Free Tony!
Parish President Vetoes Council See the video HERE and the March 18 update HERE
If you have ever been bitten or scratched by the tigers at the Tiger Truck Stop, now might be the best time to file a complaint, naming the Iberville Parish as co-defendant. Thanks to the council amending their ordinance they may have opened themselves up to any tiger related liability that occurred in the last 13 years. If you file now, the council may see that it is not wise for them to over rule the Parish President's veto of their amendment.
We are happy that J. Mitchell Ourso vetoed the Council's ruling, but the council can still over rule his veto with a 2/3's vote.
Ourso is asking the council to change the amendment to include measures that would make the Tiger Truck Stop more safe and more humane. There is no way to do either, but I am sure that if they do it at all, it will be some lip service language that does not really address either issue.
A couple of the councilmen were going to keep Tony there, no matter what and they cannot be swayed, but we only need 5 councilmen to vote against overruling the veto. There was one, Ed Reeves who voted against keeping Tony at the Truck Stop so we need to convince 4 more.
The objections made by the ones who spoke up were that no "tiger experts" had presented evidence that the situation was dangerous to people or the animal. They said that there was no written documentation by USDA of the violations, other than what is posted online.
What we need to do now, is thank those who are helping Tony below and find "tiger experts" they might respect, such as vets, zoo vets, zoo curators, animal behaviorists, weather experts in the area of hurricane force winds and what that can do to a chain link cage, the surgeon general on the consequences of breathing gas fumes, etc. If you can secure letters from such people, please copy me at SaveTheBigCats@gmail.com or fax them to me at 813.885.4457 or mail them to me at Carole Baskin 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 as soon as possible so we can put together a compelling case for the councilmen who may be on the fence.
We owe a huge thanks to J.Mitchell Ourso (Parish President) If anyone would care to thank him for his efforts on behalf of Tony please do so.
email: jburleigh@ibervilleparish.com
Please also send a letter of appreciation to District 5
Mr. Edwin M. Reeves, Jr. 58680 St. Clement Street
Plaquemine, LA 70764
email: ereeves@awilbertsons.com
He was the ONLY one that voted to NOT amend the ordinance for Michael Sandlin.
Tony The Tiger's Videos |
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:
Read Tony's Blog
Send a quick and easy form letter to the Iberville Parish HERE
See the news report HERE
See the coverage on Fox News HERE
See 85 images of Tony's life at the truck stop 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
Download a letter to print out and mail in to Free Tony HERE or do it digitally HERE
Come to the meeting: Bring everyone who cares about animals to the council meeting on February 17th, 2009 at 6 PM at Iberville Parish Courthouse 2ND Floor,58050 Meriam Street Plaquemine, LA 70764 225-687-3257 parishcouncil@eatel.net Meet some of the Iberville Parish councilmen Page 1 and Page 2. Let us know you are coming by emailing MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org
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
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
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 by January 16th, 2009 at 58050 Meriam Street Plaquemine, LA 70764.
Got Five Bucks? Text TIGER to 20222 and you can donate $5.00 via your cell phone to help us Free Tony. Or donate at the link below.
*A one-time charge of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Full disclosure at: http://mcommons.com/t US Subscribers only.
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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