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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
3,729 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
10,844 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
628 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
2,794 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
6,686 views

Videos show Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics abusing animals
Premier Exotics owner Morgan Machnik abuses animals, photo and video evidence shows.
Nov 5, 2022
8,334 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


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
1,195 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
2,528 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
721 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
3,869 views


Judge compares endangered animal mistreatment to child porn in Special Memories Zoo lawsuit
Special Memories Zoo is closed but now an appeals court will decide if Dona Wheeler and Gretchen Crowe must pay more than $70,000 in fees.
Jun 8, 2022
1,513 views


Jeff and Lauren Lowe ordered to pay $96,000 in fines for contempt
Jeff and Lauren Lowe of the now-defunct Tiger King Park have been ordered to pay a $96,000 fine for contempt of court.
Jun 3, 2022
3,279 views


Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary argues ALDF lawsuit should be dismissed
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is arguing a lawsuit brought by Animal Legal Defense Fund should be dismissed for lack of standing.
May 25, 2022
1,495 views


Two dozen animals had no water to drink at East Texas Zoo and Gator Park, feds say
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park owner Jason Clay has been cited by feds for failing to give water to 24 animals and other violations.
May 10, 2022
1,552 views


Franklin Drive Thru Safari implicated in wildlife trafficking–again
Franklin Drive Thru Safari in Franklin, Texas, has again been implicated in wildlife trafficking, USDA records indicate.
May 2, 2022
1,525 views


Jeff Lowe of Tiger King ordered to pay PETA $183K
A judge has ordered Jeff Lowe of Tiger King infamy to pay $183K to PETA for their successful Endangered Species Act lawsuit.
Apr 19, 2022
1,171 views

Two years after Special Memories Zoo fire, debate over legal fees continues
On the anniversary of a fire that killed 35 animals at Special Memories Zoo the debate over whether the zoo must pay legal fees continues.
Mar 24, 2022
1,549 views
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