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Roadside Zoo News
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Texas roadside zoo owner Jason Clay cooperates with feds for lesser sentence
Texas roadside zoo owner Jason Clay has entered into a plea agreement that requires him to cooperate with officials by providing information
Dec 22, 2023
3,748 views

Feds shut down Even Keel Exotics and seize 142 animals
Even Keel Exotics has been permanently shut down and the feds plan to confiscate 142 animals from roadside zoo owner Zachery Keeler.
Aug 22, 2023
2,203 views

Union Ridge Wildlife Center animals being rehomed while Cy Vierstra heads to prison
The animals at Union Ridge Wildlife Center are being rehomed, according to Ohio officials, weeks after Cy Vierstra was sentenced to prison.
Feb 22, 2023
10,881 views

Union Ridge Wildlife Center's USDA license canceled in advance of Cy Vierstra's felony sentencing
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center has cancelled his USDA license while awaiting sentencing on five felonies for theft.
Jan 6, 2023
1,465 views


Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary cited with a critical violation for tiger cub drowning deaths
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary has been cited with a critical violation after two tiger cubs drowned in an icy pond.
Jan 4, 2023
2,651 views

Special Memories Zoo owner and manager agree to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000
Special Memories Zoo owner Dona Wheeler and former zookeeper Gretchen Crowe have agreed to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000.
Nov 22, 2022
633 views


East Texas Zoo and Gator Park listed for sale by Jason Clay, along with Franklin Drive Thru Safari
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park has now been listed for sale by Jason Clay, following the sale listing for Franklin Drive Thru Safari.
Nov 21, 2022
2,804 views


Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary tiger cub death toll rises to five after two cubs drown in icy pond
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary's tiger cub death toll rises to five after two tiger cubs drowned in an icy pond during a frigid Wisconsin night.
Nov 20, 2022
6,149 views


Franklin Drive Thru Safari listed for sale after Jason Clay’s wildlife trafficking indictment
Franklin Drive Thru Safari has been listed for sale after owner Jason Clay's indictment on wildlife trafficking charges with Doc Antle.
Nov 13, 2022
6,688 views


Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife pleads guilty to five felonies for stealing from Vinton township
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to five felonies for stealing from his town.
Oct 27, 2022
1,387 views


Gretchen Crowe and Dona Wheeler agree to settlement for lawsuit that shut down Special Memories Zoo
Gretchen Crowe and Dona Wheeler of Special Memories Zoo have agreed to pay a settlement to Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Oct 27, 2022
293 views


Doc Antle transfers Myrtle Beach Safari to China York
Doc Antle of Myrtle Beach Safari has turned his roadside zoo over to his partner, China York, USDA records show.
Oct 26, 2022
1,561 views


Guinness World Record oldest tiger in the world, Bengali, has died at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary
Bengali, the Guinness World Record oldest living tiger in the world, has died at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler, Texas.
Oct 6, 2022
3,747 views


Waccatee Zoo animals sent to Zootastic Park in an effort to moot PETA lawsuit
Waccatee Zoo has sent their animals to the roadside zoo Zootastic Park in an effort to moot a lawsuit brought by PETA.
Sep 12, 2022
1,196 views


Waccatee Zoo, dubbed the worst roadside zoo in America, is permanently closed
Waccatee Zoological Farm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is closed and may remain permanently closed.
Sep 11, 2022
2,533 views


Doc Antle accuses USDA and DOJ of conspiring to shut down Myrtle Beach Safari
Doc Antle is asking a judge to deny a United States government request to modify his bond to prevent him from selling Myrtle Beach Safari.
Sep 7, 2022
722 views

Two tigers missing at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler, Texas
Two tigers have disappeared from Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary after the organization was sued for violating the Endangered Species Act.
Aug 30, 2022
1,126 views


Jessica Rivera no longer conducting USDA inspections after complaints from Roadside Zoo News
USDA Inspector Jessica Rivera is no longer conducting inspections after repeated complaints from Roadside Zoo News.
Aug 4, 2022
1,208 views


Appeals court overturns ruling in Special Memories Zoo lawsuit
Dona Wheeler and Gretchen Crowe of Special Memories Zoo are on the hook for legal fees, an appeals court has ruled.
Aug 1, 2022
452 views

Jason Clay, Charles Sammut and Moksha Bybee indicted with Doc Antle for wildlife trafficking
Jason Clay, Charles Sammut and Moksha Bybee have been indicted along with Doc Antle for wildlife trafficking charges.
Jun 30, 2022
3,872 views
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