One of the exotic animals seized from a Wood County man in January has been killed.
The elderly male lion, named Leo, was killed Monday afternoon at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s holding facility for exotic animals in Reynoldsburg. He was one of 11 animals seized from Kenny Hetrick of Tiger Ridge Exotics off Fremont Pike in Stony Ridge.
Posts to the “Save Tigerridge Exotics” Facebook page blame the state, saying Leo was not given a healthy diet nor did he receive medications he was on before the state’s seizure.
Spokesman Erica Hawkins said Leo was suffering the effects of severe and chronic arthritis and took a turn for the worse last week.
“He started going downhill pretty quick,” she said.
RELATED CONTENT: Consultation letters from veterinarians regarding the lion
A statement from Tiger Ridge blamed the lion’s failing health on the fact that he was seized by state agents and kept at the Reynoldsburg facility.
“Although Leo was old and had hip dysplasia, he was being treated at Tiger Ridge,” the statement said. “Like any aging animal he had good days and bad days. More good than bad.”
A statement from Columbus Zoo veterinarian Dr. Randall Junge said the lion on Thursday was unable to stand and had stopped eating and drinking. He also had developed a mass inside his mouth.
“Due to the advanced level of debility and the progression of the condition over the last 2½ months, I concur with the recommendation that this lion be humanely euthanized,” Dr. Junge said.
Mrs. Hawkins noted Leo arrived in Reynoldsburg in “really rough shape” with severe hip dysplasia, muscle wasting, and pressure sores. He was the first animal to be killed at the facility.
“It’s certainly not something we want to have happen, but at the same time, we’re not going to let an animal sit back there and suffer with a chronic, irreversible condition,” she said.
Dr. Richard Carstensen of East Suburban Animal Clinic, who was the veterinarian treating the animals at Tiger Ridge, also sent a letter Friday agreeing with the decision to euthanize Leo.
In it, Dr. Carstensen noted Leo had been scheduled for euthanasia at Tiger Ridge on Jan. 26 before the seizure, but weather prevented that from happening.
Mrs. Hawkins said the department’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has already started a necropsy on Leo’s remains, though a report on the results may not be available for a few weeks.
State agents seized the lion, six tigers, a black leopard, a liger, a cougar, and a Kodiak bear Jan. 28 because Mr. Hetrick had not obtained a permit to keep the animals as required by state law.
A ruling on a March administrative hearing on the state’s transfer order of the animals has not yet been issued. A second administrative hearing on Mr. Hetrick’s permit application began Thursday, continuing to Friday, and will continue again April 24.
Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.
First Published April 14, 2015, 5:27 a.m.
