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For years, animal advocates have been fighting for the release of Tony – the infamous “truck stop tiger” who has lived at a petrol station owned by Michael Sandlin in Grosse Tete, La., since his birth in July 2000.
The Bengal-Siberian mix tiger has spent his days captive in a lonely enclosure with little enrichment or proper care. What’s more, he has been continually subjected to car fumes and loud noises.
Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla., has stepped up with an offer to take in Tony and provide him with a more appropriate and caring forever home, yet this opportunity and Tony’s overall situation is continually ignored.
Indeed, his welfare seems to matter very little to the Louisiana Department of Fisheries (LDWF), who has taken zero steps to uphold Act 715, a 2006 state law that banned the sale and ownership of exotic cats, along with the Louisiana state senate who just recently passed Senate Bill 250 with a 20-18 vote. Can you say, WTF?
As The New Orleans Advocate reports, SB 250 “would allow a licensed owner, who obtained the exotic animal legally and has been in continuous possession and ownership since Aug. 15, 2006, to be exempted from state law that bans private owners. The exception would apply retroactively and fit Sandlin’s Tiger Truck Stop situation.”
The bill will now move to the Louisiana state house for consideration, and so the fight to free Tony is not yet over even though SB 250 has become a major stumbling block.
Still, the question remains: why is half the legislative body of Louisiana supporting the continued confinement of a wild animal?
Well, according to state Sen. Rick Ward III (R-Port Allen), since Tony has a “3,200 square foot enclosure with an air conditioned section,” it can then be deduced that he is “very comfortable.”
Sorry, but some space and air conditioning is called “basic living conditions” – not comfort. Moreover, there is a larger issue at hand – the ownership of big cats. They may be beautiful but they are NOT well-suited pets, even if born in captivity. At their very core, they are wild animals with a very different perception of the world than we and our domesticated companions have.
It’s time to free Tony once and for all and to finally give captive big cats the freedom they deserve instead of standing up for people who only want to “own” these majestic non-human animals as novelties or “cool” pets.
What You Can Do to Help Tony
- If you live in Louisiana, contact your state legislators today and ask them to oppose SB 250.
- Contact the LDWF to voice your disappointment with their continued disregard for Tony’s welfare.
- Sign this petition asking the LDWF to uphold state law and ensure that Tony is released to a reputable sanctuary.
- Consider signing this petition as well that asks the Louisiana state house to oppose SB 250 and keep Louisiana’s big cat law strong.
- Keep up with the Free Tony the Tiger campaign on Facebook and the main website.
Image source: Free Tony the Tiger/Facebook
I thought the Department of Fisheries -protected animals and their habitat\’s -they have done nothing to protect and help Tony who has been locked in a concrete prison for 14 years -3 of which the public have been fighting for his release to a sanctuary -the reverse actually as they are aiding the arrogant owner Mr.Michael Sandler who revels in the publicity he gets for his smelly petrol fumed truck stop -it brings in the customers -he doesn\’t love Tony as he professes if he did he would set him -free-shame on all involved.-it has gone on for too long -Tony will die in his concrete box.