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Roaring Cat Retreat ordered shut down by Ontario court

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The timing of moving the animals out, including 8 lions, 2 tigers has yet to be determined

Court documents state that Roaring Cat Retreat is home to a number of large predator cats, including eight lions, two tigers, a lynx and a serval. (Roaring Cat Retreat/Facebook)

An Ontario court has ordered a permanent injunction against Roaring Cat Retreat in Grand Bend, prohibiting its owners from housing exotic animals such as lions and tigers within the Municipality of Lambton Shores.

It means owners Mark Drysdale and Tammy Nyssonnen will have to find somewhere else to put their collection of exotic animals, which includes eight lions, two tigers, a lynx, a serval, six lemurs, plus other animals that are forbidden under local by-laws.

The sweeping new rules were passed by the Municipality of Lambton Shores in April 2019, shortly after the couple announced their plans to open a private zoo that specialized in large cats in the midst of dozens of family homes.

The owners cried foul, calling the new by-law "a witch hunt" and vowed to fight it in court. Municipal officials issued a number of fines against the private zoo, but wouldn't speak publicly about the matter for fear of jeopardizing the case before the courts.

Owners argued town officials acted in haste

An Ontario judge has ruled that Mark Drysdale (right) and Tammy Nyssonnen (left), the owners of Roaring Cat Retreat, are no longer allowed to house exotic animals within the Municipality of Lambton Shores. (Colin Butler/CBC News)

Paula Lombardi, the lawyer representing Drysdale and Nyssonen, argued that because Roaring Cat Retreat occupied the grounds of the former Pineridge Zoo, which operated in Grand Bend for 40 years, her client's operation should be able to continue operating under the same arrangement.

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Lombardi told the court that the municipality never told her clients about the fact it was planning a new exotic animal ownership by-law, even though Drysdale and Nyssonnen were clearly the targets.

Lombardi also argued the municipal council acted hastily, passing the by-law in 15 minutes, "without any consultation or discussion" with her clients.

In his eight-page decision, Justice John A. Desotti disagreed.

Nearby families had an 'obvious disquieting concern'

Tammy Nyssonnen, who co-owns Roaring Cat Retreat with her partner Mark Drysdale, poses with a zebra at the couple's private zoo in Grand Bend. (Roaring Cat Retreat/Facebook)

"I do not agree that the Exotic Animal By-law specifically targets the respondents," he wrote. "The By-law prohibits any taxpayer in the municipality from acquiring and housing exotic animals."

Desotti wrote the old zoning rules for the petting zoo once located on the property "lapsed in 2006 when the Pineridge Zoo closed its operation" and that when the couple purchased the property, no one involved in the sale signed any documents stating that "a specific 'Roaring Cat Retreat' could be operational on this site."

The judge also noted that the property that housed the private zoo for 40 years is now surrounded by homes occupied by families, many of whom had an "obvious disquieting concern" when they discovered "large cats would be housed on this property."

Desotti ruled that Drysdale and Nyssonnen are no longer allowed to house exotic animals on their property under municipal by-laws and that the removal of the animals and the issue of costs will be discussed at a later date.

The owners of Roaring Cat Retreat declined to immediately comment when reached by CBC News Friday.