35°Bear attack highlights lax Ohio exotic pet laws
Aug 31
2010
The bear that recently killed a caretaker in a Cleveland suburb was the latest example of animal violence in a state that has some of the nation's weakest restrictions on exotic pets and among the highest number of injuries and deaths caused by them.
After a standoff between the Humane Society and agriculture interests, state officials are crafting restrictions on the ownership of dangerous wild pets. But the killer beast and others owned by former bear-wrestling entrepreneur Sam Mazzola, who had lost his federal license to exhibit exotic animals, would have been grandfathered out of them.
"It's just a free-for-all in Ohio, and Sam Mazzola is just an example of that," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. "Tigers, wolves, bears in a suburban Lorain County community: It is a disaster waiting to happen."
The Ohio bear attack occurred Aug. 19 when caretaker Brent Kandra, 24, took the animal out of its cage for feeding at Mazzola's menagerie. Mazzola's federal license to exhibit the bear was revoked after animal rights activists complained about his practice of taking money to let people wrestle Ceasar, another bear he owned. But he was still free to keep the animals.
Most people who work regularly with exotic beasts know and accept the risks, said Cindy Huntsman, whose Stump Hill Farm near Massillon houses 250 wild animals, comparing it to being a farmer or working with killer whales at SeaWorld.
Mazzola reflected that attitude in comments to reporters the day after the fatal attack, showing off a facial scar he got from an encounter with a bear and saying he had a total of 2,000 stitches from his time working with animals.
"These are the things that happen when you deal and love these type of animals," he said.
A federal judge on Friday ordered mental health treatment for Mazzola as new terms of his probation sentence after pleading guilty in 2009 to transporting a bear to Toledo and selling a skunk without a license. Mazzola's attorney didn't return a message Monday seeking comment.
According to a database of publicized exotic-pet escapes and attacks since 1990 kept by the animal rights group Born Free USA, Ohio ranks fifth in the number of episodes that hurt or killed a human — 14. The leader, Florida, has had 43, followed by Texas with 19, New York with 18 and California with 16. Alabama ties Ohio with 14.
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05:12 AM
Americanonly says
Mr. D.... this is a problem to worry about... a young 2 yr old was killed by a pet python in Florida and they are finding them in peoples yards in Fl. a lot of them over 17 ft long. ... pythons that are killing off native spiecies and look at the alegators they are finding here now in the norhern states that people are turning loose. It's becoming a real problem and no one seems to understand how it's effecting the eco-system. How many children have to die because no one thinks this is important... One childs death due to exotic animals is one to many.
10:11 PM
exbanger says
Its a sad situation, but this man knew the job was dangerous when he took it! its nobodys fault but his own. Its not like this animal killed an innocent kid or elderly person or anything. Look at the number of electricians, construction workers, and minors killed each year, far more than whats killed by exotic animals. This is a passion or a job, but all of them have risks. I f u live near a factiry or foundry the inhalints that you breath put u at risk for cancer every day, people need to get over it, there are risks wit every thing u do in life in some way or another.
07:48 PM
Mr. D says
You know, I don't believe exotic animals should be kept anywhere but in a zoo...but lets look at the numbers listed in this article....14 killed or injured in a 20 year period....How many were actually killed? How many were actually injured? How many injuries were serious? How many were minor injuries? This number is not alarmingly high for a 20 year period. I don't remember the last time there was a news story about an actual escaped animal. Why don't we worry about real problems....You sound like one of those humane society radicals. Remember what PETA stands for, Please Eat Tastey Animals....
03:54 PM
Americanonly says
When will law makers get on the ball and put a stop to the sale and ownership of exotic animals except to zoo's. I also think any place opening as a zoo should have to provide a natural habitate setting for the animals they have. There are lots of zoos that do a great job and then of course there are some that are not. The bad ones should be shut down. Individuals should not be allowed to buy, own, or display these dangerous animals. There are big problems with exotics that have been turned loose or escaped, indangering our native speices.