A slap on the paw

Sitting at the PC last year, the sound of FOXNews on the television in the living room mere background noise, I snapped to attention when I recognized the name.

A teen celebrating his birthday at the St. Johns County Fair had escaped serious injury when a tiger, owned by Catty Shack Ranch, had gotten loose and tackled him.

With assistance from county deputies who were tazering the tiger, Curtis LoGiudice, the Ranch's owner and the big cat's handler, managed to get the tiger off the boy quickly. The deputies tazered Lex, the tiger, again when it next began nibbling on LoGiudice's head.

Subsequent news over the next few days reported that this wasn't the first time Catty Shack Ranch had had management difficulties with their big cats.

So what was done (Bugmenot) this time?

After Mr. LoGiudice, who been charged with maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe manner, pled no contest . . .

St. Johns County Judge Patti Christensen withheld adjudication and allowed him to keep his big cat license and pay $243 in court costs and a $250 fine to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Wow.

She described the attack as an "unfortunate situation . . ."

Really?

. . . and said LoGiudice has been "very generous in our community" with his exhibits.

Like a couple of weeks ago when he had one of the caged tigers in the parking lot of a local feed store? Or maybe . . . the flea market where until a year ago people would pay to have a picture taken with a tiger or a lion?

The judge dismissed a second charge of maintaining captive wildlife in a manner which resulted in escape and injury to a person.

That's the way to show 'em!

Sheesh.