The animals were transferred to the state's temporary holding facility in Reynoldsburg. A total of 100 animals have stayed at the $2.8 million, 20,000-square-foot facility, since it opened in March 2013.
“After moving on from the facility, relinquished animals are permanently relocated to a new home in a rescue or sanctuary out of state,” Ohio Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Erica Hawkins said in an email. “Seized animals are a little different. Because the facility was built as a temporary home for animals, if there is a drawn-out legal dispute the department may move them to rescues that will provide contract care. In that scenario, the department maintains legal custody of the animals and the sanctuary provides boarding and care via a contract arrangement until there is a final legal disposition in the case.”
Hawkins said Chambers — who was out of town Wednesday when his animals were seized — was not in compliance with the state’s Dangerous Wild Animal Act because he did not have a permit to own exotic animals on his property.
Chambers said he plans to fight the state to get his animals back.
Chambers was one of seven exotic animal owners ordered in June by the Department of Agriculture to quarantine their bears, tigers and snakes. He was cited for a tiger, a cougar and four bears.
The state will not reveal what is currently at the facility, citing safety concerns. At maximum capacity, it can hold 27 large animals, a half-dozen small primates and several snakes.
The facility is at 8995 E. Main St. on the Department of Agriculture’s 150-acre campus property — in close proximity to residential housing, churches and school buildings.
Hawkins said an elderly lion with a “slew of long-term health conditions was humanely euthanized in April.”
The original owner of that animal, Kenny Hetrick, is the only one contesting the removal of his animals at this time, Hawkins said.
“Though I anticipate Mr. Chambers will join that list shortly,” Hawkins said.
Hetrick, the founder and owner of Tiger Ridge, did not have a permit to possess the animals. In January, 11 animals were removed from Hetrick’s property in Perrysburg: six tigers, a bear, a lion, a leopard, a cougar and a liger.
A total of 18 animals have been seized by the state.
The Dangerous Wild Animal Act took full effect Jan. 1, 2014, banning the selling, breeding and trading of exotic animals and requiring annual permits for registered owners.
State officials phased in aspects of the Dangerous Wild Animal Act after Gov. John Kasich signed the bill in June 2012. The first phase went into effect Sept. 5, 2012, prohibiting the sale or purchase of dangerous wild animals, including lions, tigers and bears.
During a two-month registration period in late 2012, 150 owners — private citizens and zoos — registered a total of 888 dangerous wild animals, according to the Department of Agriculture. The registration was the state's first attempt to create a benchmark of exotics.
Owners of registered dangerous wild animals could apply for permits beginning on Oct. 1, 2013. Under the law, no owner can own a dangerous wild animal without a permit that must be renewed annually.
The state legislation was sparked by an October 2011 Zanesville incident when Terry Thompson killed himself after setting 56 jungle cats and other dangerous exotic animals free in the Muskingum County countryside. Sheriff’s deputies killed 49 of the animals to prevent them from escaping into the community and harming citizens.
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