Wade Vandervort
Magician Jay Owenhouse would make this empty good deal at Paradise Road and Conference Heart Travel the long run internet site of his demonstrate showcasing tigers — if he can get governing administration acceptance to move forward.
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 | 2 a.m.
Magician Jay Owenhouse, shown with one of his tigers, to hoping to bring a magic show and tiger sanctuary to Las Vegas.
3 tigers could be contacting Las Vegas property for a calendar year, living in a temperature-managed sanctuary with waterfalls and swimming pools on a parking whole lot just off the Strip, if an illusionist gets the needed permits for his magic display.
But he ought to go the scrutiny from both equally the county and animal advocacy groups, assuring them that the two the general public and the tigers will be secure.
Magician Jay Owenhouse is hunting to convey a magic display and tiger sanctuary close to Paradise Street and Convention Centre Travel, but he initially need to get the approval of the Clark County Commission later on this month. The Winchester Township Advisory Board last 7 days voted to advise the fee not approve the proposal.
The sanctuary would consist of two 900-square-foot containment places, each and every with a sleeping cave and a ground pool, and it would be secured by a 10-foot-high wooden stability fence, with an extra foot of barbed wire and a wire roof enclosure.
Owenhouse did not return a connect with for comment, but at the Winchester City Advisory Board conference very last week stated he was a “passionate animal advocate” and that his tigers were being a element of his relatives. He claims he has never acquired a tiger but has adopted types that necessary households.
The tigers lived with him at his dwelling in Montana for their first six months in advance of they moved outside the house to his tiger sanctuary that he started off 26 many years back, he stated.
“Our tigers don’t reside in cages,” he mentioned. The sanctuary on site will be climate managed and will permit them to live and “walk to work” rather of acquiring to deal with the stress of traveling, he stated. He also extra that the a few tigers would every single only be on phase for 4 minutes through the present.
He intends to function the show for just one calendar year in a tent which is 82-feet significant and 2,352-square toes. The whole lot on which the animals would be housed is owned by the Entire world Buddhism Association Headquarters.
Clark County staff members expressed problem about the proximity of the present to adjacent houses, which contain household residential developments, in accordance to the Winchester City Advisory Board agenda packet.
Clark County Animal Manage reported Owenhouse was not suitable for an unique or wild animal allow unless of course the operation was short-term and less than 20 days. If Owenhouse’s ask for is authorised, Clark County Animal Control suggests a time limit of 20 times.
Must the county commission approve the ask for, Owenhouse need to prove that the locations all-around the home will not be negatively influenced and that the facility would be supervised 24 hours a working day. The tiger enclosure should have a double-door procedure to avert escape. He will have to also right away notify Metro Law enforcement and the Clark County College District Police if any animal escapes. He should also give Animal Regulate with details about the animals, which include their ages, wellbeing and record of aggression, and a present-day colour photograph of each and every animal.
An animal regulate officer also will inspect the premises right before the demonstrate opens to the public as effectively as at any reasonable time.
People today for the Ethical Procedure of Animals (PETA) and CompassionWorks Global have expressed opposition, and questioned that the county deny Owenhouse’s application.
“Tigers are solitary hunters who really should be swimming in jungle streams, not pacing within parking great deal cages,” Rachel Mathews, PETA Foundation director of captive animal law enforcement, claimed in a assertion. “PETA is calling on officers to make Jay Owenhouse’s bid for an out-of-touch magic present and tiger tent vanish.”
The groups are concerned about the tigers staying in the parking whole lot during the most popular component of the summer time, subjecting the tigers to “oppressive heat” as perfectly as sounds from the monorail station, a condominium elaborate and hectic intersections.
Many others at the advisory board meeting brought up concerns about community safety and ended up fearful that a tiger could hurt another person.
“The protection of the animals and the security of the public is anything that is our top rated priority,” Owenhouse mentioned. “I have a ideal safety document. I’ve under no circumstances experienced any of my animals harm any individual, and they’ve never tried to harm anybody.”
Owenhouse, a portion-time Las Vegas resident, has 1 of the premier touring illusion demonstrates in the place with his “Dare to Believe” display, and his performances consist of illusion functions originally finished by Harry Houdini.
Owenhouse’s shows typically also aspect his young children and his tigers, which he reportedly bought from breeder Doc Antle, who was featured in Netflix’s docuseries “Tiger King.”
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducts at least once-a-calendar year inspections on Owenhouse’s sanctuary, and the last inspection conducted on July 28, 2021, uncovered almost nothing out of compliance. Of 13 USDA inspections executed at Owenhouse’s sanctuary due to the fact 2014, only a single was discovered to be noncompliant.
On May perhaps 3, 2019, a video clip confirmed that there was not enough distance or barriers in place concerning a tiger and the community, according to the USDA inspection report.
“Because of the power and speed of tigers, there is an inherent threat existing for the two the viewing general public and the exhibited animal the place there is any chance that the general public could come into direct contact with juvenile or adult tigers,” the report claims.
USDA Animal Care inspectors ordered that Owenhouse make guaranteed from that point ahead that all animals are exhibited with barriers and/or enough length from the public.
“Tigers have advanced, species-distinct desires that Jay Owenhouse would seem unwilling to meet up with,” explained Carrie LeBlanc, the government director of CompassionWorks Intercontinental, in a assertion.
The fee is scheduled to hear Owenhouse’s ask for at its Dec. 22 meeting.