Owner Releases Wild Animals and Commits Suicide
Muskingum, Ohio, Residents Fearful
COMMENTARY | Terry Thompson was the owner of an exotic animal farm and had recently been in trouble for gun charges. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, neighbors of Johnson called the Muskingum County Sheriff's office to report numerous wild animals running loose. When the police arrived, the owner was dead and all of the wild animals had been released. Included in the mix of animals were tigers, grizzly bears, cheetahs, mountain lions, wolves, black bears, lions and monkeys. Thompson had been charged several times for animal cruelty in 2008 and 2009.
As of last night no one was sure just how many wild animals were released or how the owner died. The Columbus Dispatch now reports that the owner opened all of the cages and then committed suicide. Estimates now are that 51 wild animals were released. As of Wednesday, Oct. 19, estimates are that all but three have been killed, although Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz did clarify this by saying there is no way to know for sure how many were released or how many remain.
As a local who owns a pony farm near this location, I was not happy with the lack of information initially being broadcast on our local news. We were on high alert through out the night to protect our animals since the last seen wild animal was approximately 10 miles from our farm. Many other locals were also dismayed by the lack of transparency on the part of Sheriff Matt Lutz.
Many Ohio residents are now pointing fingers at Ohio Gov. John Kasich and the lax Ohio laws regarding owning exotic animals. In past years when attempts were made to strengthen these laws, Gov. Kasich voted them down.
Some animal activists are claiming the animals were shot needlessly. Lutz and animal handler Jack Hanna both say that the only choice was to shoot to kill to keep residents safe. Due to the animals being found loose at nighttime, the opportunity to shoot the animals with a tranquilizer gun were diminished. This morning one lion was shot with a tranquilizer but then proceeded to run. The lion was immediately shot since the tranquilizer did not work.
I am an animal lover, but I do agree with their decision to shoot the animals. To get close enough to shoot these animals with a tranquilizer gun is just too dangerous. A wounded wild animal running loose is much more of a threat to the community than a healthy wild animal.
Televised reports also begged locals not to go hunting for the animals. But as an insider living within 10 miles of the last seen tiger, I can tell you that many hunters I know called off work today to hunt the exotic animals.
Published by Kay Baxter
Kay Baxter owns a Miniature Horse/Shetland pony farm where she breeds, trains and shows Miniature Horses and American Shetland ponies. Kay's first book was published in 2008 titled "Miniature Horse Conformat... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentMany more rumors going around locally that many animals are still loose and some have been captured and are being hidden. It never stops!
This was, I think, not so much a situation of altruistically freeing the animals as it was a murder (by animal)/suicide. Clearly, a thoughtless if not selfish and angry act.
Yet, dogs and cats often run 'loose' on highways, and police don't shoot them. I'd guess it would be easier to avoid hitting a giraffe or a camel than a cat or dog- you'd be able to see them from a distance. Also, giraffes and camels aren't really known for running as fast as dogs or cats on highways. I call #$%$ I think people just wanted to shoot exotic animals. Also, I don't know why anyone respects the opinion of Jack Hannah anymore. He's a sell-out, and doesn't really stand for animals. He just collects his paycheck from the boards he 'serves' on. Hannah was an idiot for stepping in and supporting this.I'd like to see hard numbers on how many animals were shot during daylight hours, and how many were supposedly shot at night- when supposedly they couldn't tranq them safely.Yeah, no surprise that it's a big hunting area. It's still sick that people took time off work to hopefully gun down some poor animal just for bragging rights. Sick.
I think the issue with the giraffes etc is that some of them were running loose along the highway so could cause wrecks. I-70 is a very busy highway and there were reports of them running there. This is a big hunting area so I am not surprised that some would want to hunt them. I am so sad that they had to be shot. So unfair to the animals. The owner was so selfish in what he did. Hopefully this will wake people up and get some better laws in Ohio
I am curious as to why giraffes and camels would be considered 'wild and dangerous'? I also find it sad that people actually took time off from work for the chance to kill some exotic animals. Sad that the owner hadn't made provisions for the animals (if he did, in fact, commit suicide), and even sadder that the animals died by being shot. All of which could have been avoided by making it illegal for people to keep non-domesticated animals.