Since 2003, Tony the Tiger has been enclosed in a cage at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana. Harassed by visitors, as well as being subjected to diesel fumes, Tony’s living conditions are hardly fit for a Siberan-Bengal tiger. In fact, he lives alone with no other large cats and he has no trees or vegetation to explore as he would if he lived in the wild. Because of this, Tony often just paces in his cage. And his owner, Michael Sandlin, has been cited by the USDA for animal welfare violations, including improper sanitation and improper feeding practices.
image: aldf
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has filed suit with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the hopes that they will revoke Sandlin’s permit to display Tony the Tiger. So far, this issue has drawn celebrity support from Leonardo DiCaprio who tweeted “We need to act now.” Click here to sign a petition to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to support the efforts of the ALDF in this case.
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