Permit denial reinstated for exotic animal owner
State took 11 animals at Tiger Ridge Exotics in 2015 for lack of permit.
The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals in Toledo has reinstated the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s denial of permits for a Wood County exotic animal owner.
Kenny Hetrick of Stony Ridge operates Tiger Ridge Exotics. The state seized 11 animals from his property in January 2015 because Hetrick did not obtain a permit as required by a 2012 state law. The family has been embroiled in legal battles with the state ever since.
The Friday ruling by a unanimous three-judge panel reversed a Wood County Common Pleas decision in November 2016, ordering the state to grant Hetrick a permit and return his animals. The Wood County ruling had been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal.
In an emailed statement to The Blade, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture thanked the appeals court.
“This adds to the long list of rulings solidifying ODA’s regulatory authority over dangerous wild animals in Ohio,” spokesman Mark Bruce said.
In a post on the “Save Tigerridge Exotics” Facebook page, the family said it is “down but not out” and declined to comment to media while Hetrick is “meeting with the [attorney] to discuss options.”
One option available to Hetrick is to appeal Friday’s ruling to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Two of Hetrick’s animals, a lion and a tiger, have been killed for health-related issues since their seizure. The remaining five tigers, liger, black leopard, cougar and Kodiak brown bear remain in the state’s custody and are being held at sanctuaries in Arizona, Colorado and Florida.
Bruce said the animals are all in good health at their respective facilities.