Community Voices Concerns about Animals

The press conferences may be over, but people are still talking about Terry Thompson’s exotic animals.

WHIZ talked to shoppers at the Colony Square Mall in Zanesville on Thursday.  Eric Robinson said he can’t remember a time when Zanesville received so much media attention.

"It’s something that people take interest in, and it’s local, so it raises excitement in a small town," said Robinson.

Paul Gray said this situation should have never happened.  He said the sheriff’s office is handling it well, but he wonders why no one was able to intervene earlier.

"After the third or fourth time, they should’ve done something," said Gray.  "They could’ve brought The Wilds in and loaded all the animals up or taken them to the Columbus Zoo."

Crystal Curtis said she’s relieved that some of the animals are settling into their new homes at the Columbus Zoo.  She said there should be stricter laws in place, because bengal tigers are endangered animals.

"They need to make sure that the people who do have them are physically and mentally capable of caring for them," said Curtis.

Almost everyone WHIZ spoke to agreed that the consequences could’ve been much worse considering the circumstances.