Carole on CNN re Tony the Truckstop Tiger

 

I was on CNN's Headline News Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell today about Tony the Truck Stop Tiger we have been trying to rescue.  Big Cat Rescue gets more complaints about Tony the tiger at the Tiger Truck Stop than all other complaints combined.  In 2009 the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries had called Big Cat Rescue to come get Tony during their planned seizure of the tiger, but before we could take Tony, Sandlin filed for an injunction and the long legal battles began.

 

That same year Big Cat Rescue was the first organization to hire an attorney to represent a tiger.  David Nance, Esq. exhausted his ability to fight for Tony in the back water Iberville Parrish.  A state district judge ordered the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in 2011 to revoke Sandlin’s permit, but the Legislature passed a law exempting Sandlin from state restrictions on owning exotic cats.  Thankfully the national coalition of attorneys, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, took up the banner in 2010 and vowed that they wouldn’t give up.  We never gave up trying to get that poor tiger out of that horrible place, but were unable to overcome backwoods, good ole boy politics. 

 

Big Cat Rescue offered to let Sandlin save face by sending Tony here quietly, where he could live under an assumed name and not be on our tour or used in any of our marketing, but Sandlin refused. Later noted:  Tony died on 10/17/2017 at the truck stop. 

 

I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views.  If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story.  The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

 

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story.  My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.  

 

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Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.