STONY RIDGE – The owner of an exotic animal facility facing closure from the state said he’s attempting
to comply with mandates and is seeking an extension.
"I’m doing everything I can to keep my animals," said Kenny Hetrick, owner of Tiger Ridge
Exotics, this morning.
On Oct. 9 Hetrick was sent a letter from the state indicating that he had 10 days to surrender his
animals or face criminal charges over a series of exotic animal regulations passed by the state in 2012.
The changes, passed after the 2011 release of a group of exotic animals by a man in eastern Ohio who then
killed himself, include that each animal be microchipped, and a copy of a "plan of action" be
submitted to the county sheriff, as well as the local police and fire departments. Further, depending on
the number of animals held, a fee must be submitted with a permit application amounting to between $250
and $1,000. Insurance between $250,000 and $1 million must also be carried.
Last week, Hetrick indicated that he had not submitted the $1,000 permit application fee. His facility on
Fremont Pike includes a number of animals, including six tigers, three lions and other big cats, bears,
wolves, and even a "liger," the rare mating of a lion and a tiger.
Hetrick is a member of the Ohio Association of Animal Owners, who had been fighting the provisions in
court since the start of the year. He said this morning that final efforts in the appeals case regarding
the matter failed a month ago.
"So what the attorneys did, is they quit," he said.
Hetrick indicated he has already begun microchipping his animals, and that he is in the process of
getting the requisite insurance.
"That part’s for sure. That’s my main stumbling block right now is get the insurance."
Other changes, such as a dig barrier around his fence, are more challenging, he said.
He additionally said he has an appointment with an attorney to work out an extension with the state in
order to get in compliance.
"(The state) made the expense too high and so hard to comply with," he said.
"They’re making it really, really hard for me," he said.
