Court documents reveal what town officials won't say publicly about Roaring Cat Retreat

Court documents obtained by CBC News reveal a more detailed account of the concerns of town officials in Grand Bendwhen it comes to Roaring Cat Retreat, including noise, bites, scratches and worries over the "noxious" burning of animal carcasses and faeces on the property.

Roaring Cat Retreat is a private zoo and animal sanctuary owned by Mark Drysdale and Tammy Nyyssonen. In April, the couple announced plans to have a number of exotic animals at their facility, including lions and tigers, on the grounds of the former Pineridge Zoo in Grand Bend.

Days after the couple's plans were first reported by CBC News,the Municipality of Lambton Shores hastily passed a sweeping by-law that bansthe ownership of lions, tigers and a number of other exotic animals within town limits.

Despite the new by-law, the couple vowed to press on, with Drysdale calling the by-law "a witch hunt" and promising to fight the municipality in court.

'Clear and flagrant contravention' of by-laws

Now it looks like Drysdale will get his wish. Both sides are scheduled to argue their case before an Ontario civil court next month.

Senior public officials, including Municipality of Lambton Shores Mayor Bill Weber and a number of councillors have refused to discuss the matter on the record, for fear of jeopardizing the case.

CBC News recently obtained court documents outlining the municipality's claim against Roaring Cat Retreat, which can now be pubicly reported for the first time.

In its application to the Ontario Superior Court, the Municipality of Lambton Shores cites "serious and significant public health and safety concerns of an urgent nature" against Roaring Cat Retreat, arguing the facility "is being operated in clear and flagrant contravention of four municipal by-laws."

People 'scratched and/or bitten by the animals'

Among the town's concerns are noise, which lawyers say has created "significant disruption and disturbance for residents of the nearby subdivision."

Court filings also claimthe couple hascarried out "burns" on their property and has "recently applied for a permit to burn noxious materials, such as animal carcasses and faeces."

Lawyers for the municipality also claim in the application that"members of the public have now been scratched and/or bitten by the animals while attending Roaring Cat Retreat."

Drysdale's previous operation, Ringtail Ranch in Niagara Region, was eventually shut down by public health authorities in 2016 after numerous complaints of people being scratched and bitten by animals and health officials' worries over the threat of communicable diseases.

The municipality also claimsDrysdale and Nyyssonen established Roaring Cat Retreat despite being warned by town officials before and after the couplepurchased the property at 9827 Parkview Crescent in Grand Bend that it was not zoned for the purpose of opening a private zoo and animal sanctuary.

Couple faces 11 by-law charges

As of Oct. 7, Municipality of Lambton Shores by-law officers have laid 11 charges against the couple under local zoning, noise, burning and exotic animal by-laws. Roaring Cat Retreat opened in April.

"Despite the enforcement efforts of the municipality, the respondents continue to contravene the by-laws," the town's lawyers wrote, claiming Drysdale and Nyyssonen "have added new animals to the property since the chargeswere laid."

The application also claims Drysdale"acted in an aggressive and defiant manner on both social media and in person toward municipal by-law enforcement officers."

In its application, the Municipality of Lambton Shores is asking for a court injunction restraining Roaring Cat Retreat and its owners from doing the following:

• Operating an animal sanctuary or zoo on the property
• Keeping exotic animals such as lions, tigers and lemurs on the property
• Acquiring any new animals for their collection
• Allowing animals to roam free on the property
• Burning animal carcasses, faeces or furniture

Lawyers for the municipality are also asking the judge to order Drysdale and Nyyssonen to pay for the town's court costs and "any further relief" the court deems just.

The measures outlined in the injunction, when taken together, would effectively mean the facility would likely be forced to close and relocate the animals somewhere else.

Unable to charge admission for members of the public to see their animals, Drysdale and Nyyssonen started an online fundraiser last month seeking to raise $100,000 to keep their Grand Bend operation running.

So far, it has raised $230.

Neither the couple northeirlawyerPaula Lombardi responded to a request for comment from CBC News.

Court officials said Roaring Cat Retreat has yet to file a statement of defence in the case.