As I was driving down the interstate, leaving LSU, I noticed this sign:
I thought to myself "surely there can't be a live tiger on the side of a highway." So out of curiosity I took the exit and sure enough, there was indeed a tiger on the side of a highway. As an LSU student, it wasn't completely ridiculous that they had a live tiger; however, what was ridiculous was the enclosure in which the tiger was living in.
Whereas most people would have problems putting their dog in a cage like this, Tony the tiger is living here and has been for the past 16 years. Thanks to many lawsuites, this Tony will be their last. Laws regarding the captivity of endangered species has caused this tiger truck stop to not be able to house tigers anymore. Sadly, the tiger they currently own has been grandfathered in, meaning he will have to stay here for the rest of his life. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm used to seeing a tiger in an enclosure. However, while Mike the Tiger is typically playing in his pool or taking a nap under the shade, Tony looked like he took a few too many Xanax.
If you would like to see for yourself how horrible this tiger's care is, you can visit Tony off I-10 towards Grosse Tete. Also, if you agree that Tony should be given to a reputable animal sanctuary, please sign the petition here.