As John Weicker finishes his final two months of school, he’s counting down the days with a small ticker in his office.On Thursday, the counter read 44 days, plus a few hours, minutes and seconds.A northeast Indiana animal sanctuary has launched a fund-raising campaign to provide homes for four tigers after their Ohio owners were unable to meet that state’s new law setting stricter requirements for keeping them.
Two of the tigers, Delilah and Sammie, arrived Sunday at the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary near Albion after a trip from the Tiger Paw Exotic Rescue and Rehabilitation Center outside Ashland, Ohio.
Tiger Paw center owner Denise Flores told WANE-TV that she and Jose Flores couldn’t afford to keep the cats she’s had for 17 years because of additional insurance and other costs.
Black Pine says on its website that Jose Flores is in failing health, and that the sanctuary also hopes to take in tigers Taz and Ticha.
A new Ohio law took effect last month requiring exotic animal owners to have liability insurance and pass safety inspections. That law was passed after a Zanesville, Ohio, man released dozens of exotic animals from his property last year before killing himself.
To learn more about Black Pine, including information about how to contribute, click here. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
