Let the Animals Live

Recently, the news was filled with the story of Terry Thompson, an Ohio exotic animal preserve owner who committed suicide after turning loose his bears, tigers, lions and other animals he cared for. Apparently, he was suffering from financial and legal problems, his wife had recently left him, and he had been incarcerated for a handgun charge. Nearly 50 animals were released, and almost all were killed by police to protect public safety.

Public opinion came out strongly in favor of passing stronger laws to prohibit ownership of exotic pets. People mourned the deaths of the animals, some of which were endangered species. Former zoo director Jack Hanna spoke publicly about his grief over the animals’ deaths and the need to be more aggressive about wildlife regulation.

People have speculated about Thompson’s motivation for releasing the animals. Maybe he did it because he wanted to wreak havoc on the community, a kind of animal proxy spree-killing. Maybe he did it because he couldn’t care for them anymore and couldn’t bear to give them away. More disturbingly, there were some suggestions that he released the animals hoping they would kill him---suicide by tiger. Almost all of this speculation has been followed up by a single common sentiment: “Why couldn't he have just killed himself and left the animals alone?”

This reaction resonated with me, because I’ve treated people who have killed others in the course of a suicide attempt, killing a spouse or a child or an aging parent. I know that sometimes the only thing holding a clinically depressed person back from the brink of death is the obligation to care for a dependent living creature. Unfortunately, clinically depressed caregivers may believe they are incompetent nurturers or even a burden on those they are caring for. They may believe that they are causing their loved ones to suffer, and that murder is necessary to end that suffering. While this makes no sense to the outside observer, it is consistent with the dark world view of a severely depressed person.

There is little public sympathy for murderers, even those who kill mistakenly due to mental illness. I am reminded of a statement made in the novel Mount Misery, a darkly humorous novel about psychiatric training by House of God author Stephen Bergman. In Mount Misery, one psychiatrist defined a “citizen” or upstanding patient as one who kills himself before killing his family. I saw this jaded view reflected in the public reaction to the animal caretaker’s death.

I found myself wondering what could have been done differently. Since Thompson had been incarcerated, he could have had access to mental health care. Almost all correctional facilities screen for mental illness and ask questions about suicidal thoughts. Did he tell anyone how he was feeling? Or did things just get worse after his release? Did he even know he had a treatable condition?

Fortunately, there were no other human deaths in this incident, but the loss of a life is lamentable whether that creature has skin, scale, fur, or feathers.

<[QM]>—Annette Hanson, M.D.

 Dr. Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson’s employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.

Recently, the news was filled with the story of Terry Thompson, an Ohio exotic animal preserve owner who committed suicide after turning loose his bears, tigers, lions and other animals he cared for. Apparently, he was suffering from financial and legal problems, his wife had recently left him, and he had been incarcerated for a handgun charge. Nearly 50 animals were released, and almost all were killed by police to protect public safety.

Public opinion came out strongly in favor of passing stronger laws to prohibit ownership of exotic pets. People mourned the deaths of the animals, some of which were endangered species. Former zoo director Jack Hanna spoke publicly about his grief over the animals’ deaths and the need to be more aggressive about wildlife regulation.

People have speculated about Thompson’s motivation for releasing the animals. Maybe he did it because he wanted to wreak havoc on the community, a kind of animal proxy spree-killing. Maybe he did it because he couldn’t care for them anymore and couldn’t bear to give them away. More disturbingly, there were some suggestions that he released the animals hoping they would kill him---suicide by tiger. Almost all of this speculation has been followed up by a single common sentiment: “Why couldn't he have just killed himself and left the animals alone?”

This reaction resonated with me, because I’ve treated people who have killed others in the course of a suicide attempt, killing a spouse or a child or an aging parent. I know that sometimes the only thing holding a clinically depressed person back from the brink of death is the obligation to care for a dependent living creature. Unfortunately, clinically depressed caregivers may believe they are incompetent nurturers or even a burden on those they are caring for. They may believe that they are causing their loved ones to suffer, and that murder is necessary to end that suffering. While this makes no sense to the outside observer, it is consistent with the dark world view of a severely depressed person.

There is little public sympathy for murderers, even those who kill mistakenly due to mental illness. I am reminded of a statement made in the novel Mount Misery, a darkly humorous novel about psychiatric training by House of God author Stephen Bergman. In Mount Misery, one psychiatrist defined a “citizen” or upstanding patient as one who kills himself before killing his family. I saw this jaded view reflected in the public reaction to the animal caretaker’s death.

I found myself wondering what could have been done differently. Since Thompson had been incarcerated, he could have had access to mental health care. Almost all correctional facilities screen for mental illness and ask questions about suicidal thoughts. Did he tell anyone how he was feeling? Or did things just get worse after his release? Did he even know he had a treatable condition?

Fortunately, there were no other human deaths in this incident, but the loss of a life is lamentable whether that creature has skin, scale, fur, or feathers.

<[QM]>—Annette Hanson, M.D.

 Dr. Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson’s employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.

Recently, the news was filled with the story of Terry Thompson, an Ohio exotic animal preserve owner who committed suicide after turning loose his bears, tigers, lions and other animals he cared for. Apparently, he was suffering from financial and legal problems, his wife had recently left him, and he had been incarcerated for a handgun charge. Nearly 50 animals were released, and almost all were killed by police to protect public safety.

Public opinion came out strongly in favor of passing stronger laws to prohibit ownership of exotic pets. People mourned the deaths of the animals, some of which were endangered species. Former zoo director Jack Hanna spoke publicly about his grief over the animals’ deaths and the need to be more aggressive about wildlife regulation.

People have speculated about Thompson’s motivation for releasing the animals. Maybe he did it because he wanted to wreak havoc on the community, a kind of animal proxy spree-killing. Maybe he did it because he couldn’t care for them anymore and couldn’t bear to give them away. More disturbingly, there were some suggestions that he released the animals hoping they would kill him---suicide by tiger. Almost all of this speculation has been followed up by a single common sentiment: “Why couldn't he have just killed himself and left the animals alone?”

This reaction resonated with me, because I’ve treated people who have killed others in the course of a suicide attempt, killing a spouse or a child or an aging parent. I know that sometimes the only thing holding a clinically depressed person back from the brink of death is the obligation to care for a dependent living creature. Unfortunately, clinically depressed caregivers may believe they are incompetent nurturers or even a burden on those they are caring for. They may believe that they are causing their loved ones to suffer, and that murder is necessary to end that suffering. While this makes no sense to the outside observer, it is consistent with the dark world view of a severely depressed person.

There is little public sympathy for murderers, even those who kill mistakenly due to mental illness. I am reminded of a statement made in the novel Mount Misery, a darkly humorous novel about psychiatric training by House of God author Stephen Bergman. In Mount Misery, one psychiatrist defined a “citizen” or upstanding patient as one who kills himself before killing his family. I saw this jaded view reflected in the public reaction to the animal caretaker’s death.

I found myself wondering what could have been done differently. Since Thompson had been incarcerated, he could have had access to mental health care. Almost all correctional facilities screen for mental illness and ask questions about suicidal thoughts. Did he tell anyone how he was feeling? Or did things just get worse after his release? Did he even know he had a treatable condition?

Fortunately, there were no other human deaths in this incident, but the loss of a life is lamentable whether that creature has skin, scale, fur, or feathers.

<[QM]>—Annette Hanson, M.D.

 Dr. Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and co-author of Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson’s employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.