A few days ago, a man named Terry Thompson sent the city of Zanesville, Ohio into utter and literal chaos when he set his exotic animals loose before killing himself. We all know and saw what happened with several animals that were set free because Thompson, had served time in prison and owed the IRS $70,000 in back taxes. He also had marital problems as well as abusing the animals that he claimed he loved. According to the Associated Press, dozens of animals, including Bengal tigers, lions, wolves, monkeys and bears were freed from the Zanesville, Ohio, animal preserve and had to be killed by police. Police stalked the animals and in two days, 49 of the 50 animals were confirmed dead, ending a potentially catastrophic threat to people in the area.
Three leopards, a grizzly bear and two Macaques were the only animals that survived. Those animials are currently being housed at the Columbus Zoo, receiving around the clock care. Zoo officials say that the animals are “stressed” but eating, drinking, and playing with ball toys. Thompson’s conduct was unexcusable. He put a community in harms way and was as much a Dr. Doolitte as I am a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
Now there’s talk that the former wife of this madman wants the remaining animals. REALLY? Let me see if I understand you, Mrs. Thompson. You want the remaining animals that were set free by your deceased ex-husband? Bad move. Really bad move. It’s like giving John Wilkes Booth another bullet to kill Lincoln. A man that was so unstable that he should have never had animals of any kind (not even a cockroach!) set more fear into a community that neither wanted it or deserved it. Giving those animals back would set a really bad precident. The animals that were killed included 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, six black bears, a pair of grizzlies, three mountain lions, two wolves and a baboon. The dead animals were autopsied and then buried on the preserve.
Now I’m sure that PETA is going to chime in on this and it wouldn’t suprise me if they did. There are some large animal owners that are responsible owners and care for the animals that are in their custody. Terry Thompson was anything BUT responsible. Terry Thompson was a coward. For their own good, the remaining animals should either stay at the Columbus Zoo, where they will be cared for or sent to a reserve that is equipped to handle such creatures.
18 Bengal tigers, who are already on the endangered list, are dead. Terry Thompson’s actions (or lack of action) is unexcusable. If the authorities had stepped in and seized all of the animals, this may not have happened. You can’t unring a bell, as my third grade teacher once told me. Someone should have stepped in and said, ‘We’re taking your animals and it’s for their own good.” Someone should have been their St. George and slain the dragon of stupidity in this matter. These animals are dead. They’re not coming back. There are some that have never seen a Bengal tiger in person and now that may never happen. There are less than 1,000 of these tigers left in the wild.
The bite wound on Terry Thompson’s head was “consistent with the bite from a larger type cat,” Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said. Thompson’s body was found near a pile of chicken parts. Lutz said Thompson often used chicken to feed the animals, but it’s unclear whether he had intended to draw the animals to his body.
Terry Thompson set into motion fear and stress into the city of Zanesville. For two days, people were told to stay indoors and school was cancelled. He had problems, as we all do. He could have sought help. He chose the coward’s way out by committing suicide. We may never know the real reason why he did this. The animals can’t talk and only one person knows the real reason why.
And he’s dead.