While we
were enjoying our Easter Celebration, a dire situation was unfolding several hundred miles away from us. The following account was provided to us by one
family involved in this incident—this was a real story involving two families, Texas county law enforcement officers, a veterinarian, and Ozzi—a 3-year old lynx.
Meet
Ozzi, a handsome lynx, who was born and
raised in Montana. Ozzi was owned by a
family whom we will call the “Smiths”. The Smiths raised Ozzi from the time he was a tiny cub. Ozzi was well-known in this Montana town as he was often
seen traveling in the family car, attending outdoor sporting events, such as
soccer games, with family and friends. This exotic cat was loved by his family
and many admirers.
A few months ago, the Smiths (parents and teen aged son) decided to move to Texas in search of better employment opportunities. Before making the big move, the Smiths contacted two cities in Texas to determine what they would need to do to legally move Ozzi from Montana to Texas. An import license and ownership permit was obtained, so the family was ready to relocate to their new home with their beloved lynx.
The Smiths quickly settled into their new home, got to know some of the local neighbors, befriending one particular family whom we will call the “Andersons."
The
Andersons family met and spent some time
with the Smiths’ lynx. Seeing no reason why their teen aged boy should not play with
this beautiful cat, the parents allowed their son to stay at the Smith’s house
quite often. Ozzi was house trained,
up-to-date on his vaccinations, and loved to play with the boys.
Early
Saturday morning, the boys were playing with Ozzi when the cats’ tooth accidentally scrapped the
Anderson teen aged son’s arm, causing a small scratch that slightly bled for a
few moments. The boys, thinking nothing was amiss, continued playing with the
lynx until it was time for the Andersons’ son to return home.
Concerned for her brother’s well-being, the daughter drove her brother to the hospital so he could receive a tetanus shot, just as a precautionary measure. When the hospital staff questioned the boy how he obtained the scratch, it was mentioned that it was a lynx's tooth that accidentally scrapped his arm, causing the scratch.
Whenever a hospital staff member receives word that a person is seeking treatment for either a “scratch or bite” from a wild animal, an incident report must be made to animal control. The hospital contacted the County Animal Control and an officer was dispatched.
The hospital staff and the animal control officer questioned the boy as to the whereabouts of the animal that “scratched him.” Scared for Ozzi, the teenager tried to explain that the tooth accidentally scrapped him—the animal was not dangerous and he did not want to get Ozzi into any trouble—he refused to disclose Ozzi’s location. The hospital kept the boy for 24-hours until his sister gave up the whereabouts of the animal. The older sister did not want to see her brother questioned over and over again by law enforcement.
With Ozzi’s home address in the hands of law enforcement, it was not long before the Smiths received a visit from the Animal Control and a local police officer, demanding that they immediately relinquish Ozzi to Animal Control.
According to the Smiths, the police and animal control officers told them that if they did not relinquish Ozzi, they would be arrested and face criminal charges. It was made clear to the Smiths by these officers that the Andersons were prepared to file charges against them if they did not turn the lynx over to them.
The Smiths, not knowing their
rights about relinquishing Ozzi to authorities, ended complying with the officers’
demands. Little Ozzi, who had never
been placed in a cat carrier before, was forced into this small confining space
and taken to a local veterinarian hospital by his owners while animal control
and the police officer waited for him and the vet hospital.
At this point, the officers apparently told the Smiths that they had to sign euthanasia paperwork so Ozzi could be destroyed and have his head removed so it could be tested for rabies in Austin, Texas. The Smiths told the vet and the officers that this was not necessary as Ozzi received his annual rabies shots and they were current for the year.
They later learned that the emergency veterinarian declared the arm scrapping incident as a wild animal “attack” against the teenager.
The officers told the Smiths that if they did not sign the paperwork and pay the euthanasia fee (yes, you read that right, the officer and vet wanted the Smiths to pay them so they could kill their beloved animal), they would be charged with “endangerment to a child”, arrested, and taken to jail. The officers made it clear to the Smiths that the Andersons wanted to file a complaint against them.
Distraught, the Smiths frantically tried to reach us to see if we could take Ozzi Saturday afternoon. They hoped that if In-Sync Exotics accepted the lynx, Ozzi’s life would be spared. Unfortunately, the calls came in during our Easter Celebration and by the time Vicky was able to return the frantic phone calls, Ozzi was already dead.
What was most upsetting to the Smiths was the fact that the Animal Control refused to return Ozzi’s body to the family so he could be cremated.
We wanted you to know this
incident because we did not want Ozzi’s
story to be forgotten. We do not know if Ozzi was killed as a backlash from the Zanesville, Ohio wild animal
tragedy, or simply because the animal control and police officers did not know
the proper procedure in seizing non-dangerous animals.
The Smiths could not understand why didn't animal control wound not allow Ozzi to remain in their home or at an animal shelter, quarantined until the facts of the case could be heard in a court of law instead of a court held by an animal control and police officer, who served as both judge and jury.
While we do not advocate that just "anyone" be allowed to own a wild or domestic animal, we do believe that if private owners obey all local, state and federal laws and provide a safe environment for their animal(s), they should have the constitutional right of due process in cases where animals are deemed “dangerous” by animal control officers.
On
behalf of the In-Sync Exotics staff, we want to express our condolences to Ozzi’s family for the loss of the beloved
lynx. He was a beautiful animal and it’s heartbreaking that something like this
could happen in the Lone Star State.
We are so much better than that, aren’t we?
.
A few months ago, the Smiths (parents and teen aged son) decided to move to Texas in search of better employment opportunities. Before making the big move, the Smiths contacted two cities in Texas to determine what they would need to do to legally move Ozzi from Montana to Texas. An import license and ownership permit was obtained, so the family was ready to relocate to their new home with their beloved lynx.
The Smiths quickly settled into their new home, got to know some of the local neighbors, befriending one particular family whom we will call the “Andersons."
Early
Saturday morning, the boys were playing with Ozzi when the cats’ tooth accidentally scrapped the
Anderson teen aged son’s arm, causing a small scratch that slightly bled for a
few moments. The boys, thinking nothing was amiss, continued playing with the
lynx until it was time for the Andersons’ son to return home.
When the older sister arrived to
pick up her brother, she noticed the teenager’s scrap on his arm; she asked him
how he obtained the scratch. The boy told her he and his friend was playing with
Ozzi when the accident occurred—that
the scratch was nothing.
Concerned for her brother’s well-being, the daughter drove her brother to the hospital so he could receive a tetanus shot, just as a precautionary measure. When the hospital staff questioned the boy how he obtained the scratch, it was mentioned that it was a lynx's tooth that accidentally scrapped his arm, causing the scratch.
Whenever a hospital staff member receives word that a person is seeking treatment for either a “scratch or bite” from a wild animal, an incident report must be made to animal control. The hospital contacted the County Animal Control and an officer was dispatched.
The hospital staff and the animal control officer questioned the boy as to the whereabouts of the animal that “scratched him.” Scared for Ozzi, the teenager tried to explain that the tooth accidentally scrapped him—the animal was not dangerous and he did not want to get Ozzi into any trouble—he refused to disclose Ozzi’s location. The hospital kept the boy for 24-hours until his sister gave up the whereabouts of the animal. The older sister did not want to see her brother questioned over and over again by law enforcement.
With Ozzi’s home address in the hands of law enforcement, it was not long before the Smiths received a visit from the Animal Control and a local police officer, demanding that they immediately relinquish Ozzi to Animal Control.
According to the Smiths, the police and animal control officers told them that if they did not relinquish Ozzi, they would be arrested and face criminal charges. It was made clear to the Smiths by these officers that the Andersons were prepared to file charges against them if they did not turn the lynx over to them.
At this point, the officers apparently told the Smiths that they had to sign euthanasia paperwork so Ozzi could be destroyed and have his head removed so it could be tested for rabies in Austin, Texas. The Smiths told the vet and the officers that this was not necessary as Ozzi received his annual rabies shots and they were current for the year.
They later learned that the emergency veterinarian declared the arm scrapping incident as a wild animal “attack” against the teenager.
The officers told the Smiths that if they did not sign the paperwork and pay the euthanasia fee (yes, you read that right, the officer and vet wanted the Smiths to pay them so they could kill their beloved animal), they would be charged with “endangerment to a child”, arrested, and taken to jail. The officers made it clear to the Smiths that the Andersons wanted to file a complaint against them.
Distraught, the Smiths frantically tried to reach us to see if we could take Ozzi Saturday afternoon. They hoped that if In-Sync Exotics accepted the lynx, Ozzi’s life would be spared. Unfortunately, the calls came in during our Easter Celebration and by the time Vicky was able to return the frantic phone calls, Ozzi was already dead.
The
Smiths are very distraught over the senseless death of their young, handsome
lynx. The Andersons’ teen aged son was
inconsolable as he felt the death of the lynx was his fault. Sadly, the
friendship between the two families has been severed due to the stress and
heartache over Ozzi’s death. So far as
it seems, the Andersons had no
intentions of filing a complaint against the Smiths. It appears the animal
control officer and the city police lied to the Smiths, and are now saying that
the Andersons have 30 days to “change
their minds” and sue the Smiths for damages; imparting this comment right after
the veterinarian euthanized Ozzi.
What was most upsetting to the Smiths was the fact that the Animal Control refused to return Ozzi’s body to the family so he could be cremated.
The Smiths could not understand why didn't animal control wound not allow Ozzi to remain in their home or at an animal shelter, quarantined until the facts of the case could be heard in a court of law instead of a court held by an animal control and police officer, who served as both judge and jury.
While we do not advocate that just "anyone" be allowed to own a wild or domestic animal, we do believe that if private owners obey all local, state and federal laws and provide a safe environment for their animal(s), they should have the constitutional right of due process in cases where animals are deemed “dangerous” by animal control officers.
On
behalf of the In-Sync Exotics staff, we want to express our condolences to Ozzi’s family for the loss of the beloved
lynx. He was a beautiful animal and it’s heartbreaking that something like this
could happen in the Lone Star State. We are so much better than that, aren’t we?
.
