Dutchess' Story

After the Zanesville Ohio Massacre of 2011, where Sheriff’s deputies shot 48 animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions, the state of Ohio passed a state-wide ban on the private possession of big cats in June 2012. Ohio-based Tiger Ridge Exotic’s previous owner hired a team of attorneys to fight the new ban. Furthermore, the man refused to report how many wild animals he owned and accrued numerous USDA violations, including failure to provide adequate vet care, not providing his animals with proper diets and clean water, and failure to comply with federal safety requirements leading up to the seizure of his animals.

In 2015, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) seized 11 animals from Tiger Ridge Exotics, including one lion, six tigers, one black leopard, one liger, one cougar, and one Kodiak bear. The ODA won temporary custody of the animals until permanent custody was determined. The animals were divided between three facilities, one being an accredited Florida facility, which temporarily housed Dutchess, three other tigers, and a black leopard throughout the court proceedings. After a four-year-long legal battle, Dutchess and the four other big cats became permanent members of the Florida facility in May of 2019.

In early 2023, Turpentine Creek agreed to take 33 wild cats from the Florida sanctuary, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. One of those animals was Dutchess. This tiger loves to play with her Boomer Balls, toys, and enrichment the Animal Care Staff provides her. She is especially fond of Christmas trees and pumpkins. Her approachable and curious personality endears her to her caretakers. However, her tiger side shows as she chases passing vehicles along her fence.