Animal rights activists will criticize the events that occurred near Zanesville, Ohio, Wednesday when police officers had to shoot and kill 49 of 56 exotic animals released from a compound the night before, but the police made the right decision.
Autopsy results confirmed Terry Thompson, the owner of the compound, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after freeing the animals in his possession. The animals included lions, tigers, bears, wolves and monkeys. Because of the aggressive nature of the animals and their potential to harm humans, the local sheriff decided officers needed to shoot and kill all of the escapees, citing public safety as his reason.
However, it is important to note those that could be saved were, and six animals were transported to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium where they are being fed and evaluated.
I am in support of animal rights as much as anyone else and it is horrible that these animals had to meet their end in this manner, but there is a larger issue at hand.
People who think it is a good idea to own exotic animals are the real problem in cases like this. This event is a tragic example that shows exactly what can go wrong when people indulge their irresponsible impulses to own a tiger, wolf or even more popular, a monkey. Most don’t realize what it takes to actually care for these animals, or that they have a significantly longer life span than the average house cat. Many abandon their exciting pets once they grow tired of them, when they realize their mistake in getting one in the first place, or learn they cannot train a tiger to stray from its biological habits.
Getting a pet is huge responsibility, and an exotic pet needs just as much, if not more, care and attention than a traditional pet. There are many groups who advocate for either side of this issue, but the reality is that owning an exotic animal is a terrible decision.
Each case is unique, and they don’t all end like the situation in Ohio. But ultimately they end in tragedy for the owner or the pet.