The INDsider -> Nathan Stubbs TUE, DEC 29 11:12AM by Nathan Stubbs

Tiger Truck Stop wins permit

After over a year-long struggle that raised the ire of national animal rights activists,
Michael Sandlin, owner of the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tette, has officially been awarded a permit from the state to keep his 9 year-old, 550-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger, Tony. The Advocate reports that Sandlin has been granted a "Possession of Potentially Dangerous Wild Quadrapeds, Big Exotic Cats and Non-Human Primates" permit by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Sandlin was grandfathered into a state law that prevents ownership of wild, exotic cats, making him the only permitted private tiger owner in the state. From The Advocate:

Sandlin said he was prepared to take the issue all the way through the court system in order to keep the tiger. But he said it’s not right that once the tiger is gone, he can’t get another one or get the tiger a companion.

The tiger is 9 years old and Sandlin said tigers can live more than 20 years in captivity. “Once Tony’s gone, it’s all over with,” Sandlin said. “After 22 years of exhibiting tigers and owning tigers, there’s certainly an emotional attachment.”

For more on the issue, read The Independent's February cover story on Sandlin and the Tiger Truck Stop.

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written by Cupid , December 29, 2009 - 09:00 pm

Tony should be allowed to have a mate. Sandlin should be allowed another permit. Tony should procreate!

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written by Harlee , December 29, 2009 - 09:12 pm

Awesome, I'm sure Tony is relieved that he'll get to live out his senior years alone with a fat ass gas station owner, laying in his own crap in that tiny p.o.s. cage they keep him in - every tiger's dream! And the 24/7 exposure to diesel fumes? Bonus! Ok, enough sarcasm... I gotta go out and buy myself a giraffe so I can raise it in my shed and invite the neighbors over for a looksee - after I charge them $ to take a pic with it of course.

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written by Coonass Guh , December 30, 2009 - 02:01 am

wow, that mofo gets to keep on keepin' on. What a shame for the state of La, shame on them for the gettin' the permit and shame on all of us for lettin' it happen. Now that he is legal I will let it go, For now. The conditions of that Tigers' habitat are cruel and inhumane and not in keeping with the animal husbandry and respect we here in Louisiana were taught by our ancestors. We should mobilize true LSU fans and graduates to correct this gross negligence immediately. So Mote it Be!!!!BUMMER MAN! BIG FAT HAIRY BUMMER FOR US ALL. BOOO BOOOO HISS HISSS, AND EW GROSS!

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written by George , December 30, 2009 - 01:46 pm

I am completely appauled at what this world has come to. Being able to own a Tiger at a Truckstop? Wow, I agree with Harlee, lets go into business together and we'll make lots of money! Dumbasses! What were they thinking?

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : , December 30, 2009 - 06:46 pm

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?????
MAIS, DAT MAKES YOU AH GENIUS ! CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND, AHN I'M AH 32nd. DEGREE GENETIC WONDER..........IF TONY WOULD BE REGISTERED TO VOTE, IT WOULD POSSIBLY MAKE AH DIFFERENCE, ESP,TO MARY LANDRIEU, AND JINDY DON'T REALLY CARE CAUSE TONY DON'T PITCH IN DA QUIDAS FOR THE RACE WHICH HE STANDS,NOT,NADA,NIL,ZILCH,CHANCE OF UPSETTING DA OBAMA TRAITER"............ TONY, HANG ON BEB, ALLUS, *THE PETA PEEPS ARE ALL OUT STILL CELEBRATING HANNAKAH, SO THEY'RE TIED UP,"DAS WHAT I WAS TOLE, "DON'T QUOTE ME. ALSO, BRAD $ JOLIE DON'T WANT TA GET INVOLVED CAUSE THE PRESS COVERAGE IS NON-EXISTENT IN DA AREA WID THE "LAFAYETTE'S DAILY RAG REPORTERS" IN THE LINE AT DA UNEMPLOYMAN $ DA TEMP OFFICE. WELL MAH INK IS DWINDLIN, GOTTA GO,CIAO MON AMI'S.

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written by Tigress62 , December 31, 2009 - 01:36 am

The individuals deciding Tony's fate had the opportunity to give him a safe, clean home with proper medical care, food and enrichment, and still they chose to let him continue to suffer at the truck stop. Tony is exploited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and breathes in the fumes and endures the noise of trucks and cars, as well as the taunting of ignorant people. Surely this is not a healthy environment for him. How can anyone condone such living conditions as these for any animal? Laws were broken and changed to cater to one individual, Michael Sandlin, whose greed, selfishness and cruelty were more important to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries than the welfare of Tony. People all over the world voiced their concern for Tony on social networking sites, by signing petitions and contacting the LDW&F and anyone else who they thought could help free Tony, but their pleas went unanswered and were ignored. Sandlin was offered a home for Tony at an accredited big cat sanctuary, but refused. If he truly cared about Tony he would have released him to such a sanctuary, but his only concern is to exploit Tony as a money-making gimmick. To allow such a blatant display of animal cruelty to continue is very sad and disturbing and makes one wonder what more was involved in this decision. All those involved in this horrendous verdict, as well as those who did nothing to help Tony, should be ashamed â€“ to allow this magnificent cat to continue to suffer is in itself a cruel and inhumane act.

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 05, 2010 - 07:36 pm

YA HAVE TO SWALLOW IT WID AH TAD OF TAAKA, OTHERWISE ITS HARD TA SWALLOW. ITS AH KNOWN FACT "THAT CAJUNS DON'T FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURES, IF ANY EXIST AT ALL IN THIS STATE.................IN SPAIN, TIS TERMED, "THE BITE! EVERYONE WID AH POLITICO POSITION OR POLITICAL OFFICE OWES SOMEONE, SO EVERYONE STANDS IN LINE FOR AH LIL BITE.................

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