Breaking News- License issues threaten Lakewood Zoo
License issues threaten Lakewood Zoo
Updated: Wednesday, 22 Feb 2012, 9:44 PM CST
Published : Wednesday, 22 Feb 2012, 12:32 PM CST
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local/north_counties/license-issues-threaten-lakewood-zoo
TOWN OF RIVERVIEW – An Oconto County zoo has been shut down indefinitely.
The Lakewood Zoo is known for offering visitors a chance to experience exotic animals.
But problems getting federal permits led local officials to revoke the zoo’s county permit.
It was a unanimous vote by the board of adjustments to take away the zoo’s conditional use permit.
That permit allows owner Casey Ludwig to operate the facility which opened in 2008.
The Lakewood Zoo is home to bears, lions and tigers.
But this winter, the attraction isn’t just closed for the season. It’s shut down indefinitely.
“I’ll make a motion that we revoke the conditional use permit until we get to see the USDA permit then he can apply for a new hearing,” said Oconto County board of adjustments member Darrel Pagel.
Oconto County officials agreed Wednesday to take away owner Casey Ludwig’s county permit to operate the zoo. They said that’s because Ludwig must also have the appropriate state and federal permits. Reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture presented at the meeting show he does not.
“Mr. Ludwig has not maintained a DNR permit for captive wild animals or a USDA permit for a federal permit or license for exhibition of these animals at a zoo,” said Oconto County Zoning Director Pat Virtues.
Ludwig faces five misdemeanor charges which stem from possession of bears the DNR said Ludwig needed a permit to exhibit. He has since gotten the permit, but has yet to obtain a USDA permit. Ludwig missed the December first renewal date.
“We do not intend to open the zoo until we have a USDA license in play. I’m only asking the board to somehow delay this until we get a USDA license,” said Ludwig.
A USDA spokesman told FOX 11 Ludwig’s application for a new federal license is on hold because of his legal troubles with the state. Plus federal officials are currently investigating several non-compliance issues at the zoo.
“Some of the concerns that are noted in there deal with vet care of the animals where it talks about a male lion has multiple open wounds on his face and a veterinarian has not been contacted regarding the injuries,” said Virtues.
Ludwig said that was ridiculous – noting it was a small scratch and the veterinarian was called immediately. Neighbors raised their own concerns about security at the zoo.
“One day we drove up and we had one of his animals standing right in our yard staring right at us, and it looked like it was going to charge us,” said Julie Lopez.
Ludwig said the animal was a harmless pot-bellied pig.
As far as the outcome of the vote, Ludwig said he wasn’t surprised.
“It was really what I expected. I totally understand what they’re wanting to do,” Ludwig said.
The permit revocation becomes official next week.
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This news is alarming as concern grows for the animals at the zoo. Without the USDA and measures to ensure the welfare of the animals no longer in place; a pending DNR case which might result in jail time for the owner, things are certainly far from ordinary at the Lakewood Zoo and for Casey Ludwig the owner. Attention needs to be focused on the welfare of the animals. I have alerted USZA to look into this matter for remedy of this situation.
Stay tuned…Follow this blog…you know there will be more. Best -B
**Disclaimer in place for this blog, things said of my opinion or from the news as reported by the news media.
Bothering me is that one of the animals at Lakewood Zoo came from funds issued to Jeff Kozlowski, a convicted felon, from FCF Safetynet. Apparently, FCF did not do the research before giving the money as to what it was for and who was to receive the animals.
How many more transfers will that tiger be subjected to?!? He had a seeing eye companion that was abruptly taken away from him. It is hoped that Mr. Ludwig will surrender this tiger to the zoo, where the companion now resides, for the protection and welfare of this animal considering there is a possibility that he could loose his court case and either go to jail or not be able to provide properly for the animals with the zoo now closed permanently. I plea to Mr. Ludwig to PLEASE transfer this tiger to that facility. -B
Apparently Casey Ludwig doesn’t like the news report being shared on this blog…The facts about Angel or any animal that came from where Angel was taken are not known to him and considering his circumstance, you would think that he’d be interested in getting help from the animal community rather than attack any one of them…He is misinformed or enjoys spewing lies about ‘what he knows’…maybe it makes him feel better about himself; who knows!!!
Casey Ludwig is in trouble and needs to recognize that he and those animals are in jeopardy as a result of his own actions; not because he had just relocated to his current location…not because he and his animals had to relocate because of a natural disaster…ALL of his own making.
Apparently the man has a passion for animals but at some point he needs to realize that he can not gain control of his current situation and must make some changes both in attitude and behavior.
To reprint more lies (including where Angel came from) will not get him the help he needs; It will only get people angry and he will remain without help although I have sought help for him and the animals.
I predict if he continues with the attacks on others and authorities that he will go down unless he is willing to realize his mistakes and make appropriate corrects in his attitude and behavior…he most certainly is running out of time!!!
Message to Casey-If you would like help just contact me thru this blog…reporting information is one thing…throwing s**t at each other another and does not help the situation or the animals…I would much rather write a report with a good status report on you and the zoo…I did not think you would loose your zoning but apparently you have and you must give your situation a great deal of thought!!! For your sake and the sake of those animals!!!
Lakewood Zoo is now for sale…Ludwig says he has a mil in it…make an offer -Holy Crap Batman -WTF?!? He’s just filed for 501-c-3…Can it be sold??? And what about the fines and bad rap he’s given the place?!? Will wait and see what’s next for a guy with no empathy for others…it’s called KARMA -ya think!?!