Many of life's failures...


"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up." - Thomas Edison


WILL YOU SAVE ME

Tony VERY Skinny

Tony VERY Skinny

4.09.2011

PETA Response Regarding Tony 7.14.2010

Here is the only other PETA reference found with respect to Tony from November 25, 2008: http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/11/activists_knock.php and the updated response from PETA regarding Tony:

PETA Response Regarding Tony 7.14.2010

This is the “updated” reply PETA is responding with when people inquire about Tony.

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about the Tiger Truck Stop. We have campaigned against this roadside hellhole for many years. We have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state officials, and have written countless letters and worked with local activists in an effort to get the tigers “retired” (there used to be several tigers in 2 different locations). We wrote to the owner of the truck stop asking him to relinquish the tigers to a sanctuary; we offered to help pay the costs. We’ve had this as an action alert on our Web site.

After years of complaints, in July 2002, the USDA charged the owner of the Tiger Truck Stop, Michael S. Sandlin, with violating the Animal Welfare Act in the areas of veterinary care, handling and housing. The violations cited over three years included having an insufficient number of trained employees and keeping the tigers in unsound facilities. An inspector also found the cats had no veterinary care program and improper nutrition. Mr. Sandlin paid a $1,000 fine and was ordered not to possess or exhibit more than two exotic cats. As a result, Sandlin decided to give up three of his four tigers to a facility in Tennessee. At this time, there is one tiger—Tony—still on display in Louisiana.

Wendell Sandlin (Michael’s father), owner of the Tiger Travel Plaza in Fort Hancock, Texas, relinquished the 4 tigers he had on display to a sanctuary. In June 2003, he agreed to relinquish his own USDA license for 3 years and was assessed a $7,500 fine, a fine that was suspended if he didn’t violate the AWA for 3 years.
The simple fact remains that just about anyone can have exotic animals as pets or for use as props. For the most part owning an exotic cat, bear, or other naturally free-roaming animal is as simple as applying for a state permit. Many state departments of wildlife have the most minimal requirements for keeping these animals. Louisiana is no exception.

In 2009, after months of aggressive campaigning to get Louisiana officials to order Michael Sandlin to give up Tony, they did the exact opposite. On February 17, 2009, the Iberville Parish Council voted to allow Michael Sandlin to keep Tony at the truck stop. While they did impose conditions on “improving” Tony’s care, this action opened the door for Sandlin to qualify for a state permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which granted him one in December 2009.

We are disappointed to say the least.
We are asking people to strongly voice their objections to Michael Sandlin receiving a state permit. Please drop a note to:

Robert Barham, Secretary
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
2000 Quail Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-765-2800
http://www.ibervilleparish.com/contactus/phonenumbers.html.

Thank you again for your concern.
Yours for the animals,
Jennifer O’Connor
Animals in Entertainment Campaign Writer



Here is the only other PETA reference found on their website with respect to Tony from November 25, 2008:
http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/11/activists_knock.php


Tiger Truck Stop has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited the truck stop for unsanitary feeding practices, mishandling tigers, failure to provide veterinary care, failure to provide shelter from inclement weather, failure to provide clean drinking water, and repeatedly failing to have knowledgeable employees caring for the tigers. A tiger cub died when he was taken to a veterinarian for declawing. Tiger Truck Stop has bred and sold tiger cubs to tourists and through raffles. Tigers are kept in concrete cages as a novelty display to amuse customers. Contact PETA for documentation.

July 2, 2007:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to clean cages as often as necessary to maintain adequate sanitation.

July 26, 2006:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to maintain structurally sound cages for the tigers.

April 25, 2003:
A USDA order assessed Tiger Truck Stop a $2,500 fine and limited the facility to possessing or exhibiting no more than two exotic cats because of repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

November 12, 2002:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to correct a previously identified noncompliance of not utilizing a sufficient number of adequately trained employees.

August 15, 2002:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to correct previously identified noncompliances of not utilizing a sufficient number of adequately trained employees to care for the animals (the only caretaker’s hours had been cut and he had not received training as mandated by previous reports) and failure to provide food free of contamination and of sufficient nutritive quality. Tiger Truck Stop was also cited for improper food storage.

May 9, 2002:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to correct previous noncompliances of not maintaining structurally sound facilities, which “indicate an ongoing lack of maintenance plan,” and failure to utilize a sufficient number of adequately trained employees, which was demonstrated by a lack of veterinary care. There was only one employee assigned to care for five large cats in addition to other tasks. Tiger Truck Stop was also cited for failure to provide veterinary care to a female tiger who appeared to have “arthritis or some form of posterior paralysis” and exhibited “severe atrophy of quadriceps muscles,” as well as failure to provide food of sufficient nutritive quality and prepared in a manner to prevent contamination.

October 9, 2001:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to correct a previously identified noncompliance of mishandling tigers. The inspector wrote, “[The] [c]aretaker informed me [that the two tiger cubs] were removed … a week ago … for declawing. The first evening at the veterinarian’s, the male cub died.” Tiger Truck Stop was cited for failure to maintain facilities. The inspector wrote, “There has been no progress in repairing and/or repainting metal bars. This total neglect is resulting in rapid deterioration of [the] structural soundness of [the] entire facility and may result in future escapes.” The USDA also cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to have a sufficient number of adequately trained employees. The inspector wrote, “Over the past several inspections, I have dealt with different employees whose primary function was not animal care. [The] [m]anagement of this facility does not seem to place great store [in] or adequately reward caretakers. … Judg[ing] by the state of disrepair of the facility, more outside help … is required. … There is also some question as to the expertise of the employee caring for the cubs, [one of whom] died.”

July 24, 2001:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to have a program of veterinary care, for mishandling animals, for failure to maintain cages, and for improper food storage. The inspector wrote, “Two 3-week-old cubs [are] being bottle raised in [the] truck stop office. They are loose in [the] manager’s office and are being shown to customers. For their own safety and health, these cubs must be moved to a designated area which is in compliance and off limits to customers. They must also be contained to prevent [their] being walked on or otherwise injured. … By virtue of being loose, they have extreme potential of ingesting harmful agents.”

August 23, 1999:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for unsanitary feeding practices, failure to clean water receptacles with algae growth, and poor housekeeping.

November 5, 1997:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to provide shelter from inclement weather.

September 12, 1997:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, 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.

August 9, 1996:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, hazardous materials workers from several agencies, wearing protective gear, worked to control a leak of a hazardous and corrosive chemical called formic acid from a box trailer parked at the Tiger Truck Stop.

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.

September 14, 1993:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, Tiger Truck Stop, another truck stop, and 60 homes were evacuated after a driver reported that his trailer was smoking. The trailer was packed with drums of highly toxic sodium cyanide.

November 6, 1989:
According to the Houston Chronicle, Tiger Truck Stop was raffling 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, which released Tiger Truck Stop from liability, 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.
July 24, 2001:

The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to have a program of veterinary care, for mishandling animals, for failure to maintain cages, and for improper food storage. The inspector wrote, “Two 3-week-old cubs [are] being bottle raised in [the] truck stop office. They are loose in [the] manager’s office and are being shown to customers. For their own safety and health, these cubs must be moved to a designated area which is in compliance and off limits to customers. They must also be contained to prevent [their] being walked on or otherwise injured. … By virtue of being loose, they have extreme potential of ingesting harmful agents.”

August 23, 1999:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for unsanitary feeding practices, failure to clean water receptacles with algae growth, and poor housekeeping.

November 5, 1997:
The USDA cited Tiger Truck Stop for failure to provide shelter from inclement weather.

September 12, 1997:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, 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.

August 9, 1996:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, hazardous materials workers from several agencies, wearing protective gear, worked to control a leak of a hazardous and corrosive chemical called formic acid from a box trailer parked at the Tiger Truck Stop.

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.

September 14, 1993:
According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, Tiger Truck Stop, another truck stop, and 60 homes were evacuated after a driver reported that his trailer was smoking. The trailer was packed with drums of highly toxic sodium cyanide.

November 6, 1989:
According to the Houston Chronicle, Tiger Truck Stop was raffling 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, which released Tiger Truck Stop from liability, 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.



People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510
757-622-7382 • PETA.org • Circuses.com
http://www.911animalabuse.com/images/USDAViolations/2008Tiger_Truck_Stop_Factsheet.pdf

No comments:

Post a Comment