Rescue Tony the Tiger!
Update 12/29/09 Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin received a permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Dec. 14, 2009 which will allow him to keep the tiger. More Here and Here
Most people agree that a truck stop is no place for a tiger. The constant noise, exhaust fumes and taunting by the ignorant are cruel and inhumane. Billboards along the interstate tell commuters that Grosse Tete is a backwards sort of place by announcing that there is a captive tiger at the truck stop. It is no wonder that business development passes by this impoverished town. The notion of keeping a big cat in such a miserable environment would be any company's first hurdle in ever being successful there. One man says mistakenly that having a tiger is what brings him business and money, but the rest of the town will continue to suffer from the bad name this activity has given Grosse Tete.
Thousands of people around the globe have been following the plight of Tony the tiger and have called for the Iberville Parish to uphold the ban on such displays that they had since 1993. Instead of enforcing the ban and showing the world that Iberville Parish is a good place to live and work, they chose instead to change the law to fit the desire of one man who wants to keep a tiger in a cage. Perhaps none of the commissioners live in Grosse Tete. Their actions indicate that they don't care what visitors or potential businesses think of this ugly blight on Louisiana's reputation.
If you live in Grosse Tete, your voice matters the most and there is still 2 things you can do about it. The Tiger Truck Stop has to have a permit to display the tiger from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
1. Talk to Michael Sandlin about the bad image his ego is giving the community and ask that he send Tony to an accredited sanctuary.
2. Refuse to shop or eat at the Tiger Truck Stop until Tony the tiger is relocated to an accredited sanctuary.
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Tony The Tiger's Videos |
The Iberville Parish has allowed Michael Sandlin to keep Tony the tiger at the truckstop. Read the ordinance HERE. Now he must obtain a permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Please contact them and ask that they NOT issue a permit to the Truck Stop and that they send Tony the tiger to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries c/o Maria Davidson at 2000 Quail Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 765-2800
Stupid People Taunting the Poor Tiger
Tony's Story
For the last 15 years the number one complaint that comes to Big Cat Rescue is the story of Tony, a tiger held hostage at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana. Sometimes it is because the caller has unwittingly pulled into this run down gas station and been horrified at what they saw. Sometimes it is because they were traveling down 1-10 and saw the sign that reads: "Live Tiger Exhibit" at the Tiger Truck Stop. Sometimes it is because the caller has seen some mention of the place online. In all cases, most people exclaim, "How can that be legal?"
Turns out it isn't. Unfortunately, a lot of places allow this sort of disgraceful exhibit, but Iberville Parish, where the truck stop is located, has banned such displays since 1993. So why is there a live tiger in a tiny cage next to the gas pumps in this 24 hour truck stop? Because the Iberville Parish doesn't want to enforce their own rules against "one of their own."
Big Cat Rescuers visited the site and noted that the fumes were noxious and the sound of the dieseling trucks was deafening and unrelenting. There are flood light's on the tiger's cage so that he never has a minute of darkness and never gets a moment of peace from those who yell at him and throw things at him to make him move. We are trying to convince the Iberville Parish that the right thing to do is let the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries send Tony the tiger to Big Cat Rescue. They seem to be more inclined to amend their ban so that they can justify not enforcing it. They need to hear from you. Below are ways you can help.
Help Free Tony the Truck Stop Tiger.
Here are ways to help:
See the coverage on Fox News HERE
See more photos of Tony the Truck Stop Tiger HERE
Sign a petition to free Tony HERE
Read the coverage by Greg Garland of The Advocate HERE
Read about the 20 years of USDA violations at the Tiger Truck Stop HERE
You should also send copies of your letters to Gov. Bobby Jindal and invite him to the council meeting so he can see first hand. He says on his web site:
"Bobby Jindal believes Louisiana must break free from the lingering legacy of the past and fully embrace a government that is honest, more efficient, accountable to all its citizens and attractive to deal with by outside investors. Louisiana must proceed quickly and forcefully to overcome a stereotype built up over decades, which continues to hamper our ability to expand the economy and improve the quality of life in our state." Write the Governor HERE
Get the 29 page court case, state rules and parish rule HERE
Get your FreeTony.com Tee shirt, hat or sweatshirt here: http://www.cafepress.com/12802/6334438 Wear it to the meeting or wear white so that you are identified as being there for Tony's sake. Wear it around town to tell others about Tony's plight. We have set the price to cover only the cost of the shirt with only 1% (the lowest markup allowed by Cafe Press) to go to Big Cat Rescue. Or download the art work and create your own white tee shirt iron on or sign. FreeTonyTeeArt
KIds can help too! Click the picture to download a coloring page you can fill in and send. Or draw a picture or write a letter telling why a truck stop is no place for a tiger and send it to the Iberville Parish Council at 58050 Meriam Street Plaquemine, LA 70764.
The painting of the tigers in the snow was done by Angela J. Phelps, an 8Th grade student at L.J. Alleman School of Art and Technology Middle School, Lafayette, Louisiana, in Lana Badeaux's art class. Painting copyright 2008 by Angela J. Phelps. This is Angela's way of saying that young people care about Tony and want to see him freed from the truck stop to live in a more natural environment. Click the image to see a larger version.
Iberville Parish Ordinance
ARTICLE V. KEEPING OF WILD, EXOTIC, VICIOUS ANIMALS AND REPTILES
Sec. 3-91. Display of wild or exotic animals prohibited.
No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild, exotic, vicious animal or reptile for display or for exhibition purposes whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions, circuses or veterinary clinics.
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
Sec. 3-92. Wild or exotic animals as pets prohibited.
No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild, exotic, vicious animal, or reptile as a pet without having first obtained a license from the animal control shelter.
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
Sec. 3-93. Posting of notices.
Any person who offers for sale a wild or exotic animal as defined above in section 3-1, definitions shall post conspicuously at the place of sale or display the following notice:
"No person may lawfully keep or permit to be kept in the Parish of Iberville, any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or any other warm-blooded animal, poisonous snake, tarantula, crocodile or alligator which can normally be found in the wild state."
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
Sec. 3-94. License for wild animals.
(a) The animal control director may issue a temporary license for the keeping, care and protection of injured wild animals or infant wild animals or infant wild animals native to this area which have been deemed to be incapable of surviving without assistance.
(b) Any person wishing to house a wild, exotic animal or reptile as a pet must demonstrate knowledge of the proper care for the animal or reptile involved and must have facilities for their care inspected by the animal control director. It shall be the responsibility of the director to issue or deny a license following the inspection.
(c) Any denials will be explained in writing to the owner.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the director may appeal such decision to the police jury and district court as provided in Chapter III, Livestock.
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
Sec. 3-95. Release of wild animals.
The animal control director shall have the authority to release or order the release of any wild animal or reptile kept under temporary license which is deemed capable of survival.
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
Sec. 3-96. Disposition and impoundment.
Any person who keeps a wild, exotic or vicious animal in contravention of this chapter may dispose of the animal or reptile by removal of the animal or reptile from the parish, by giving or selling the animal or reptile to a zoological park or by releasing the animal or reptile to the wild, to a zoological park, or to a responsible adult who shall remove the animal or reptile from the parish, or dispose of the animal or reptile in some humane manner. The director of the animal control shelter is authorized to release the animal or reptile to any licensed institution for research purposes.
(Ord. of 4-20-93)
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