letter will have some impact, as this is the last chance of a 'lifeline' for 'Tony the Tiger.'  I have asked Maria Davidson NOT to issue a permit to the Truck Stop Owner that would give him permission to keep Tony.

I have read that Maria Davidson is a Wildlife Biologist. There  will be no conflict of interest, as profit will not be a motive.  Maria Davidson's decision will be soley based on the health and well-being of 'Tony'.  
_____________________________________________________________

 

COPY OF LETTER I SENT TO MARIA DAVIDSON

Dear Maria Davidson,
 
Please help 'Tony The Truck Stop Tiger'.  This beautiful majestic animal has been living in a concrete jungle for years.  He paces up and down a small metal cage with a concrete floor.  He is constantly breathing in the fumes of the Giant Trucks that stop at the Truck Stop.  Tony has no shade, as the roof of his prison is metal & just heats up.  He has to endure members of the public shouting and taunting him, throwing things at him to get him to move so they can see him more clearly.  He has a very small pool of water in the cage, which is not big enough for him to even swim in. 
 
Tony has been offered a place at Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary where he could live out his days in luxury.  He would have large areas to roam around.  The ground would be natural soil, which is how it would be in his natural habitat.  There are caves to explore, trees to give him shade and a large pool big enough to swim in. 

Tony would be placed into an area away from the public where it would be quiet and peaceful, so that Tony would have the chance to get used to his new surroundings. 
 
I have signed many petitions regarding 'Tony The Truck Stop Tiger', on various Animal Welfare Sites.  Care 2 has been campaigning vehemently to get Tony released for a very long time.  It was in fact one of the most active stories on Care 2.  I am a member of Care 2 and I have been actively campaigning to give Tony the freedom he deserves. I have signed many petitions, commented on news stories and blogs and sent emails to Organisations & Officials.  I have also forwarded petitons to all my contacts on various Animal Welfare sites for them to sign & they have fowarded on to their contacts.  The response has been huge. 
 
There are laws being broken and exploited by legal loopholes, to keep Tony where he is.  One argument even stated that Tony would be scared and stressed if he were to be put into an environment with other Tigers.  This argument was based on the fact that Tony has been hand raised and hand-fed and has never been in an environment with other Tigers.  This is like saying a 'puppy' that has been in a puppy mill for so many years, should stay there because he/she has never known any different.  It is an absurd argument and has no bearing whatsoever.  Domestic cats and dogs are extremely adaptable and have been re-homed into families with other animals after spending years in a kennel or rescue centre.  Big Cats are also very adaptable & Tony would adapt to the change in his environment, especially as he is to be placed in a quiet area away from the public eye.  The freedom Tony would experience, the ability to roam freely on soft soil, to laze under the trees, to explore caves, to swim in the pool, would be heaven to him.  In this environment, which mimics his natural environment, Tony would thrive. The freedom he would experience, the ability to run & excercise properly, the lush grass to roll around in and the trees to sleep under, would be such a relief for him, that he would have no trouble adapting whatsoever.  Infact, he would be given his spirit back, he would be happy & he deserves this right to live out the rest of his years in this paradise, which is a million miles away from the appalling conditions he has lived in for so many years. 
 
Please support our efforts on Care 2 and all the other sites that have been campaigning to free Tony.  The law is being broken by keeping Tony caged in such atrocious conditions in his concrete jungle. 
 
We owe Tony our full support, he must be freed, he has suffered for far too long. 
 
Please implement the laws appropriately and do NOT issue a 'Permit' for the owner of the Truck Stop to keep 'Tony' in this 'Chamber of Horrors'.  Do not turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to Tony's plight and to the efforts of hundreds of thousands of people all over the world that want to have Tony sent to the Big Cat Rescue.  We are many and we are not wrong, it is just that we are fighting against a law that has been corrupted by profit and greed. 
 
As a Wildlife Biologist, you must know that it is a travesty for any Tiger to be caged and confined.  Tony is not only suffering because he is caged in appalling conditions. Tony also has to endure constant noise from Truck Engines, Fumes, Unbearable Heat with no Shade & People Shouting at him and Taunting him.  Please, you are the last hope for 'Tony' & you have the authority to FREE 'Tony' from this life.  A cruel life of endless days, months & years where 'Tony' has endured intolerable suffering, which is slowly killing him.
 
TONY MAY NOT HAVE LONG TO LIVE, IF HE IS LEFT AT THE TRUCK STOP.  PLEASE DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO FREE TONY NOW.  FROM ONE WHO SPEAKS FOR THE MAJORITY AND WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT TONY'S PLIGHT.  PLEASE LET HIM LIVE OUT THE REST OF HIS LIFE WHERE HE CAN BE A FREE SPIRIT AND EXPERIENCE LIFE AS IT SHOULD BE FOR A TIGER.
 
SALLY DIX
_______________________________________________________
TO ALL MY FRIENDS

Please email a letter to:  Maria Davidson, Large Carnivore Manager, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, as this is the last chance for 'Tony the Truck Stop Tiger' 

Send To:             mdavidson@wlf.louisiana.gov

_______________________________________________________________

I know you are all probably really busy with your own personal causes.  If you do not have time to compose your own letter, please feel free to use the letter I have sent to Maria Davidson as a 'template' & adapt it with your own personal comments.

_______________________________________________________________

THIS REALLY IS 'TONY THE TIGERS' LAST CHANCE AND I HAVE A GOOD FEELING THAT MARIA DAVIDSON WILL NOT ISSUE THE 'PERMIT' THAT WILL ALLOW TONY'S  OWNER TO KEEP HIM AT THE TRUCK STOP.

THE MORE EMAILS SENT TO MARIA DAVIDSON THE BETTER

I hope all our hard work will FREE 'TONY' from his Concrete Prison

With a heartfelt to you all.

Your Friends

SALLY, SHADOW & TIGGY WILLOW

              

_______________________________________________________________

IF WE COULD POST LETTERS TO MARIA DAVIDSON'S CIVIC ADDRESS THIS WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE IMPACT THAN AN EMAIL.

THE ADDRESS IS BELOW:

Maria Davidson   (CIVIC ADDRES

5652 Hwy. 182

Opelousas, LA 70570

________________________________________________________________
MARIA DAVIDSON'S SUPERVISOR IS: FRED KIMMEL
HIS OFFICE TEL NO IS:      225-765-2355
HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS:     fkimmel@wlf.la.gov
_________________________________________________

AND LET US START ASKING MICHAEL SANDLIN'S FUEL SUPPLIER IF THEY REALLY WANT ALL OF THIS BAD PUBLICITY TO BE UNDER ALL OF THEIR SIGNS: 

CONOCO-PHILLIPS

THEIR POSTAL ADDRESS & TEL NO IS:

600 NORTH DAIRY ASHFORD (77079-1175)
P O Box 2197
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77252-2197
TELEPHONE NO: 281-293-1000

THEIR WEBSITE ADDRESS IS:

http://www.conocophillips.com/EN/utilities/contact/pages/questions_company.aspx
_________________________________________________

COPY OF MESSAGE I RECEIVED FROM FRIEND CHARLIE L
 
Sally, my email to Maria Davidson has been written and sent.  I want to write a printed letter as well because I think a printed letter may be more effective than an email.  I will have to go to the library to do it because my printer isn't working.  To send a printed letter I need Maria Davidson's complete civic address including city and zip code.  If you have it could you send it to me? 

I am making Tony a top priority until Michael Sandlin is reigned in, the law in Iberville is enforced and Tony is freed from that hellhole.

_____________________________________________________________
(2) | () | | send green star | flag as inappropriate
Visibility: Everyone
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted: Oct 22, 2009 3:55pm
STAND BY ME - BEAUTIFUL INTERNATIONAL VERSION
May 9, 2009
A SONG FOR OUR LIVING, BREATHING EARTH
IN MEMORY OF MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CAT      
                    SHADOW
 
                         
                         
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM     
                      

I LOVE THIS SONG AND I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE ON THE CARE 2 NETWORK. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY HEARD IT.

I THINK MUSIC IS THE ONE LANGUAGE THAT UNITES THE WHOLE WORLD AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAN TO DO IT  WITH THIS CLASSIC WELL KNOWN SONG, PERFORMED BY MUSICIANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I IMAGINED EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD HOLDING HANDS AND SINGING ALONG TO THIS SONG.  I THINK IT GIVES OUT A VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE.

THERE ARE NO RECORDING STUDIOS, NO SPECIAL EFFECTS, JUST GOOD MUSICIANS PERFORMING A GREAT SONG.

EVERYONE LOOKS SO RELAXED, HAPPY AND AT ONE WITH EACH OTHER AND THE MUSIC JUST COMES NATURALLY.

CARE 2 IS A SITE DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY POSITIVE WAYS. DEALING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES, ANIMAL WELFARE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, EQUALITY, PROMOTING WORLD PEACE, ENDING WORLD POVERTY AND MANY OTHER CAUSES.  WE READ ABOUT, HEAR & SEE VIDEOS DEPICTING SO MANY HEART BREAKING STORIES & SITUATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.  THESE ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED AND THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THEREFORE WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE OUR WORLD A MUCH BETTER PLACE.

HOWEVER, SOMETIMES WE ALL NEED TO HEAR AND SEE SOMETHING THAT GIVES OUT A UNIVERSAL HAPPY MESSAGE. SOMETHING THAT IS UPLIFTING AND GIVES US HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET EARTH. 

THIS THEN GIVES US THE STRENGTH, DETERMINATION AND POSITIVE ENERGY, THAT WE ALL NEED TO ENABLE US TO CARRY ON FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. THIS WILL MAKE OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERY LIVING BEING ON THIS PLANET WE CALL EARTH.
 
DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CAT SHADOW WHO CROSSED OVER TO THE RAINBOWS BRIDGE 9TH MARCH 2005.  SHADOW'S SPIRIT IS BESIDE ME ALWAYS. UNTIL WE ARE RE-UNITED AGAIN PHYSICALLY NEVER TO BE PARTED AGAIN WHEN I CROSS OVER TO THE RAINBOWS BRIDGE.

I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER MY DARLING, IN MY HEART MY SHADOW WILL STAY.              
               
                 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

                 DREAMY SHADOW
 


                      POSTED BY SALLY DIX
(2) | () | | send green star | flag as inappropriate
Visibility: Everyone
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted: May 9, 2009 9:07pm

 
 
 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.

Author

Sally D.
female , single
Cotswolds, Non-us Province, United Kingd
Shares by Type:
All (3) | Alert (2) | Message (1)

Showing shares tagged with: cat [show all]
ads keep care2 free
SHARES FROM SALLY'S NETWORK
May
9
(0 comments  |  discussions )
R.I.P. Dear Windstar....You are no longer in pain...Wait for me my Bigstar...So we can cross over Rainbow BridgeTogether.
May
8
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Ever since I saw that horrific pic of the bricks pelting ''Windstar'' the beautiful white horse, I can't get it out of my mind. To think a group of people--or maybe it was an individual!--would actually do something like that totally blows my min...
May
5
(1 comments  |  discussions )
If you care about seeing your loved ones againRepent of your sins If you want to make it into HeavenOpen your heart and Let Jesus in!Don't be an atheist, they only do the devil's workand the devil is the opposite of God...He is DARK and CRUEL and make...
May
1
(1 comments  |  discussions )
''Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." - Norman B. Rice
Apr
28
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Mom, this sounds like somethin' you would've said *laugh*"Good things come to those who wait, but only things left by those who hustle." - Abraham Lincoln
Apr
23
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Happy Earth Day (same tune as Happy Birthday!) Happy Earth Day to you, Happy Earth Day to me! Happy Earth Day to our Mother For without her there'd be no other! No other way breathe... No other birds in the sky, No trees growing in the groun...
Mar
28
(2 comments  |  discussions )
And on the third day, the Son of God rose from the dead to show us that He lives!!Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are fiction. Jesus is REAL yet some of us teach our children rhymes and stories about Peter Cottontail hoppin' down the bunny trail........
Mar
13
(0 comments  |  discussions )
This is some inspiration from Joel Olsteen.... TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in ...
Feb
17
(0 comments  |  discussions )
For the old days of Care2 I pinebefore the world got so "high-filutin'"Care2 was just fineBut now they have to "keep up the Jones'"Where it will end nobody noses...I just wanna go back when I could signPetitions using my real name Barb KnightInstead o...
Feb
10
(5 comments  |  0 discussions )
1. I wish I could sign petitions using my real name Barb Knight without the hassle of going to my page and changing it back to BarbCat SunshineLady. For all my newbie friends, C2 wasn't always like this. I could sign petitions Barb Knight and my C2 na...

Copyright © 2013 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved