Sanctuary says it was forced to euthanize all of its animals

The owners of an animal sanctuary in Colorado that recently euthanized all of its animals claim they were forced to do so by the government.

Owners of the Lion’s Gate Sanctuary said they had to humanely euthanize three lions, three tigers and five bears in April after the Elbert County Board of Commissioners denied their request to move to a new location. Dr. Joan Laub and her partner Peter Winney wanted to build a sanctuary on a 45-acre property near Elizabeth instead, according to The Coloradoan.

The original property had endured multiple floods and according to co-owner Laub, they felt they had “no other option” to protect the animals if they wouldn’t be allowed to move the sanctuary.

But the Keenesburg Wild Animal Sanctuary had “publicly offered to care for the animals at their facility if Lion’s Gate was unable to do so,” according to a statement released by three county commissioners. 

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