Roar For Tony & Share This:

 by Gina Cucuzella

Posted In: Civil Litigation, General

You remember him right? Bright orange and full of energy, coaxing you to eat Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes when you were a kid? That’s right, none other than Tony the Tiger is caught in the center of a legal battle. No, not the overzealous cartoon character, whom come to think of it was seriously under qualified to dispense nutritional advice regarding breakfast cereals, but I digress. The Tony the Tiger I speak of is a real living breathing Bengal tiger, that has been trapped in a cage at a truck stop in Iberville Parish, Louisiana for over a decade.

Tiger as an Attraction at a Truck Stop

Owner Michael Sandlin has been keeping Tony in a cage for the last 12 years, showcasing him as an attraction to those that stop at the location on long halls through Louisiana. Apparently Sandlin was once upon a time issued a permit State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to keep the tiger at the rest stop, though recently a state district court judge held that the permit should never have been issued in the first place.

When the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and several Louisiana residents discovered this tragedy, they filed suit against Sandlin and his truck stop pushing to have Tony released. ALDF and its experts have provided evidence of various reasons why a Tiger doesn’t belong in a truck stop, though it doesn’t take a wildlife specialist or a genius to come to this conclusion. Unfortunately for ALDF, and especially Tony, it could be months before the appeal, which was heard on Tuesday, is ruled on meaning that the poor large cat may be stuck in his current concrete and chain link home for some time more.

Sandlin’s attorney argued to the three judge appellate court panel that the District Court judge erred when he barred the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries from reissuing Sandlin’s permit, which expired at the end of 2011. Despite her arguments in the lower court, the judge ruled the authorization illegal since such permits are only issuable to individuals and not corporations, such as the Tiger Truck Stop where Tony is currently being housed.

Sandlin’s attorney has stressed that Tony is well taken care of, healthy and happy and that no cruelty or abuse is at issue. We shall see what the appellate court believes; but until further notice Tony remains at Tiger Truck Stop, under the care and confinement of Sandlin.

Tony is the last big cat that is privately owned in the state of Louisiana…perhaps it is time to put his legacy to rest and let this gentle giant retire gracefully.

http://blog.lawinfo.com/2013/02/25/things-arent-so-grrrreat-for-tony-the-tiger/

Roar For Tony & Share This:

SPECIAL REQUEST: If anyone follows Tony on Twitter @TonyTiger2000 you are sure to know his “elegirl” @LucyLiberte.

Last month we did a Twitterstorm for Tony and trended #FreeTonyTiger.

TODAY ~ Sunday March 10 @ 4pmEST there’s a Twitterstorm for @LucyLiberte to raise awareness for her, push her petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/allow-a-panel-of-external-elephant-experts-to-examine-lucy and to trend #FreeLucyElephant.

If you tweet, please participate in this event by adding the petition link and #FreeLucyElephant as you tweet from 4pmest – 5pmest TODAY. THANK YOU!

Roar For Tony & Share This:

Thanks to all who have signed and please continue to share this petition for Tony. It reached 24,000 signatures yesterday- a true indication of the concern people all over the world have for Tony and his welfare. Petitions are a good way to keep Tony’s story active, people involved, updated and supportive. http://www.change.org/petitions/ldwf-ensure-tony-the-tiger-is-released-to-a-reputable-sanctuary

Please visit The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s page for updates on Tony’s case: http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2233

Roar For Tony & Share This:

Update: Attorneys for ALDF were in court on the morning of February 19, 2013 in Baton Rouge to defend our most recent victory, in which a district court judge ordered the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to revoke the permit that allows Michael Sandlin to hold Tony the Tiger in captivity. ALDF lawyers told the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal that the Department should never have issued a captive wildlife permit to Michael Sandlin, the owner of the Tiger Truck Stop. The judges listened attentively to arguments from all sides, and are expected to issue their opinion in Spring of 2013. We will update our supporters as soon as we know their decision.

http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2233

Roar For Tony & Share This:

Posted: Feb 19, 2013 12:18 PM by Tonya LaCoste

Attorneys for the owner of a tiger on display at an Iberville Parish truck stop are in court today. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal is hearing arguments in Michael Sandlin’s appeal to allow him to keep his permit for “Tony” the tiger. The Bengal tiger is on display at Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete. A previous ruling ordered the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to revoke “Tony’s” permit.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and residents sued LDWF and Sandlin saying the tiger should live its life in a more natural setting. Both sides are presenting arguments today, and the judges will render a decision likely some time in March.

http://www.katc.com/news/tony-the-tiger-s-owner-appealing-his-case-today/

Roar For Tony & Share This:

Positive thoughts & energy for Tony and the Animal Legal Defense Fund as The Louisiana Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Tony’s case TODAY. http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2233.

Roar For Tony & Share This:

Click picture for link to video.

BATON ROUGE, La. — This week the State of Louisiana Court of Appeal will hear arguments in the case of the Tiger Truck Stop in Baton Rouge.

Owner Michael Sandlin is fighting to keep a live Bengal tiger named Tony in a cage at the truck stop.

The animal legal defense fund won a ruling against the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for unlawfully issuing Sandlin a permit to keep the tiger.

In 2011, Judge Michael Caldwell ordered wildlife and fisheries to revoke the permit.

The court will take up Sandlin’s appeal on Tuesday.

 http://www.wwltv.com/news/Appeal-court-to-hear-arguments-on-live-tiger-kept-at-Tiger-Truck-Stop-case-191613871.html