Illegal Housing of Exotic Animals Leads to Court Order

Here is the rundown 👇

Read this if you follow animal welfare, wildlife regulations, or county legal enforcement.

📍 What Just Happened

A Frazier Park animal sanctuary, Born to Be Free, Inc., must pay over $50,000 after authorities found it was keeping 15 exotic animals without proper permits, prompting enforcement actions and renewed oversight.

📋 Key Details

• Animals: Leopard, warthog, European brown bear, wolf-dog hybrid, and more
• Violation: Possessing restricted species without a valid permit
• Court Action: Stipulated judgment and permanent injunction
• Agency: Ventura County DA’s Office
• Restrictions: Sanctuary barred from future possession of restricted species without permits

🔍 Why This Matters

• Protects public safety from improperly housed dangerous animals.
• Reinforces county oversight of exotic animal facilities.
• Ensures long-term compliance through a permanent injunction.

🧠 The Bottom Line

The sanctuary is facing major penalties and legal restrictions after keeping exotic animals illegally, with tight regulations now in place moving forward, increasing oversight, compliance demands, and long-term monitoring to prevent future violations and ensure proper care standards are followed consistently.