Authorities allowed Ontario couple to 'voluntarily relocate' 4 lions that killed and ate tiger
CBC
Officers with the Provincial Animal Welfare Service (PAWS) allowed an Ontario couple charged with animal cruelty to relocate four lions that killed and ate a tiger in July, according to a provincial official.
The incident happened at the Maynooth property of Mark and Tammy Drysdale. They were forced to move their collection of eight lions and two tigers from Grand Bend after their 14-month battle with town officials ended with a judge's order that the animals could not remain there.
According to police reports obtained by CBC News, two OPP officers were asked by Prince Edward County health authorities to visit the couple's property in July 2021 to check on the lions and tigers as a matter of public safety.
The documents, which have been partly redacted, note officers were there with PAWS inspectors "after the lions killed the tiger and ate it," because "the animals were able to dig a hole under the fence to get between enclosures."
The handwritten notes of Const. April Hannah, one of the two OPP officers who attended the scene, suggest the tiger that died may have had cubs recently.
"Possibly two tiger cubs being cared for in community (mom was just killed)," she wrote.
The officers' notes document the animals living in unclean conditions. It noted animal feces along the edge of the enclosures, and the four lions shared one water bowl "the size you would expect for a large dog" and it was "filled with dirty water."
In an adjacent enclosure, the officers note, there were two lemurs with "no water" and no food, with the exception of what an OPP occurrence report noted "appeared to be fruit loops spread on the ground."
While police noted "someone" was feeding the animals, redactions to the documents make it impossible to tell who, if police knew at all. Officers did note there was "no evidence of the animals being fed today."
Brent Ross, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, told CBC News via email that the Drysdales have both been charged.
"The ministry can confirm that Animal Welfare Services has laid charges in this matter," Ross wrote.
Ross said the Drysdales are each charged with one count of permitting distress to an animal and four counts of failing to comply with the standards of care prescribed under Ontario's PAWS Act.
He said the four lions that killed the tiger were not surrendered to the province by the Drysdales, who were allowed to move them to an unknown location.
"The animals were relocated voluntarily by the owners and placed elsewhere. While Animal Welfare Services inspectors were present during the relocation, Animal Welfare Services staff were neither involved with nor responsible for the relocation. We recommend you speak with the owners of the animals for more information."
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