Last week, the nation watched in horror as 48 exotic animals were gunned down one by one after escaping from an Ohio exotic animal farm. Now, the six surviving animals may have to return to that farm.
Currently, the animals are in quarantine by the US Department of Agriculture. They are being held at the local zoo. Their previous owner's widow, Marian Thompson, has already shown up at the zoo, attempting to retain custody of the six surviving animals. Luckily for the animals, the Ohio Department of Agriculture ordered that the animals must remain at the zoo for the timebeing.
But this order may not last forever. Thompson will continue to try to remove the animals from a place where they are properly cared for.
We must urgently make a plea to the Ohio Governor John Kasich and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, asking they ensure that these animals do not go back to the hell that have been forced to endure for far too long.
We the undersigned are writing to express our extreme disgust regarding the possibility of Marion Thompson retaining the ownership of the six surviving exotic 'pets' of Muskingum County Farm.
Forty-nine innocent animals have been gunned down due to the actions of their owners. At this point, if the animals were to be returned, there is absolutely no way the safety of these animals or the people in their vicinity can be ensured.
According to the sheriff's report, these animals were living in absolutely squalid conditions and the owners have been cited for cruelty and neglect in the past. It would be beyond reprehensible to even consider allowing Thompson to regain custody of these animals.
People have questioned whether the local authorities had the right to gun down these creatures, but that is a point which is useless to argue now. What is in our control is the fate of the six suriviving animals. It is our duty to ensure that they remain out of harm's way.
Please take swift action to ensure that these animals remain out Marian Thompson's hand.
