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November 26, 2008Charla Huber
Goldstream News Gazette
Suzy the tiger is still in Highlands and has settled into her new home quite well, said her owner Dave Bennett.
Suzy, who is almost three years old, gained 40 pounds since moving to Highlands from her former home in Lake Cowichan in September.
“Suzy is still here and doing well. She loves it here,” Bennett said. “I haven’t received any complaints about her and I don’t plan on getting any.”
Every day Suzy plays with Tyson, a German shepherd. Tyson runs in the yard and Suzy follows him around from her cage.
Currently Suzy is living in a 30-foot by 60-foot chain link fence cage with a covered top. The cage is double fenced and is cemented into the ground.
In August, Highlands council passed a bylaw banning Highlands residents from owning exotic pets, such as Suzy. Bennett ignored the new law and brought the tiger to live in the custom cage on his property.
The District filed a court injunction Sept. 8 to have the tiger removed from the community. “We are still waiting for a court date to be set,” said district administrator Chris Coates.
Before passing the bylaw, District staff found a facility willing to accept Suzy, the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center (or Wild Animal Sanctuary) in Colorado. WAS is home to more than 70 tigers and other large cats and predators.
“I don’t have any plans to send her across the border,” Bennett said. “She was born in Vancouver and her parents were born in Vancouver. B.C. is her home,” Bennett said.
Bennett has contacted a lawyer and is willing to fight in court for his right to own the tiger.
After Suzy moved to Highlands, Bennett had more than 300 visitors on a weekend to see the tiger. He still welcomes Highlands residents to stop by and see Suzy.
“Things have calmed right down,” Bennett said. “Most people who come now have seen her before. She is still here and happy as can be.”
