Zeus aka “Cookies” was a dearly beloved tiger, cared for by dedicated zoo staff and his attending veterinarian, who knew and understood his care, attending to him constantly as he began to show signs of unwell.  None of that mattered to the Animal Law Unit and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Ignoring the expert opinion of the very people who had been treating him, they made a rushed, callous decision to take his life. And they didn’t do it humanely. They took a horrifying 48 minutes to end his suffering—not with care or compassion, but with incompetence and cruelty. His final moments, captured on the den camera, are almost too painful to imagine. Zeus didn’t deserve this. He was more than just a tiger—he was deeply loved, his life mattered, and the people who truly knew him fought for him. What happened to him is beyond inexcusable—it’s unforgivable.

Gretchen Mogensen wasn’t just Zeus’s caretaker, she had been with him from the moment he was born, nurtured him, protected him, and devoted herself to his every need. She knew his personality, his quirks, his favorite treats, and the way his eyes lit up when he saw her and his keeper friends. He wasn’t just a tiger, he was family and friend to all that knew him.

"My sweet boy Zeus, I cannot even describe the horror they put him through. I have hundreds of videos of him receiving love and care, and one video of his torturing demise. I signed his papers for euthanasia under full duress, after pleading to allow my experienced vet perform the procedure. If I did not consent, they said 'he’s going to die, you can either sign this and be present and say goodbye, or you can refuse and we will sedate him, take him to colorado, and euthanize him there' I signed quickly. In short, I witnessed the most horrific event, repeatedly jabbing at him, growling, yelling in pain as he fell out of his bed, slamming into his walls, body heaving trying to vomit from improper drug choice and administering. He was so scared and confused, looking at me with his terrified blue eyes, like I had betrayed him at his weakest; and all I could do was sit there on my knees begging him to come to me so it could end quicker, crying profusely and apologizing."  

Zeus remained conscious for an agonizing, unforgivable amount of time. The fact that officials in the State of Virginia are excusing this cruelty is beyond disgusting—it is repulsive. Their actions make it clear that their hearts are not with the animals, nor with justice. Learning after his death that Zeus had cancer does nothing to justify the torture he endured. Animals and humans alike battle cancer every day, and it is not an automatic death sentence. His fate should have been decided by those who truly knew and cared for him—not by a raid team drunk on power, who had no right to play God simply because they were standing on zoo property. What they did to Zeus was not mercy. It was not justice. It was a betrayal of everything that animal welfare is supposed to stand for.

The word "euthanasia" is a euphemism that we often use as humans to make ourselves feel better. This type of death is supposed to relieve pain and suffering. It's supposed to be a "good death" for the animal.  

Zeus experienced the exact opposite.  His killing has not been adjudicated.  

Not only did they take Zeus’s life in a cruel and unjustified manner, but they also robbed Gretchen of the chance to give him a proper farewell—to lay him to rest in the place he called home, surrounded by those who loved him. Denying that final act of dignity is beyond heartless. The fact that she only has one last photo, sent to her in an act of quiet defiance, speaks volumes about the injustice of it all.

A necropsy was performed by the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.  The pathologist stated the tiger's hair coat was good quality.  She gave him a body score of 5 out of 9 which is considered ideal.  He did have moderate muscle wasting.  This naturally comes with age. 

The necropsy states under "Clinical History" that the tiger's quality of life was not good, but this is what the pathologist would have been told by officials with the Attorney General's Office.  Investigator Amy Taylor testified she coordinated with law enforcement to have the white Bengal tiger taken to Virginia Tech.  The staff at the veterinary college DID NOT talk to Gretchen or the zoo's attending veterinarian.  They never saw the recordings from the den.  Zeus still had quality of life and was living out his final days in peace before the raid, but the pathologist was unaware of these facts.  

Dr. Valerie Johnson was one of the "experts" for the Animal Law Unit.  She is the vet from Colorado who repeatedly jabbed Zeus with the syringe pole over and over again.  A true expert would not have handled their patient in this manner.  Dr. Johnson testified in Circuit Court that Zeus was very, very thin and that she could see his ribs.  She stated his hair coat was dull.  The necropsy proves each of these statements was a lie. 

The other veterinarian who participated--Dr. Ernesto Dominguez--was also dishonest.  The exam notes that he made with Dr. Johnson (and initialed) gave Zeus a body score of 2-3.  The document also states Zeus had an unkept hair coat.  The den video and official necropsy from the veterinary college prove these statements were not true.          

Under the comments section of the necropsy, the pathologist references the case of a different 16 year old Bengal tiger.  A Google search of the tiger mentioned reveals she had "two attempts at surgical removal" before she was euthanized during the third surgical attempt.      

The Director of Virginia's Animal Law Unit, Michelle Welch, has tried to cover the actions of her raid team as "humane".  There was NOTHING humane about the way Zeus was killed.  Both Dr. Ernesto Dominguez and Dr. Valerie Johnson violated their veterinary oaths and should be stripped of their licenses to practice veterinary medicine.  In addition, many believe the raid team broke the Endangered Species Act in their handling of this magnificent animal.  The Animal Law Unit claims to exist to protect animals, but they are incompetent, heartless, and cruel.  Attorney General Jason Miyares is supporting this inhumane treatment by allowing his heavy-handed squad to enter personal homes and facilities in his name with complete disregard for the animals and the people who know them best. 

Stand with the Mogensen family and the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance in demanding justice. We cannot stay silent while those in power abuse their authority. Tell Governor Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares that the Animal Law Unit must be held accountable—they are not above the law. Zeus suffered needlessly, and countless other animals were injured and traumatized in this reckless, illegal raid. This cannot be ignored. Help us send a clear message: We will not tolerate cruelty, corruption, or the abuse of innocent animals. Justice for Zeus. Justice for all.