Tiger owner to get hearing

An appeals court on Monday threw out a Baton Rouge judge’s May ruling that barred state officials from issuing any new permits to an Iberville Parish truck stop to keep a 550-pound tiger on display.

A three-judge panel of the state’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal sent the matter back to state District Judge Mike Caldwell for another hearing.

The panel said Tiger Truck Stop Inc. in Grosse Tete and its owner, Michael Sandlin, deserve to be heard.

Caldwell’s ruling in May came after the Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to have Tony, a Siberian-Bengal mix, removed from the Interstate 10 truck stop.

Only attorneys for the animal rights group and the state agency took part in the first hearing.

Caldwell later denied Sandlin’s and Tiger Truck Stop’s request for a new trial.

First Circuit Judges Edward “Jimmy’’ Gaidry, Michael McDonald and Jeff Hughes said Sandlin and the truck stop “were parties needed for just adjudication in this case.’’

The appellate court reversed Caldwell’s denial of the new trial request, vacated his May ruling in favor of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and sent the matter back to him “for further proceedings.’’

“We’re very pleased. This will give us a chance to correct the situation,’’ said Steve LeBlanc, an attorney for Sandlin and his truck stop, on Monday.

Animal Legal Defense Fund attorney Matthew Liebman called the 1st Circuit ruling “a minor setback.’’

“We are confident that the trial court got the law right the first time around and will rule the same way when we go through it again with Mr. Sandlin and the Tiger Truck Stop as parties,’’ he said.

LeBlanc also expressed confidence, saying, “We’re in compliance with their (Department of Wildlife and Fisheries) rules and regulations.’’

Caldwell had agreed with the animal rights group that a permit can only be issued to an individual, not a corporation, and the individual must live on the premises.

Tiger Truck Stop is the permit holder, not Sandlin, the judge said.

The last annual permit that the state agency issued to Tiger Truck Stop was in December.

Caldwell has said Tony has been on display at the truck stop since 2001.

The animal rights group cited a 2006 Louisiana law that prohibits the private ownership of large and exotic cats.

The law includes a grandfather exception that allows people to keep exotic cats as pets as long as the animals were legally owned before Aug. 15, 2006, when the law took effect.

The animal rights group claims the tiger was not legally owned by the truck stop before that date because a 1993 Iberville Parish ordinance prohibits anyone from owning “wild, exotic or vicious animals for display or for exhibition.’’

Comments

1) Comment by twinkie1cat - 05/11/2011

Don't think for a minute that Michael Sandlin's fight for his tiger is over. He will appeal and fight this as long as Tony lives and perhaps beyond. The animal terrorists will not win. Tony Sandlin belongs at Tiger Truck Stop not isolated in some "sanctuary" (essentially an orphanage) where he will never see his family again and be denied the socialization he has known since infancy. The animal terrorists just want him for the money he can bring to their groups, not because they care about him. Do not give to Big Cat Rescue, PETA, or the Animal Legal Defense Fund. (ADLF).

2) Comment by Kathryne - 07/09/2011

Tigers are not 'pets' they are wild animals. This tiger is doomed to stay as an attraction until the time that his animal instincts cause him to harm some one (most likely a child) at which point he will be destroyed as being dangerous. All because some good old boy wants to fuel his ego by owning a big, dangerous animal. As a former zookeeper who took care of several tigers that were raised as 'pets' I know just how dangerous this situation is. Tony deserves better than this. A noble animal being forced to live in a small space is shameful. For the so called owner, for the courts that allow it to continue and for the State that turns a blind eye. As to the person who so thoughtlessly stated that more of these sad situations should be encouraged to somehow save the species - really, no. There are programs in place, such as the Species Survival Programs developed by AZA (American Zoological Association) that are already doing what backyard breeders could never hope to accomplish - preserving the genetic diversity, making sure the animals are raised responsibly and looking for ways to prevent habitat destruction.

3) Comment by tigress62 - 31/08/2011

Tigers are not gimmicks, attractions, props or pets. They are magnificent cats who deserve our respect and protection. Tony represents one of the estimated 5,000 – 10,000 tigers privately owned in the United States whose numbers exceed tigers left in the wild. These captive U.S. tigers suffer in backyards as "pets," in roadside zoos attractions and circuses, and are bred for profit; tiger cubs are exploited in photo ops and exhibitions, and others are condemned to canned hunts and sold on the black market. There is absolutely no conservation value in privately breeding tigers. Sadly there are individuals who will go to any extent at the expense of these animals to capitalize on their appeal for one reason: money. The only sanctioned tiger breeding program in the United States is the Species Survival Plan in which AZA accredited zoos participate. It’s very unfortunate that Tony’s owner, Mr. Sandlin, continues to prolong Tony’s imprisonment at the truck stop when accredited big cat sanctuaries can provide Tony with a natural spacious habitat of earth, grass, trees, logs, a den, a suitable pool, proper diet, medical care and enrichment. Tony’s supporters are sincerely thankful for the tremendous dedication of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and their persistent efforts to help Tony receive the care and life he deserves at such a sanctuary. Judge Caldwell has heard the case before and nothing can change the fact that Mr. Sandlin never legally owned Tony per a 1993 Iberville Parish Ordinance and therefore should have never been grandfathered in under Louisiana Act 715 which prohibits the ownership and sale of large exotic cats, including tigers, in Louisiana nor given a permit to keep Tony from The Louisiana Department of Wildlife sand Fisheries. With the life span of properly cared for captive tigers 15 to 20 years, it is imperative for Tony, who has been subjected to the detrimental environment of a truck stop and inadequate care for over a decade, to be relocated to a proper home immediately.

4) Comment by Being_Stupid - 30/08/2011

Such a waste of time & money these so called “Animal Rights” Activists have spent bullying a responsible pet owner. An organization attempting to protect the tiger for future generations should encourage more private ownership and breeding of tigers, not hinder tiger ownership. Outlawing the private ownership of tigers will only drive the tiger species into further extinction.

5) Comment by KB - 30/08/2011

@ spqr...lighten up! BTW "there" has an e on the end of it!

6) Comment by spqr - 30/08/2011

The only thing hilarious is the poor grammar some of you use. Ther is nothing funny about Tony's plight.

7) Comment by KB - 30/08/2011

Being_Stupid...that's hilarious!

8) Comment by Being_Stupid - 30/08/2011

Could you imagine what would happen to the goldfish population if Animal Rights Groups were able to use the Strong Arm of Government to outlaw Private Fish Ownership? The goldfish population would go in steep decline. Pet stores could no longer breed goldfish. People could no longer have wild goldfish swimming around in their backyards or in their garden pond. Our favorite Chinese Buffet would not be allowed to display aquarium fish for our viewing pleasure, while we wait for our sweet and sour chicken with soy sauce. Private Ownership of Tigers today, Tomorrow it will be dogs, cats, and then your pet gold fish. Soon the only pet we will be able to own be those stupid Sea Monkeys that you order from the back of a comic book. Which is nothing but a water parasite. Life will become wothless without pet ownership.

9) Comment by justagirl - 30/08/2011

These animal rights activists just go a little too far. Tony has been there for years, he has obviously been taken care of all this time and not being abused or treated inhumanely. Where's the problem? It seems to me these activists just want to fight for the sake of fighting.

10) Comment by KB - 30/08/2011

CountryBoy...he hasn't been indicted on anything yet...there is no time to serve! What is your problem with LSU?

11) Comment by KB - 30/08/2011

I wish the animal rights group would leave animals such as Tony alone...if he's well cared for and not being harmed then they should leave him alone! Maybe they could concentrate their efforts toward gathering up all of the stray animals lingering around either starving or getting shot by citizens who don't want them on their property!

12) Comment by Being_Stupid - 30/08/2011

Too many laws, too many permits, not enough freedom.

13) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 30/08/2011

Perhaps they should free the Tiger and display Jorden Jefferson, as an example of a Louisiana Tiger, for tourists to look at! Maybe Jordan could serve his time there?

14) Comment by spqr - 30/08/2011

Sandlin and his country boy attorneys are at it again. They can't seem to think about the greater welfare of anyone but themselves. Maybe they will evolve in time to save Tony. Sandlin is selfish and poorly educated and supported by those in kind. Painful words, huh? Too bad.

15) Comment by Chucky - 30/08/2011

Let the tiger stay and stop wasting the courts time, then again civil court has only time to wast.