Tiger Pete Moves Closer to Bringing Tigers to Idaho
Posted: April 7, 2008 09:10 PM EDT
Updated: April 7, 2008 10:14 PM EDT
Mary Hamilton Reporting
The man who wants to bring his tigers to Idaho, known as Tiger Pete, moved one step closer to getting them here.
His attorney proved to a judge’s satisfaction this morning that the Department of Agriculture hasn’t treated Peter Renzo and his tigers fairly.
The Division of Animal Industries, a branch of the Department of Agriculture, had ordered Peter Renzo to spay and neuter all his tigers if he wanted to bring them inside the Gem state, but on Monday a Bingham County judge told the department, not so fast.
“The administrator of the division of animal industries decided, you know, picked and chose what he could enforce as far as regulations and that wasn’t right,” explains Nick Neilson, the S.A.B.R.E. Foundation’s attorney, who is from Pocatello.
Even more, the Department of Agriculture doesn’t enforce spay or neuter requirements for zoo animals, so the judge decided that it’s not fair for Renzo to comply.
“The state of Idaho did not have the authority, particularly in light of the endangered species act, to say that these animals had to be sterilized before they came into the state of Idaho,” says Neilson.
Tiger Pete’s attorney says he’s happy with the judge’s decision this morning and is ready to move forward.
“The Department of Agriculture should now take the opportunity to work with Mr. Renzo, look at his specific circumstances, and his breeding programs, and determine what is right for the state and Mr. Renzo and treat him fairly, as with everyone else,” says Neilson.
The Department of Agriculture now must review all of its previous rules and regulations for exotic animals in the state of Idaho, and it must create new rules that are objective and reasonable.
Local News 8 will continue to update you on those revised requirements, as well as the S.A.B.R.E. Foundation’s progress in bringing their tigers to Idaho.
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8132262&nav=menu554_2_10
Dee
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