Preventable Death of Roadside Zoo Owner Shows Why Congress Must Act Now for Animals
Last month, Ryan Easley, the owner of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, a roadside zoo in Hugo, Oklahoma, was killed by one of the tigers he held captive. His preventable death is a stark reminder that wild animals should never be imprisoned, exploited, or forced to perform for human entertainment.
Easley had a long history of animal abuse. Undercover investigations into ShowMe Tigers, a traveling circus where he previously worked, revealed him using violent training methods to coerce tigers into performing. In one disturbing video, he was documented whipping a tiger 31 times in under two minutes for refusing to step down from a pedestal. Investigators also found that the tigers under his care were confined to cramped, barren transport cages, left to eat, sleep, and exist amid their own urine and feces when they were not performing or being trained.
This type of cruelty is unfortunately not an anomaly but rather the industry standard in traveling circuses and roadside zoos. These facilities thrive on the suffering of wild animals, and all too often the desperation and trauma inflicted on animals has led to injuries and fatalities. Time after time, abused animals lash out against their captors or against unsuspecting members of the public who visit these attractions, unaware of the horrors happening behind the curtain.
Easley’s death is just one more example of the dangers inherent to this industry — and why Congress must finally act. The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) would be a crucial step forward, not only for public safety but also to end the extreme suffering of elephants, big cats, bears, and other exotic animals exploited in circuses and traveling acts. These animals are the backbone of a pipeline that fuels roadside zoos and traveling circuses alike, and the profits derived from their suffering come at immense cost to animals and humans.
This important bipartisan bill would prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances, such as circuses, carnivals, and parades. While the passing of Representative Raúl Grijalva — the original sponsor of TEAPSPA and a tireless advocate for animals — was a devastating loss, his daughter Adelita Grijalva has since been elected to fill his seat. We hope she will take up her father’s mantle by championing this bill and working to ensure that it is reintroduced in the 119th Congress.
Wild animals continue to endure cruel confinement and abuse across the United States, and all too often, people like Ryan Easley pay the ultimate price for the horrors of this industry. It is long past time for the U.S. government to step in — to protect animals from relentless suffering and to keep the public safe.
The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) could mark a turning point in ending this abuse. Please help us keep pushing so this vital legislation is reintroduced in the 119th Congress, ensuring that Representative Grijalva’s legacy lives on and that animals across the nation are spared from lives of misery.