Nashville Safari Park is a roadside zoo being proposed in Cheatham County, Tennessee under the guise of a jovial attraction. Nothing could be farther from the truth. All zoos are inherently cruel in their promotion of captivity and breeding, but roadside zoos take it even further. Many attractions like the proposed Safari Park offer patrons dangerous interaction with wildlife at a range of prices. Nashville Safari Park’s branding has already implied that there will be several wild cats, such as tigers. Visitors may have the opportunity to pay for photos with these babies that have been ripped from their mothers and live their lives in cages. All for a fee named by the roadside zoo. That isn't where the atrocities end. The owners of this park have 18 pages of USDA violations in the last eight years at their other location: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw-vaDEFDqlnblpKckJ6YmxZTzA/view

Roadside zoos, such as Nashville Safari Park, encourage rampant breeding of their animal commodities. This often has dangerous implications that stretch beyond the park. Animals escape or are released which leads to a multitude of consequences. Treating these animals as products means once they are beyond usefulness they are discarded, sometimes to other roadside zoos, canned hunting ranches where animals are killed for a fee, or often to unqualified and uncertified individuals with backyard menageries. Did you know an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 big cats live in heinous conditions such as these?

The ideal goal would be to prohibit this exploitative business, but as that is proving quite challenging, we can take other steps—such as passing this proposed ordinance: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw-vaDEFDqlnV3cwZmJrVjBrTkE/view?usp=drivesdk Licensing may not end all cruel treatment, but it’s a step taken that will hopefully protect both wildlife and human citizens from harm. The regulations outlined in the proposed ordinance are the bare minimum these animals deserve.

Some of the key points of the ordinance are:

•    Provide sufficient evidence to Cheatham County Department of Animal Control of financial solvency and written contingency plan in the event that significant decreases in operating income should occur and for the safe relocation of the animals in the event of closure.

•    Any breeding of animals is prohibited.

•    Members of public will not be allowed to feed or otherwise come into contact with any animals at Nashville Safari Park.

•    Proof of liability insurance in an amount of not less than $1 million.

•    Must provide proof of licensed Veterinarian of Record.

•    Written contingency plan to provide for the humane handling, recapture, treatment, transportation, housing, care, or destruction of animals in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Although we wish this exploitative park would not be built at all, passing this ordinance is the ideal first step in helping these animals and protecting our community. Please urge your local officials to take action by signing and sharing this petition, as well as calling and emailing them to voice your opposition of the Nashville Safari Park and your support for this ordinance.

David McCullough - County Mayor
Phone: 615-792-4316
Email: http://cheathamcountytn.gov/government/county_mayor/

Cheatham County Commissioners
http://cheathamcountytn.gov/government/county_commission/

Gary Binkley - 1st District
garybinkley@charter.net
Phone: (615) 792-7082

Betty Ramsey - 1st District
bettyramsey@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 792-3768

Ann Jarreau - 2nd District
pajearreau@att.net
Phone: (615) 746-5356

Tim Williamson - 2nd District
Timsvan@aol.com
Phone: (615)708-7861

Dr. Connie Mayo - 3rd District
connie.mayo@gmail.com
Phone: (615) 504-8347

Dale McCarver - 3rd District
mccarver@me.com
Phone: (615) 746-6938

Donnie Jordan - 4th District
rader1950@att.net
Phone: (615) 792-7170

Walter Weakley - 4th District
w.weakley@yahoo.com
Phone: (615) 307-3409

Diana Pike-Lovell - 5th District
dianapike@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 838-2217

Eugene Evans - 5th District
geneoevans@hotmail.com
Phone: (615) 642-9656

Shanon Pickard - 6th District
shanonpickard@comcast.net
Phone: (615) 636-4429

Jimmy Hedgepath - 6th District
Phone: (615) 952-9352