Tiger’s fate discussion gets unruly in hallway

• By GREG GARLAND
• Advocate Westside bureau
• Published: Dec 17, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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PLAQUEMINE — The battle over the fate of a tiger on display at a Grosse Tete truck stop turned ugly at an Iberville Parish Council meeting Tuesday night as opposing sides nearly came to blows outside the council chambers.

Animal welfare activists who are trying to get the 550-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger relocated to a sanctuary and Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin and a group of his employees each made their case in brief remarks to the council.

But when the groups spilled out into a hallway for an interview with a television crew, a fracas erupted.

Members of both sides hurled insults and shouted at each other.

One of Sandlin’s workers, a woman, had to be physically restrained several times from attacking an animal rights activist who called her “an inbred.”

After several minutes of angry exchanges, a police officer was summoned to restore order and escort the animal welfare advocates to their cars.

The issue of what to do with the tiger was not on the council’s agenda, but members agreed to let one representative from each delegation have three minutes to state their cases.

Sky Williamson, an independent animal welfare advocate from Florida who has spearheaded efforts to relocate the tiger to a sanctuary, told council members the tiger needs to be moved for his own health and safety and to protect the public.

She said Sandlin has been cited numerous times by federal officials for improperly caring for the tiger and that displaying him as a roadside attraction is “disgraceful.”

But Sandlin, who has kept tigers at the truck stop for 20 years, told the council that his tiger, “Tony,” is well cared for and should remain where he is.

“Please do not give in to animal rights activists who think they know what is best for the tiger,” Sandlin said. “Do not let Tony be taken away from the only home he’s ever known.”

Outside the council’s chambers, rhetoric became more heated until a police officer restored order.

Whether the council is called upon to make a decision on the tiger depends on what happens at a hearing later this month.