ANOTHER TRAGIC ACCIDENT! ARE EUREKA CITIZENS PROTECTED BY THEIR ORDINANCES?

     ONCE AGAIN we are reminded of the safety risks involved with the keeping of exotic animals in a confined environment. The employee at the Wildcat Santuary in Oregon 

was an experienced worker who was "comfortable with the animals she cared for." The worker was killed by a cougar in a sanctuary in the suburb of Sherwood, outside Portland, Oregon.

     Eureka has an ordinance in place that is meant to protect the citizens in this community  This ordinance should be strictly enforced and not free-wheeling; nor should it be viewed as a "suggested"tool, available to protect citizens.


Ordinance 3, Chapter 7, Section 3 - EXOTIC ANIMALS
A. Purpose and Intent
It is the intent of the Town Board of the Township of Eureka to protect the
public against the health and safety risks that exotic animals pose to the
community and to protect the welfare of individual animals that are held in
private possession. By their very nature, exotic animals are wild and
potentially dangerous and, as such, do not adjust well to a captive
environment.

Sanctuary says woman killed in cougar attack didn't follow protocols

By KATU.com Staff Published: Nov 10, 2013 at 6:07 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 11, 2013 at 7:22 AM PST

SHERWOOD, Ore. -- An employee at a Sherwood animal sanctuary who was attacked and killed by a cougar on Saturday didn't follow safety protocols, the facility says.

Sgt. Robert Wurpes of the Clackamas County Sheriff's office said the attack was reported Saturday night at WildCat Haven in Sherwood just before 7 p.m.

The sheriff's office and medical examiner said Renee Radziwon, 36, of Portland died of injuries consistent with a wild animal attack. A fundraising site has been set up for Radziwon's 6-month-old daughter.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Rick Swart on Sunday told KATU that a cougar attacked and killed Radziwon.

The sheriff's office said there were two cougars in a cage with her when she was killed. In a statement released on Sunday, WildCat Haven said Radziwon was alone with the cougars during the attack, which goes against the facility's protocols.

"WildCat Haven has strict safety protocols to ensure the well-being of everyone working at the sanctuary and all the sanctuary’s neighbors. The sanctuary’s handbook specifies that 'two qualified staff members shall work together during the lock out of dangerous animals. Once the animals are locked out, one staff member can safely enter the enclosure to clean or make repairs. Two qualified staff members shall be available when releasing animals from lockout areas.' At this time, it is believed that Radziwon-Chapman was alone at the sanctuary and alone in the enclosure with cats, who had not been shifted into the lockout area. Investigation is ongoing," the statement said.

Executive Director Cheryl Tuller also said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at WildCat Haven are with Radziwon's family.

As a Eureka citizen, do you feel confident that your local government officials are enforcing the ordinances and protecting you against the health and safety risks that exotic animals pose to the community?

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