Truckstop Tiger Needs Our Help!  Please write letters!

Posted 06/26/2007

In Louisiana there is a truckstop that is housing a tiger for advertising purposes. The poor thing is locked up in a small cage with little water and all alone. 

The tiger is on the top of the enclosure.  The cage is not as deep as it looks here because half is sectioned off.

Another angle with the water source on the left.  Very small water container.  Through this concrete floored enclosure, you can see a small grassy area.  The tiger does have access to this grassy area (thankfully) but I don't think the gate is always open.

I am very familiar with the Tiger Truck Stop in Louisiana.  We have been trying to shut them down for years.  They used to have several tigers, all housed inappropriately.  As a result of many complaints over several years, the USDA (which is where they get their Class C license to exhibit) forced them to place all but one tiger.  That was a couple years ago.  Those tigers were placed at Tiger Haven in Tennessee.  Why the USDA agreed to leave one tiger there is beyond explanation.  However, the state of Louisiana is currently revising their exotic animal possession regulations which we hope will make this activity against the law.  Right now the best thing you can do is write a letter of complaint to the USDA's Western Region office, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building B, Mailstop 3W11, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117.  They are required to respond to complaints, and will send a field investigator.  Thanks so much for caring.