Widow of the Man Responsible for Animals Killed in Ohio Tragedy Wants Animals Back
Published October 28, 2011
Flickr User Phil Romans
The widow of the man responsible for the animals killed in the Ohio tragedy last week reportedly wants her animals back.
According to an article in the online Mansfield Journal, the widow of the man responsible for the 49 animals killed in Ohio last week reportedly wants her animals returned to her.
When I first learned of the tragic events on Terry Thompson’s Ohio wildlife preserve last week, my initial reactions were deep sorrow over the loss of the innocent exotic wild animals (some of which are endangered species) and anger toward the people keeping them as pets.
But I was absolutely livid the other day upon receiving an email from one of my readers informing me that Terry Thompson’s widow, Marian Thompson, is trying valiantly to have the six surviving animals presently being kept at the Columbus Zoo (three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys) returned to her. I thought, “How could anyone that completely comprehends the special care these animals need even consider giving them back to her?"
While I cannot in any way condone keeping these animals as pets, for a moment (simply as another passionate animal lover) I found it difficult not to put myself in Marian’s shoes. Not only has Marian just lost her husband, but she's also lost the animals she (reportedly) profoundly adored.
When Jack Hanna, Columbus Zoo director emeritus, met with Thompson and Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz to load the surviving animals for transport to the zoo, Thompson begged them not to take the animals away.
"She truly loves those animals, and this is devastating for her," Hanna said. "She just lost her husband and now she's lost the only family she has. It’s tragic.”
In spite of her overwhelming sorrow, Marian (who was out of town on business when the tragedy unfurled) cooperated with attending officials, helping them to load the animals into their crates.
"She's completely cooperated with the sheriff's office and zoo and wants what is best for her animals," Marian's attorney Dean Wilson commented. "Like Hanna said, these were her children."
To be sure, I am walking that very fine line between compassion for Marian and indignation about what was described as the deplorable conditions under which most of these animals were kept. This tragic event speaks loudly against keeping exotic wild animals, whose behavior is unpredictable, as pets. Doing so can only lead to unspeakable heartache for their owners and disaster for the animals.
Do you think the surviving animals should be returned to their owner? Share your opinions in a comment.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (10)
What will this women do with the animals?
Get a hobby please.
I AGREE with Rkrispy. I think the cops were gun happy and they ought to be fired.
Do not return these animals to Mrs Thompson. If she loves (?) them so much there would not be any "deplorable conditions". It is too bad that she lost her husband; but pictures of all the animals that were killed made me ill!! The last of the animals should be left at the Zoo where they will be taken care of properly.
I really wish that people who intend to kill themselves - would "JUST DO IT!" and not do ANYTHING STUPID like this BEFORE they do it! When you want to kill yourself, then just DO IT! Get OUT of here! There is NO NEED to do anything else before you do it!
One thing that comes to my mind each time I read or hear about this story and others like it is, just because these are "exotic" (only called so due to the amount of time humans have kept them as pets) animals, their care and living conditions are no more or less important than millions of dogs and cats. I love animals. Which ones I decide to make my "pets" will be viewed by the general public as acceptable or not, changing over time. Animal neglect and cruelty (regardless of species) is what should be addressed. Example, I believe that pet stores should only be allowed to sell pets sourced from shelters, and those pets should be neutered before sale, based on a feral/stray cat population in every locale in this country. Being a rescuer and lover of felines, I can testify to the fact that not everyone who says they want and love their pet cat has insight into the special care they require either. For the most part people want animals to conform to their lifestyles, which is in itself cruelty.
Exotic animals should NOT be kept as pets, EVER. They belong in the wild or cared for in zoos. In this case, especially, the animals were not properly cared for. How many more innocent animals need to die? I AM sorry for Marian, but she never should have been allowed to have these animals in the first place.
Honestly, after living right next door to people who LOVED their WOLVES and yet treated them cruelly....no, she should not get them back. We lived in fear as to when these animals would get out of their cages again and kill our livestock. When they might get out while our small son was playing in the yard while I watched him. I know that as an animal lover you strive to make animal's lives wonderful. In cases like this, where wild animals are confined and not treated with respect and love, it is hard to make the owners understand that they should not and cannot have their animals back. Keeping exotics takes a LOT of TIME and MONEY. Most exotic keepers have neither and don't have the land needed to give the animals needed habitat. No, she should not get them back and she should be banned from owning exotics. I have always loved the big cats but that doesn't mean that I would get one. If she wants the feel of love and devotion and has the space and time then raise goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas or go to a shelter and adopt a cat or dog. Sorry but I have no compassion for this person.