In 2005, a 17-year-old teen named Haley Hilderbrand was killed in Topeka, Kansas, when she posed with a Siberian tiger for her senior portrait. Haley Hilderbrand, like students who have graduated before her, went to the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary-a family-run animal sanctuary-to take a picture with a seven-year-old tiger. Despite being restrained by its handler, the tiger turned and attacked Hilderbrand, who later died of her wounds. According to an article from The Wichita Eagle, her mother recounted the story to lawmakers after the incident, saying, "He attacked Haley exactly like a tiger attacks its prey, killing her instantly."

In 2005, Russell Lala and his father were visiting the 11 exotic cats and bear kept by body shop