Written by Snaggens News on 02 May 2012
On Monday, the Ohio Department of Agriculture said it had no legal way to prevent Marilyn Thompson from taking back five of the wild animals her husband released last October from their home in Zanesville.
When Terry Thompson released fifty-six exotic animals into the Ohio countryside seven months ago and then committed suicide, it forced Governor Kasich and other Ohio lawmakers to take notice. Ohio has long been at the bottom of the list of states with animal welfare laws in place to protect animals. Former Governor Ted Strickland had issued an executive order days before leaving office that banned wild animals as pets. Kasich remarked that he wanted to study the bill before signing it, but while he busied himself with restricting collective bargaining in Ohio, Strickland?s order expired without the signature needed to make it law.? Thompson?s actions brought the subject to the forefront again, making Kasich and other lawmakers give the subject higher priority, but they are still struggling to draft the legislation. Ohio is one of only a few states with no restrictions on exotic animal ownership.
Forty-nine of the animals were shot by sheriffs and deputies within days of their release. Six animals were captured and sent to the Columbus Zoo, but one, a spotted leopard, later died there. Another animal was presumed eaten by others and was never accounted for. Thompson?s widow plans to take possession of the five animals that remain; a spotted leopard, a black leopard, two Macaque monkeys, and a brown bear. She has said she will take them back to the farm and put them in the cages they fled.
The Department of Agriculture is concerned, since Mrs. Thompson has indicated that the cages have not been repaired, and she has repeatedly refused to allow animal welfare experts to evaluate the structures. Only a court order from the county Humane Society to inspect the farm could delay the animals? return.
The state Senate passed a bill last week that would ban Ohio residents from buying lions, tigers, bears, elephants, wolves, alligators, crocodiles, and certain kinds of monkeys as pets, unless they follow strict guidelines, but existing owners of wild animals can keep them. Owners of pets grandfathered into the law will have to follow new rules, which may include permit fees, registration and construction of proper facilities. In all likelihood, the Ohio House will not vote on the measure until the end of May.
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Article source: http://www.examiner.com/article/state-to-return-five-exotic-animals-to-zanesville-widow
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