
The tiger kept at Tiger Truck Stop in Louisiana passed away Monday after nearly two decades as the truck stop’s beloved pet and mascot.
Tony the Bengal tiger was euthanized on Monday, October 16th in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, after suffering several health issues at the ripe old age of 17.
According to The Times-Picayune, Tony the Tiger arrived at Tiger Truck Stop in 2001 when he was 6 months old. He lived in a 3,200 square-foot exhibit, “four time that of the recommended size for a tiger,” and received the “best diet and veterinary care possible,” while living under truck stop owner Michael Sandlin’s care.
Sandlin “always treated Tony like a member of his family,” said Jennifer Treadway, attorney for Sandlin.
Still, animal rights activists repeatedly tried to take Tony away from Sandlin and the truckers that grew to love him.
For years, Facebook groups and petitions were created in an attempt to remove Tony from the truck stop, creating quite a controversy, but a few years ago, a court ruling put a stop to all that.
In 2014, courts gave Sandlin an exemption to the multiple legal complaints, allowing Tony to remain at his home for the remainder of his life.
“The threat of him being drug away to some strange place — never petted, never sweet-talked to again…I would not stand by and see that happen to that tiger,” explained Sandlin.
“To have these idiots, these nuts that think they know more about tigers than I do — I can’t stand it,” Sandlin continued.
Tony’s body is currently being autopsied. The information found in the autopsy will be used by Sandlin and Tiger Truck Stop’s other tiger caretakers to help improve the lives of captive tigers across the world.
Although it is unclear whether Sandlin’s Tiger Truck Stop will ever host a live tiger again, Tony’s body will be preserved through taxidermy, so he can always watch over the truck stop.