Heartbreaking...

Golden Gate Geckos

Golden Gate Geckos

Mean Old Gecko Lady
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SF Bay Area
For those of you who haven't been following this story, a man had a collection of wild and exotic animals. He turned them all loose before he turned a gun on himself. This the aftermath of how the local authorities took care of the situation.

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Golden Gate Geckos

Golden Gate Geckos

Mean Old Gecko Lady
Messages
12,731
Location
SF Bay Area
We don't know the details behind what appears to be the slaughter of these animals... especially tigers, as they are endangered now. The man that collected them was a lunatic, and he is dead now by his own hand. It might sound cruel, but I am more heartbroken over the demise of these animals than I am the suicide of their owner/keeper.

The first thing that comes to my mind is, why couldn't they have used tranquilizer guns and immobilized these animals to transfer them to conservation compounds or zoos? On the flip side, did the authorities have the resources to do this, or were they acting on the best interest and safety of the general public?

Either way, it was a crazy person who 'collected' and unleashed these animals. Now, because of this fluke, those who keep exotic pets responsibly are probably going to lose their rights. I'm not a PETA supporter in any way, but what about the lives of these animals? It breaks my heart to see these creatures destroyed because one maniacal person has now set a precedent to reinforce the public fears of non-domestic 'pets'.
 
Adinar

Adinar

New Member
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1,275
Location
Elizabethville, PA
They covered this story on the news in my area. The owner cut open their cages before he shot himself. After doing so the animals did go after him. They had to lock down a neighborhood because these animals were roaming the area, they played several 911 calls that were placed by people who lived in the area. They did also interview Jack Hannah who was at the scene, the reported did ask him if there was any chance of tranquilizing the animals rather than shooting to kill. In his opinion he said no. With 50 animals on the loose in a populated area, it was too risky. You don't know if the tranquilizing dart hit bone or muscle, so the only way to check if the animal is down is to send a vet up. Now take that chance 50 times. He also did point out that several of the police had to deal with these animals at close range. There was also some species of monkey he had that was infected with a strain of herpes (later they think one of the big cats had eatten it).

This was at least the interview for the news stations in the Harrisburg area, it could vary depending on place to place.

It's a shame, but someone like this should not have had these animals. He knew what he was doing before he pulled the trigger. I'm just glad no one was hurt during all of this.
 
N

nater

New Member
Messages
62
Location
Wisconsin
I suspect that the authorities were just overwhelmed. I doubt that if it were one or two animals they'd have decided to do the same thing.
 
im faster

im faster

Should Slow Down
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2,839
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Miamisburg, Ohio, United States
i posted about this also..
This happened about a hour away from me.

Again, I dont believe that he killed himself..
even if you wanted to kill yourself would you set all your animals out to die?

ABout 12 animals were tranquilized and saved.
 
im faster

im faster

Should Slow Down
Messages
2,839
Location
Miamisburg, Ohio, United States
one thing that pisses me off is that they killed "harmless" animals.. the zebras and camels IMO didnt pose any threats. and could have been delt with later or atleast attempted to save there lives.

I do understand about the lions, tigers and bears though.
 
W

Wild West Reptile

Leopards AFT Ball Pythons
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San Jose, CA
im faster said:
Furthermore, he had permits for atleast most of these animals. so he was within his rights to have them and they were all healthy and cared for.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the permits, but out here in California, they reported that the animals were not being well taken care of and that he had been warned and cited many times for abuse and neglect. So I don't think they were being well cared for at all. Just what I heard and read though.
 
M_surinamensis

M_surinamensis

Shillelagh Law
Messages
1,165
Adinar said:
They did also interview Jack Hannah who was at the scene, the reported did ask him if there was any chance of tranquilizing the animals rather than shooting to kill. In his opinion he said no.
Click to expand...

Jack Hannah's opinion about anything isn't worth the air it takes for that piece of know-nothing, hypocritical AR supporting, animal abuse policy setting, undeserved-self-promoting crap to actually voice it. Right or wrong, the man is an ignorant waste and you may as well flip a coin as ask him for information. I'm not remotely surprised that he flew in to get himself on TV though; his bids for relevance and recognition are getting more and more pathetic and desperate as the years go by.

As much as I am willing to condemn Hannah's asshat antics...

Kinda harsh language there with respect to the owner's mental health. Suicide isn't an automatic indicator of insanity, or even (in some cases) emotional instability. The majority may be suffering from emotional disorders, but even then ripping on them for it is a bit like trash talking someone in a wheelchair for their inability to use stairs like everyone who can walk. The related tragedy of the animals' fate notwithstanding, I'm frankly surprised to see that kind of spite out of some of the members here. I had thought, as a generalization, most of you would be far more sympathetic to the suffering of another human being.
 
Desdemona

Desdemona

New Member
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653
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Bay Area, CA
He probably let the animals loose so they wouldn't starve to death in their cages. Most suicidal people who are actually determined to complete their suicide (not the cry for help sort) are very secretive and do not let anyone know. If the animals were all in their cages it could have been a few days to a week or more before anyone found him.

Depression to the point of suicide truly is a rott on the brain... but in a diseased fashion. Its highly misunderstood by the general public. These people need assistance as much as a person with a learning disability needs assistance, not condemnation. There is a book written by a sufferer who was able to heal called, "How My Brain Tried To Kill Me," and its very much what its like. They need personal strength to fight it... but often the depression destroys any strength they need may have had. My son's father went through a very rough patch of depression a couple of years ago (and is still not completely through it) so I have watched first hand what it does to a person (and of course spent some time reading up on it as well as speaking with a survivor support group).

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk
 
Golden Gate Geckos

Golden Gate Geckos

Mean Old Gecko Lady
Messages
12,731
Location
SF Bay Area
Kinda harsh language there with respect to the owner's mental health. Suicide isn't an automatic indicator of insanity, or even (in some cases) emotional instability. The majority may be suffering from emotional disorders, but even then ripping on them for it is a bit like trash talking someone in a wheelchair for their inability to use stairs like everyone who can walk. The related tragedy of the animals' fate notwithstanding, I'm frankly surprised to see that kind of spite out of some of the members here. I had thought, as a generalization, most of you would be far more sympathetic to the suffering of another human being.
Click to expand...
Having suffered from clinical depression since my late teens, and having a bipolar brother who committed suicide in January of 2000, I am no stranger to the torment of psychiatric illness. This guy that collected these animals, kept them in cages, neglected them, and then loosed them before ending his own life, was insane. While I can feel compassion and sadness over a tragedy like this, this man made his own choice to kill himself. He also made the choice to potentially harm the community by setting loose wild animals which resulted in their demise. The animals didn't have a choice... and perhaps the authorities had no choice but to destroy them. The entire situation is heartbreaking.
 
W

Wild West Reptile

Leopards AFT Ball Pythons
Messages
1,863
Location
San Jose, CA
I agree Marcia. He knew what he was doing when he let them out. There was a caretaker for the animals so it wasn't his concern about them starving. He knew the caretaker would be there to feed them. In my opinion, this was his middle finger to authority, who had locked him up for a year and had been constantly breathing down his neck (rightfully so) about the neglect of his animal collection. In the end, he didn't care about himself or the animals. It was an act of selfishness setting them free, knowing they would all be killed. Imho
 
Sunrise Reptile

Sunrise Reptile

SunriseReptile.com
Messages
3,520
Location
New Haven, IN
There are conflicting reports regarding the neglect. I've heard there were instances, then the next day I heard the animals were well cared for. Leave it to the press to hype up a situation in order to sell more prints.

To me being only 4 hours away from the area where this happened, the whole way this was handled with the animals seems like a "Safari in Ohio" gone wrong. I think they could have DEFINITELY saved more animals. On the other hand, I'm glad there were no human casulaties. It's quite obvious this guy had a total disregard for any/all life, whether its human or animal!

I just hope that the BS about increased exotic animal control that's being thrown around right now comes to a quiet close. One IDIOT's actions should not dictate how responsible keepers are treated ... or mistreated. :main_angry:
 
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