Advocate Staff Photo by Hillary Scheinuk
The Tiger Truck Stop, next to the busy Interstate 10 in Gross Tete, Louisiana, is no place for wild animals. Unfortunately that’s where Tony the Tiger languished inside his cage for years, exposed to diesel fumes, traffic noise, hot weather, and harassment by tourists.
According to a Care2 petition, during this time animal activists fought hard to get Tony released to a sanctuary but before they succeeded, Tony died of kidney failure last year.
Nine months later, the truck stop’s owner, Michael Sandlin, has replaced Tony with a five-month-old camel named Caspar. Sandlin says he plans to add more animals, including crocodiles and goats. He also mentioned that he wants to have another tiger as well.
How was Sandlin able to own a tiger even though Louisiana outlawed the private ownership of big cats back in 2006?
It’s because he somehow managed to convince Governor Bobby Jindal to pass an act exempting him, and only him, from this law.
Last year the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) filed a lawsuit saying the act violated the state constitution’s prohibition on laws passed to benefit only certain people or special interests. Sandlin has counter-sued, saying the big cat ban was unconstitutional.
Wild animals don’t belong in captivity, especially at a tourist attraction next to an interstate. Sandlin says he loves his animals, but he seems to love exploiting them for profit even more.
Please sign and share this petition urging Louisiana Fisheries and Wildlife to prohibit Sandlin from owning tigers, camels or any other wild animals HERE!
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