WELL JUST WHEN YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL RESOLVE FOR TONY, WE HAVE MR. SANDLIN OR ONE OF HIS NEWLY FOUND PRIVATE OWNER FRIENDS WRITING A STATEMENT YESTERDAY – COPY BELOW .
…….SO ON THAT NOTE….WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SHARE HIS STATEMENT BELOW THEN SHOW YOU HIS VIOLATIONS AND HISTORY BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY NEED A REMINDER OR MAYBE HAVE A MEMORY ISSUE WHERE THEY SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN WHY THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AND OVER 8O,000 PEOPLE FEEL THAT TONY HAS TOLERATED ENOUGH.
WHEN PEOPLE START ALLEGEDLY LYING WE WILL SHARE THE TRUTH. THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ON PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, LETS CLEAR UP THAT MATTER NOW….WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS TONY BEING AT A TRUCK STOP, AND THE HISTORY THAT HAS LED US UP TO THIS POINT, THE VIOLATIONS AND HISTORY AT TIGER TRUCK STOP……. AS IT SEEMS THEY NEED A REALITY CHECK , EITHER WAY SANDLINS STATEMENT IS BASICALLY FULL OF HOLES…..I WOULD SAY FULL OF DUNG, CAN I SAY THAT???
************* WHEN YOUR A PRIVATE OWNER OF EXOTICS YOU WOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF ANIMAL ADVOCATES IF YOU HAD NOTHING TO HIDE. IF YOU MISTREAT YOUR EXOTIC, WE WILL FIND YOU, EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND SIMPLE TO BE KIND TO YOUR ANIMALS. …..WE CAN ALL GET ALONG IF YOU ARE COMPASSIONATE. IF NOT, WE HAVE A SITUATION.****************************
SANDLINS POST YESTERDAY:
Keep Tony Where He Is
The animal activist group who brought the initial suit (ALDF,discussed supra) against LDWF purport to be interested in the welfare of the exotic animals. In their zealous advocacy to end private ownership of same, they have lost sight of the well being of the very animals they claim concern and the ever dwindling population of these majestic endangered cats, and the important role private ownership and the exhibits play in assisting with the prevention of the complete extinction of several endangered species. Not to mention the substantial impact these LDWF regulations will have on interstatecommerce and the television and film industry.
The animals in the care and control of responsible federally licensed individuals
such as Tony and Petitioners herein, are well treated, fed, maintained and free from disease, as free from predators including illegal poachers, and secured from the public’s harm or farmers and ranchers livestock all while being made available for public enjoyment and educational purposes in keeping with the clear intent of the federal law. There has not been any showing that Petitioners have abused Tony. However, the activist group at the heart of this regulation and current goal to steal Tony from Petitioners, have claimed such is occurring. The activist group is using sensational rhetoric and lies for their own economic benefit all in the name of preventing animal cruelty. However there has not ever been any cruelty found. Petitioners are in compliance with all federal laws and regulations and their USDA permit. These extremists claim Tony is exploited as a “cheap gimmick” because he is in an enclosure on business property. LSU.s Mike the Tiger is on LSU.s campus, under these extremists same argument, would also be a cheap gimmick subject to their attack. All animals in captivity and available for public viewing, according to these extremists are “exploited”. These extremist position is not consistent with the national interest of education of the public about these animals. These
extremists likewise find use of animals in film and television offensive and under LDWF regulations, possession of animals and transport by these animal wranglers is also a crime.
Further, the activist group wants Petitioners. particular animal removed from the
only home he has known for ten years. The stress to an animal removed from its habitat is well known and documented. Removal of Tony would be cruel and inhumane treatment. Forcing him to an unfamiliar place away from his loving caretakers would be cruel and inhumane. Yet the animal activist don.t discuss what will happen to Tony should they succeed in their goal to have Tony removed from Petitioners.
There are far too many interests at stake for this Court to allow one local state
agency.s inconsistent rules with a chilling effect to private individuals cooperation with the Endangered Species Act and the significant impact this particular case will have on interstate commerce to stand especially in light of the overreaching effect and irrational ban on importation, breeding and requirement for sterilization without exception for all federally permitted exhibitors, breeders and zoos. When the federal government clearly articulates animals are integral part of interstate commerce and has taken hundreds of hours of testimony and crafted numerous versions of regulations over several decades, crafted a set of federal laws and regulations that properly balance all of the competing interests at stake and has allowed certain persons permits, for a state and political subdivision to ignore some but not all federal permits without any clearly articulated rational basis that furthers some actual local problem is repugnant to the Constitution and
must be held unconstitutional.
This interest group has been successful in getting this statute passed and this
regulation adopted without accountability. They have been responsible for the coerced transfer of two privately kept cats, both of whom died within months of transport. Tony the Tiger at Michael Sandlin.s Tiger Truck Stop, is the current focus and potential next victim. If this statute and regulations are not declared unconstitutional now, then the next target could be LSU.s Mike the Tiger.
Additionally, these regulations and Parish Ordinance will unreasonably interfere with Louisiana.s developing television and film industry as the animal wranglers, who handle that industries performing animals are similarly situated USDA exhibitors as Petitioners and they will no longer be allowed to bring animals into the state for television and film purposes. These regulations and Iberville Parish Ordinance substantially interfere with interstate commerce by not yielding to all USDA Class C license holders.
The fact is that the exotic animals in the wild are disappearing at alarming rates
because of the illegal activity of criminal poachers. To think we can regulate and enact laws to stop illegal activity is naive. This activity can.t be regulated precisely because criminals do not follow laws. Thus, private ownership and exhibits like Sandlin.s and Tiger Truck Stops has become the safe haven for these most precious of our endangered commodities. Making it more difficult and expensive to assist with preserving these precious species is only furthering the likelihood that private citizens will stop assisting with the fight to prevent the complete extinction of these animals
SO THAT WAS WHAT MR. SANDLIN HAD TO SAY, HERE IS HIS HISTORY…..
OUR PROOF OF HIS HISTORY OF USDA VIOLATIONS
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.911animalabuse.com%2Fimages%2FUSDAViolations%2F2008Tiger_Truck_Stop_Factsheet.pdf&h=dAQFfpuZR
Facts on the history of Tiger Truck Stop that seem to have been overlooked. The buying, breeding, selling and exploiting of tigers for what they call “conservation” has been going on for 30 plus years with Mr. Sandlin and his father before him.
A 1993 Iberville Parish County Ordinance prohibited the display of wild exotic animals as pets but was never enforced. The ordinance was amended on March 17, 2009 to allow Tony’s owner Michael Sandlin to keep Tony.
Mr. Sandlin then had to secure a license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. LDWF’s On December 14, 2009 the LDW&F granted a permit to allow Tony’s owner to keep him at the truck stop.
On November 6, 1989 Tiger Truck Stop raffled off an 11-month-old 350-pound Bengal tiger named Gloria who was living in a 16”x7”x7” cage attached to a flatbed trailer. The entry forms informed potential winners that they could “donate [her] to a zoo, sell [her], or give [her] to a friend” in the event that the winner did not want to keep the cub.
On December 14, 1993 according to The New Orleans Times- Picayune, Tiger Truck Stop was evacuated for five hours after a tanker truck ruptured, spilling 400 gallons of highly flammable aviation fuel at the truck stop.
On September 12, 1997 Tiger Truck Stop sold two tiger cubs for $2,500 to a couple passing through on a camping trip. One of the cubs suffered from fluid collection around the joints in her front legs, a condition linked to living on concrete.
November 5, 1997 The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to provide shelter from inclement weather.
August 23, 1999 The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for unsanitary feeding practices, algae growth in the water receptacles, and poor housekeeping.
November 28, 2000 Tiger Truck Stop was cited again by the USDA for failure to correct previously identified violations of not providing veterinary care and mishandling tigers.
Baby tigers were being housed in a cage behind the counter in the store and used for pictures. Two 60lb white tigers were being housed in a 5”x 5” chain-link dog run, and Tony was tied up behind the counter in the store by a dog collar and leash.
In October 2001 two tiger cubs were taken in for declawing. The first evening at the veterinarian’s office, the male cub died.
Another tiger named Selena died mysteriously at the age of four and is now stuffed and mounted over the restaurant salad bar.
In April of 2003 after repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act three of the four remaining tigers were removed from the facility, but Tony was left behind.
These are ONLY a handful of the many violations and citations over the years, yet Tony still remains at the truck stop.
Michael Sandlin has threatened a lawsuit if anyone tries to take Tony, but it is the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ job both legally and ethically to do what is best for Tony.
His cage sits within feet of the gas pumps. He breathes in toxic fumes from cars and trucks all day long, not to mention the aggravation he must feel with sightseers continually crowding around his cage and flashing lights in his face.
Tony also must endure the deafening noise from the big trucks and cars passing through 24 hours a day, flood lights on him at night, living on concrete which is damaging to his joints and pads of his paws.
He is living alone with no enrichments or animals of his kind. People taunt him, yell at him, and even throw things at him.
Michael Sandlin calls Tony his pet and part of the family, but he stated in a recent article that “thanks to all of the animal rights activists, business is better than ever”. He also stated that “he plans to exhibit “the tiger” until he is too old or too sick to be exhibited anymore”.
Clearly Tony is nothing more than a commodity to him. Please do what is right for Tony and let him live out his sunset years in peace at a sanctuary where he will get the love, attention and enrichment he so greatly deserves.
He has done his time at The Truck Stop.
™FREE TONY THE TIGER CAMPAIGN 