skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Ohio Laws Questioned in Exotic Animal Tragedy

play audio
Play

Thursday, October 20, 2011   

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The escape of more than 50 exotic animals in Zanesville is putting the spotlight on Ohio's laws regarding the ownership of dangerous, wild animals. Some say the tragedy could have been avoided had the state not allowed an executive order to expire.

Dozens of exotic animals including tigers, lions and bears escaped from their cages. The owner, Terry Thompson, took his own life. Most of the animals were hunted down and shot by law-enforcement officials on Wednesday.

Ohio does not regulate private ownership of wild animals. Larry Hostetler, executive director of the Muskingum County Animal Shelter, says the state's relaxed laws allowed this to happen.

"Mr. Thompson had way more animals than he could care for. There's been constant complaints of neglect, and there was no purpose for him having all these animals, so hopefully this will help change things."

Thompson had been convicted of animal cruelty in 2005, and an order issued by former Gov. Ted Strickland in January prohibited people convicted of animal cruelty from owning exotic animals. In April, Gov. John Kasich allowed the ban to expire and convened a group to develop new standards. The governor's office says the ban was "unenforceable" and would not have prevented the situation in Zanesville.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, Ohio is one of the top five states for incidents involving exotic pets, with 22 documented cases since 2003. Its president and chief executive officer, Wayne Pacelle, says this one takes the cake.

"It happens to be the most bizarre and surreal and the biggest of the incidents in Ohio, but it's just one other example of why Ohio needs rules and regulations to forbid people from keeping dangerous wild animals as pets. It's the Wild West."

The Humane Society is asking state leaders to issue an emergency rule to crack down on keeping dangerous exotics until the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or the Legislature can adopt a permanent legal solution.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021