I just saw this on the news. Heartbreaking. I don't understand why people keep wild animals as "pets."

I've been listening to this since 6 this morning and feel physically ill thinking about it. 18 Bengal tigers???? The loss is beyond tragic, it's catastrophic.

OMG. I knew nothing about that kind of wish I wouldn't have looked.

They don't know how the guy died? How did the animals get out?

That's really terrible and sad.

sheesharee: He killed himself after letting the animals loose.

I was shocked when watching the national news that they showed the carcases piled up. They didn't show that locally. I changed the station.

I must have been reading an earlier report at first. I just saw that.

I can't understand why there are states with lax laws about wild animals.

From what I heard Ohio has the most lax laws. I find it hard to believe that the authorities were trying to shut this man down for the past 8 years. How bad does it have to get for crying out loud?

When riding my bicycle last year through Texas we came upon " big game hunting" compounds way out away from everything on the back roads. We knew when we were coming up on one as you could smell the musky odors of the animals. They pen them behind hugely tall fences. The macho men hunters...yes I hate them and have no qualms about saying so, shoot the animals like fish in a barrel. Wow...so you can kill a trapped animal. macho man...lower case letters noted.

This is in a number of places in TX. I don't know about other states but I wouldn't be surprised. c

I didn't know anything about this, so I had to google it. I can't find the words to discuss it.

I added a link to the story in case anyone else was unaware but is interested.

Here is a link that might be useful: ABC Story

I know that some were taken to zoos, but WHY were *any* killed??? I can't imagine being Jack Hanna in the middle of all this, after everything he's given his life for...

When our family did cougar protection advocacy, we also attended state hearings about a law that was eventually passed outlawing private keeping of exotic animals. Several people testified that they had adequate backup systems in case they personally died or otherwise became incapacitated suddenly. But too many owners *didn't* have that, and the zoos are full, can't take more of whatever, pythons, cougars, leopards, etc. It is *sickening* to imagine animals who could function very well on their own being imprisoned and subjected to dependency on humans.

My hat is off to folks in the HSUS and other groups, e.g. the wildlife section of the Sierra Club, who can stand to face this kind of infuriating personal exceptionalism and entitlement that feeds itself on other living things which those people have no right to arrogate to themselves. I know I couldn't make a career of it

trailrunner... one more reason to be embarrassed to be living in TX. Imagine the terror of the animals who all live in those pens and know what is coming because they have witnessed the death of their buddies over and over.... sickening, here in TX, and in Ohio, and truly all over this country.

From what I hear, the police just did not have enough time to do anything else but kill the animals that escaped. Many people were in immediate danger and there were dozens of dangerous animals loose. Some officers had to shoot at close range with their side arms for fear of being attacked.

Jack Hanna supported the police chief's decision because he knew that the situation was extremely dangerous. The fact that an unstable person was actually able to own these animals is heartbreaking and stupid.

The more I work in animal rescue - dogs, not exotics - the more I believe the real work is in advocacy.

May this incident cause people to open their eyes and get the laws strengthened so that these beautiful animals didn't die in vain.

Jack Hanna said last night he was going to be pushing for reform here in Ohio. He has the clout, and, with this tragedy, it's on the public agenda.

Hopefully, those who reside in areas where lax regulations regarding keeping "wild" animals in private captivity, will make this a priority, and contact their legislators so the practice comes to a complete halt.

Yes, it was sickening to watch, but the police had no alternative to kill these poor animals. In fact, it appeared that one monkey that was still missing, has been found, apparently killed by one of the other loose animals.

I believe that I read that the animal owner just got out of prison on gun charges, and then decides it would be a good idea to let all of these animals loose and take his own life.

What Dee said. I feel for those policemen, it is obvious they were not happy with what they had to do. I heard a small bit of an interview from one of the neighbors to this "zoo", and people were terrified. Due to the number of animals, the fact that it would soon be dark and something about the weather (I didn't understand that), it seemed to be their only choice.

tina

What a terrible tragedy! Shame on lawmakers in Ohio, in Texas and every other state that allows this exotic animal collecting to happen. And I agree with Trailrunner about the big game compounds, too. It makes me angry and very sad that such cruelty to animals exists still in this great country of ours.
Lynn

Heartbreaking is right. I cried through CBS News last night. Sad lives ended by tragic deaths.

this was a terrible, terrible situation. i do believe that the police did what they needed to do given the circumstances to maintain public safety...

we used to live a couple of minutes from the columbus zoo--- i am a huge jack hanna fan! ohio is lucky to have him in this situation pushing for reform!!

I was shocked the CBS news opened with the pictures of the dead animals since I had not seen them on the extensive local coverage. Today, the Sheriff expressed outrage the photos got out, and said he had two years until retirement and he'd spend the time finding the responsible person.

It's just beyond horrifying. Those poor, innocent creatures. They never had a chance ... or a choice.

And neither did the Sheriff and his officers. I feel terrible for THEM. Ohio State Legislature has some 'splainin' to do. Sometimes regulation is a GOOD thing.

Sometimes regulation is a GOOD thing.

I would change sometimes to often.

We know a couple that have exotic animals, we didn't know they had what they did, we knew they had a camel and one cervil, but found out later that they have a whole slew of animals. We were led to believe they were a rescue organization for exotics, but found out the truth is they're brokers/breeders! I'm just sick about it. They also happen to have a completely different political outlook than DH and I, so I wonder if, in their case, there is a link?

I have a hard time with people who have their dogs live outside (In some rural areas it's fine, but if you're suburban, there is no reason IMHO) so it's even more difficult to see mountain lions, zebras, bears and even exotic porquipines caged up for some 'collector'.

This reminds me of the lady in NYC (?) who was mauled by her friend's pet monkey. Yes, it should be illegal.

I don't think OK. has those compounds but I have to say I'm shocked that they're legal in Texas.

According to Jack Hanna another reason that they didn't tranq right away was becuase it was night and they may not be able to be sure that an animal was properly tranqed w/o full on visual. He said that it would be dangerous for the person approaching a suspected tranqed animal if in fact the dart missed or had hit bone and was not tranqed or fully tranqed.

I couldn't believe that they showed the picks of the dead animals like that right away on the news. We watch the news w/ the kids and talk about what we see but my mouth was on the floor. DS1 the great animal lover who is almost 8yrs was bewildered and I was so shocked that I couldn't form a thought right away to talk w/ him about what he just saw.