Terry Thompson appeared to have loved his animal companions, over 50 of them, and spent most of his waking hours with them. But, we aren’t talking about dogs, cats, and other domesticated pets. His animals were lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and other exotic animals. One wonders how he was even allowed to raise and cage all of these exotic animals on his Ohio property.
Two days ago he opened their cages and let them free on his 40-acre Ohio property, then immediately killed himself. Details are emerging that question his reason for committing suicide – a huge tax bill, liens to his property, or potentially a wife that recently left him. Ohio police are being criticized for shooting the freed animals. But, the real question is, “How was he ever allowed to have these animals in the first place ?” Thompson also had a criminal record for federal weapon charges and an animal abuse record of cruelty and torture of his cattle.
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It's possible no more exotic animals are on the loose after deputies killed 49 lions, tigers and other wild animals freed from a local farm by its suicidal owner, an Ohio sheriff told reporters Thursday.
Of the 56 animals released Tuesday night, only a grizzly bear, two monkeys and three leopards were taken alive, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said.
Killed were two wolves; six black bears; two grizzly bears; nine male lions; eight lionesses; one baboon; three mountain lions; and 18 Bengal tigers, Lutz said Thursday.
I dunno, it's an awful situation and clearly the owner was ****ing crazy. I don't blame the police at all though
What the **** else are you going to do with that many animals of that size?
They didn't even attempt to save them. I am extremely sad right now.
