We respectfully request that The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries relocate Tony, an 11 year-old tiger used as a roadside attraction at Tiger Truck Stop I-10, Exit 139 / 76740 Garner Lane Grosse Tete, Louisiana 70740, to an accredited big cat sanctuary immediately.

On November 2, 2011, Judge R. Michael Caldwell ruled in favor of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Louisiana taxpayers in their lawsuit to free Tony the Tiger from the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana.

Judge Caldwell agreed with ALDF’s argument that the permit that allows Mr. Sandlin to keep Tony was unlawfully issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The judge ordered the Department to revoke the current permit and prohibited it from issuing any new permits to the Tiger Truck Stop. Reference: http://aldf.org/article.php?id=1859

Tony represents one of an estimated 5,000 – 10,000 privately owned tigers in the United States whose numbers are greater than tigers left in the wild. Captive tigers can live 15-20 years with quality care. Tony has spent over a decade on display in the unhealthy and unnatural environment of a truck stop. Tony’s health, welfare and life of are great concern to people all over the world who have come to learn of his story and support his relocation to an accredited big cat sanctuary.

Big Cat Rescue of Tampa FL: http://www.bigcatrescue.org and The Wildcat Sanctuary of Sandstone MN: http://www.wildcatsanctuary.org both have offered permanent homes for Tony. They can provide him with a natural habitat, proper diet, medical care, and enrichment.

Allow Tony to finally have the life and care he needs and deserves by relocating him to an accredited big cat sanctuary.