Crazy Ohio Man

According to the news-leader, Terry Thompson, the exotic-animal owner who committed suicide in ZANESVILLE, Ohio was deeply in debt. Court records show that he and his wife owed at least $68,000 in unpaid taxes to the IRS and the county, two federal tax liens, and Terry had gotten out of prison last month for possessing unregistered weapons.  Sheriff’s deputies had to shoot and kill nearly 50 animals that were set free by Thompson.

Sheriff Lutz, stated that, Terry Thompson, had opened the cages at his animal preserve and then killed himself. Not only did his body appear to have been dragged a short distance, his head had a huge bite mark on it. Perhaps, the bite is from one of his exotic cats.

I found this article very disturbing. I felt sorry for Thompson’s wife and the animals that were destroyed.

The deputies killed 48 animals. This includes 18 rare Bengal tigers, 17 lions and eight bears. These are all very dangerous animals that can kill people. It is troubling to think that this man who was obviously unstable was able to buy dangerous and exotic animal. That he chose to kill himself, instead of selling the animals to zoo’s shows he was indeed unstable. It is unclear whether he acted out of desperation or vengeance against his neighbors, police or his wife. And now his wife has to clean up the mess he left. She has to deal with all the financial worries, legal issues, and dealing with her husbands name run threw the mud. It’s sad to thinks that all those exotic animals had to be put to death, because of what her husband had done.

I really hope that law makers realize that something needs to change and there needs to be stricter laws against buying exotic and dangerous animals.