Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center sentenced to prison for theft of $287,000 in town funds
Cy Vierstra will spend five years in prison for stealing township funds to finance his roadside zoo Union Ridge Wildlife Center.
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Roadside Zoo News
- 4 days ago
Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics cited for abusing servals; releasing bobcat
Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics cited with four federal violations for abusing servals and releasing a captive bobcat into the woods.
352 views
- Jan 6
Union Ridge Wildlife Center's USDA license canceled in advance of Cy Vierstra's felony sentencing
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center has lost his USDA license while awaiting sentencing on five felonies for theft.
1,074 views
- Nov 22, 2022
Special Memories Zoo owner and manager agree to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000
Special Memories Zoo owner Dona Wheeler and former zookeeper Gretchen Crowe have agreed to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000.
265 views
- Nov 21, 2022
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park listed for sale by Jason Clay, along with Franklin Drive Thru Safari
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park has now been listed for sale by Jason Clay, following the sale listing for Franklin Drive Thru Safari.
817 views
- Nov 20, 2022
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary tiger cub death toll rises to five after two cubs drown in icy pond
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary's tiger cub death toll rises to five after two tiger cubs drowned in an icy pond during a frigid Wisconsin night.
4,219 views
- Nov 13, 2022
Franklin Drive Thru Safari listed for sale after Jason Clay’s wildlife trafficking indictment
Franklin Drive Thru Safari has been listed for sale after owner Jason Clay's indictment on wildlife trafficking charges with Doc Antle.
3,860 views
- Nov 5, 2022
Videos show Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics abusing animals
Premier Exotics owner Morgan Machnik abuses animals, photo and video evidence shows.
7,012 views
- Oct 27, 2022
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife pleads guilty to five felonies for stealing from Vinton township
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to five felonies for stealing from his town.
670 views
- Oct 27, 2022
Gretchen Crowe and Dona Wheeler agree to settlement for lawsuit that shut down Special Memories Zoo
Gretchen Crowe and Dona Wheeler of Special Memories Zoo have agreed to pay a settlement to Animal Legal Defense Fund.
162 views
- Oct 23, 2022
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center commits fraud while on bond for felony case
Union Ridge Wildlife Center owner Cy Vierstra is fraudulently soliciting donations to cover legal fees and restitution in his criminal case.
581 views
- Oct 18, 2022
Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics cited with 42 violations in the past year
Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics has been cited with 42 violations in the past year and may lose their license to exhibit animals.
258 views
- Sep 12, 2022
Waccatee Zoo animals sent to Zootastic Park in an effort to moot PETA lawsuit
Waccatee Zoo has sent their animals to the roadside zoo Zootastic Park in an effort to moot a lawsuit brought by PETA.
598 views
- Sep 11, 2022
Waccatee Zoo, dubbed the worst roadside zoo in America, is permanently closed
Waccatee Zoological Farm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is closed and may remain permanently closed.
1,730 views
- Sep 7, 2022
Doc Antle accuses USDA and DOJ of conspiring to shut down Myrtle Beach Safari
Doc Antle is asking a judge to deny a United States government request to modify his bond to prevent him from selling Myrtle Beach Safari.
524 views
- Aug 30, 2022
Two tigers missing at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler, Texas
Two tigers have disappeared from Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary after the organization was sued for violating the Endangered Species Act.
698 views
- Aug 4, 2022
Jessica Rivera no longer conducting USDA inspections after complaints from Roadside Zoo News
USDA Inspector Jessica Rivera is no longer conducting inspections after repeated complaints from Roadside Zoo News.
978 views
- Aug 1, 2022
Appeals court overturns ruling in Special Memories Zoo lawsuit
Dona Wheeler and Gretchen Crowe of Special Memories Zoo are on the hook for legal fees, an appeals court has ruled.
362 views
- Jun 30, 2022
Jason Clay, Charles Sammut and Moksha Bybee indicted with Doc Antle for wildlife trafficking
Jason Clay, Charles Sammut and Moksha Bybee have been indicted along with Doc Antle for wildlife trafficking charges.
3,346 views
- Jun 13, 2022
Union Ridge Wildlife Center owner Cy Vierstra hid Tonka the chimp from PETA while facing 12 felonies
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center hid Tonka the chimp for Tonia Haddix while facing 12 felony charges for embezzlement.
4,552 views
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