Woot! That rocks. Free the tigers! You guys rock. Keep up the awesome work!

Posted by: Mae | November 25, 2008 01:14 PM

The other summer I was on buford highway in Atlanta, Georgia. I forget the name of the sideshow attraction because it was in Spanish but I was appalled to find two baby tigers in a dog crate in a parking lot at a burlington coat factory store. On this very humid southern day there were also two tigers in a small trailer pacing back and forth neurotically. Unattended by a trainer or anyone really there were ignorant adults and kids walking up to the caged tiger laughing. How dangerous for the both. Also were horses on the hot concrete and llamas. As I cried and tried to call 411 to find a number to call to no avail but a "I'll have someone go check it out" I had workers whistle and call at me while building a tent for this 1920's barbaric animal attraction. I find it disgusting many people have to go and get a biology degree to travel to asia to study these animals while ignorant and backwoods people get to own these wild animals like pets to exploit them for money. These endangered animals seriously need more laws and protection from humans exploitation. I fear animals like tigers and elephants will only be known about by my future grandchildren as stuffed animals not as actual living creatures.

Posted by: kimmie | November 25, 2008 01:19 PM

I can barely contain my disappointment in this place.

FIRST OF ALL; The man running the place does not seem "evil" to me, just very misguided. He probably genuinely beleives that he's doing right by his animals.

First of all, he is missing the point completely. Creating wild animals to live in captivity for our entertainment is wrong. He is breeding them left and right.

He does not want to release them into the wild; that is good, because they would never survive and would disrupt the ecosystem there.

However, he keeps breeding more and more tigers, for what. For our entertainment. For his entertainment. Wild animals belong in the wild. They do not belong in captivity, and his overflow are burdening some wild tiger sanctuary somewhere.

Tigers belong in the wild. Wild animals belong in the wild. Should I keep saying it until someone listens? Wild animals belong in the wild.

It is unfortunate that he is collecting donations; this roadside zoo is not a nonprofit; a nonprofit is something like a wild animal sancutary for discarded zoo animals or a shelter for homeless pets.

Thank you PETA so much for taking steps towards stopping this - hopefully we can educate people too, or else it will never end.

Bless you guys and have a great vegan holiday / solstice.

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | November 25, 2008 01:23 PM

free Tony the Tiger. He is grrrreat! ;)

Well, maybe Tony will mistake this dude for lunch one day. I'm not saying that I "hope" he does, I'm just "maybe" he might. :)

I love Tigers. They are so beautiful. And aren't they an endangered species? If so, how is it that people are allowed to keep them like this?

Posted by: bbr | November 25, 2008 01:45 PM

Uh Kimmie? I'm all for not abusing Tigers and other animals, but what about Horses standing on hot concrete constitutes abuse? They burn the horseshoe onto the horse and it doesn't feel it so why would the concrete bother them?

Posted by: John | November 25, 2008 03:09 PM

John -

I'm sure while that example may not meet your standards of abuse you could at least consider this :

A place that keeps baby tigers in dog crates sitting in the sun and tigers that are neurotic from captivity...

they probably treat their horses well cause it just wouldn't be right to abuse the horses.. ya know?

Knitpicking is silly.

Posted by: Tom | November 25, 2008 03:45 PM

Kimmie, collect all the details and send it to Peta!!

info@peta.org

Posted by: kelly | November 25, 2008 05:01 PM

A hearty note of thanks is due to the Louisiana state wildlife officials who are taking action against this dangerous and perverse roadside hell-hole in order to protect the animals. I cannot help but wonder what the U.S. Department of Agriculture was doing all of this time that prevented them from responding to PETA's requests to investigate this dump....

Posted by: David | November 26, 2008 12:59 AM

just sick of the greed that pushes people to use animals for financial gain. they are so neglected, so abused! would love to see this jerk in a cage, hah, with Tony?!

Posted by: sheila | November 26, 2008 07:37 AM

WHAT?????? since when? thats evil!

Posted by: Simran | November 26, 2008 08:55 AM

If you cause are gonig to fight for a cause, at least be consistant with your pursuit. You guys are picking on the small people. They aare easy targets but they arent the real influence in the country. What about the bigger corps and rich who are doing the same.
They are protected by goverment so i guess they arent worth fighting.
Horse-Racing and dogracing owners are off scot-free for harming animals.
I see cruelty to animals everyday on TV. The off-site betting channel.
You guys should push harder to on these big-shots who get away with animal cruelty.

Posted by: Rod | November 26, 2008 12:23 PM

Kimmie do you know how most of Asia treats its animals? This roadside truckstop is nothing compared to the dog and cat killings in China and Korea etc...thats just the tip of the iceberg Asia is barbaric!!

Posted by: Matthew | November 29, 2008 02:25 PM

i saw a circus when i was 4 i had know clue why they were sad but now i know.

Posted by: brooklyn | November 30, 2008 12:28 PM

Its not that Asia is any more barbaric, its just that thats how they have lived for almost forever.

Posted by: Mitch | December 1, 2008 03:37 PM

Shame, Shame, Shame! To use animals who cannot speak out for themselves is such a cowardly deed.

Posted by: Elizabeth | December 4, 2008 07:11 PM

I cant beleive this cruel treatment these animals of God receive. He put them in the wild for a reason and not for everyone to make money on.
What is wrong with you people and how would you like to be treated like that dont you no by now that this is how we are supposed to look at things. HOW WOULD I FILL?
Quit messing with God Creatures and someday YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO HIM.

Posted by: ilovethewildlife | December 4, 2008 09:33 PM

Greed and money has put the current world into recension,when do we say enough and start thinking past today.

Posted by: Tracey Williams | December 5, 2008 06:23 PM

FREE THE TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LET THE TIGERS TAKE A CHUNK OUT OF THESE PEOPLE HOLDING THEM,AND MAYBE THEY WILL GET THE PICTURE!!!!!!!!!

LEAVE WILD ANIMALS IN THE WILDERNESS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE, WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Tucker | December 8, 2008 06:02 PM

I know Tony the tiger of Grosse Tete. I know Mike the owner and have been in his home. Your posts here are full of half truths, which are likewise half falshoods. If one objects to cages at all, then the positions here have merit. This cage is humane, the tiger is well fed and has ample veterinary care, I have seen this with my own eyes, as far as Tony is concerned and for all the previous tigers there over the past 21 years. Prove your objectivity and post this.

Posted by: Bill Clemmons | December 20, 2008 10:44 AM

This is still ongoing. The issue has not been resolved. Please everyone visit bigcatrescue.com/freetony.htm and send a letter to the legislators. There has been an injunction granted in this case due to the suit filed by the owner of the truckstop. As a citizen of this state, I can tell you, nothing gets done in Louisiana until it is absolutely forced. We need your voices too. Please repost the link on your blog, facebook, myspace, or any other networking site you use. Thank you!

Posted by: Dori Ann | January 22, 2009 11:44 PM

*I am sad to report that the council voted tonight to amend the parish
ordinance and grandfather Tony in. However, after the vote was taken, the
Parish President, J. Mitchell Ourso, stood up and gave his comments. He
stated that he is adamantly against the tiger remaining at the truck stop –
that no animal should be treated poorly and live in inhumane conditions. He
further said that he will meet with Michael Sandlin (owner) and present
habitat improvements that must be made within 30-45 days. He will meet with
Sandlin in the next 10 days at which time if his conditions are not agreed
to he will veto the council's vote. As we all know, the council can then
come back and with a 2/3 vote overturn the veto. Mr. Ourso has met with
veterinarians, biologists, LSU, etc. about the treatment and conditions of
exotic cats and reiterated that the truck stop does not come close. If
Sandlin is finally issued a license by Iberville Parish, he must then obtain
the required permit from Wildlife and Fisheries. That begins another
process.*

*It is not over yet. The council is agreeing to grandfather an animal that
was not even born when the ordinance was passed. You may ask how can that
be possible? There are many technicalities that could further impact this
case and will be pursued. More updates to come later.*

*We owe a huge thanks to J.Mitchell Ourso (Parish President) which we
expressed to him tonight. If anyone would care to thank him for his efforts
on behalf of Tony please do so. *

*email: **jburleigh@ibervilleparish.com*

*Please also send a letter of appreciation to **District 5
Mr. Edwin M. Reeves, Jr. 58680 St. Clement Street
Plaquemine, LA 70764*

*He was the ONLY one that voted to NOT amend the ordinance for Michael
Sandlin....*

Posted by: Merrill | February 18, 2009 09:41 AM

Thanks for doing the update. I saw Tony several times last summer and was moved to tears. I contacted W & F, media, and anyone else I could think of... the heat was unbearable, the automatic water bowl was sized for a dog, the misters were not functional ( I went in and inquired ), the yard was unkempt and overgrown, one toy littered that yard, and the exhaust from the pavement and trucks was overwhelming.

I was stunned to find that there had been attempts in the past to stop this, but all were thwarted.

The ultimate irony is that Sandlin has a web page up with a petition to save Tony.... By his own admission the tiger is responsible for making his business and providing employment for dozens of people, and that is the way he repays him.

I saw other visitors leave visibly shaken, many took photographs and videos. It would be nice to get some of these to show the public.

I had the privilege of working with big cats briefly at the zoo. They are magnificent animals that need an extreme amount of care and attention that the truck stop is incapable of providing.

Posted by: Deborah Daniels | February 18, 2009 01:34 PM

are we still living in a RIVER OF DE NILE...or whats the deal with the tiger...still in there ..i saw him the other day!

Posted by: candice Alexander | April 6, 2009 06:16 PM

Please, this is ridiculous, Tony the Tiger is still with Michael Sandlin at this disgusting Truck Stop. Peta, what happened! We need to getn him out! He is losing weight fast.

Posted by: Jan Geren | July 21, 2009 11:48 PM