Exotic Animals Freed, Then Killed in Ohio

Terry Thompson appeared to have loved his animal companions, over 50 of them, and spent most of his waking hours with them. But, we aren’t talking about dogs, cats, and other domesticated pets. His animals were lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and other exotic animals. One wonders how he was even allowed to raise and cage all of these exotic animals on his Ohio property.

Two days ago he opened their cages and let them free on his 40-acre Ohio property, then immediately killed himself. Details are emerging that question his reason for committing suicide – a huge tax bill, liens to his property, or potentially a wife that recently left him. Ohio police are being criticized for shooting the freed animals. But, the real question is, “How was he ever allowed to have these animals in the first place ?” Thompson also had a criminal record for federal weapon charges and an animal abuse record of cruelty and torture of his cattle.

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland had passed a temporary executive order that banned the sale of exotic animals. Current Governor John Kasich allowed that to expire upon taking office. Ohio is one of ten states that currently doesn’t regulate the sale of exotic animals. If nothing else, hopefully this disastrous event will help bring awareness to the extent of damage that can happen without regulation.

Do you think exotic pet sales should be illegal? Thanks for taking the poll below. And, if you think it should be illegal, please sign the Care2 petition that would stop the sale of exotic animals in Ohio.

As co-creator of Through a Dog’s Ear, I am offering my Care2 readers a free download from our latest release, Music to Calm your Canine Companion, Vol. 3. Simply click here and enter your email address and a link to the free download will be delivered to your inbox for you and your canine household to enjoy.

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ellen E.

4:23PM PDT on Mar 11, 2012

Exotic animals should not be allowed as pets. It's not fair to the animals and it's not safe for the people.

send a green star

Dent H.

7:19AM PST on Mar 10, 2012

These large cats and large prey animals like wolf, snakes and other dangerous animals should not be allowed into the country period. However we have a big problem with the ones we have here now. So far I have not found the information on why he had all these big cats. I can't see anyone just buy that many for pets because the are so expensive to purchase, feed and take care of medically. He must have got them as rescue animals from people who all of a sudden realized they had made a huge mistake when the cute little kit became a full grown cat.

If seems to me if there would have been any place for the cats they would have tried to save them, but no one want these animals when they get big. The zoos have way more than they need and the cost of keeping the big cats is in the neighborhood of 10 thousand a year. I feel one can pass all the laws they want however it is now going to do any good for the nut cases out there. They are going to do what ever they want, when they want and how they want. The only way here is to try to stop the import of the animals or put a huge tax stamp on them so no one can afford them. I am a cat lover and I hate seeing any of them suffer. The best place for them is in their natural habitat.

Wim Z.

2:19PM PST on Mar 9, 2012

pore animals!

poor animals!

Teresa C.

2:47AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Wild animals are just that--WILD!. They aren't meant to be "pets" and their sale should be banned, for their sake (oh, and humans too, I guess).

NO ANY FW to me R.

2:41AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

The sale of exotic animals should be banned in the world!

Isabel R.

3:43PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Wild animals should never be tamed

Mel M.

4:12AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Poor animals!

Samantha J.

12:41PM PST on Dec 21, 2011

"IT'S SO WRONG TO KEEP WILD ANIMALS AS PETS. THEY NEED TO BE FREE IN THEIR ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENT...THIS MAN WHO RELEASED HIS WILD ANIMALS PUT PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY. HE NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

I agree ^

"There are more than 5000 tiger in captivity in the US than there are in the wild. And we are talking only about tigers. How can a Nation let this get out of control it boggles my mind. Why animals always have to pay the price for our stupidity and selfish demeanor. The sale of exotic animal "in totum" should be banned no brainer on that! Lets leave these animals, birds, reptiles - all of it - where they belong, in the wild, in their own environment, which for whatever is left is still their own home. This case in Ohio is horrifying but I guess using gun instead of tranquillizers is "the American way". This is worse than an Halloween story!"

I also agree ^

"Why weren't the animals shot with tranquilizer darts instead? They could have been safely rehomed"
ditto^