TIGER NEXT DOOR Review

The documentary, Tiger Next Door, begins with a sobering fact. “Experts estimate that there are more tigers in private captivity in the USA than there are roaming wild in the world”. The film then introduces the audience to Flat Rock, Indiana resident Dennis Hill, owner of many types of wildlife including over 24 tigers. The film follows Hill’s struggle with Indiana DNR officials to keep his tigers amid concerns over whether he can appropriately care for them.

After an unexpected inspection by government officials reveals less than satisfactory conditions, Hill loses his license and is forced to give up his animals by the Indiana DNR. The most exciting scenes show Hill trying to find last minute, temporary homes for his tigers before a final inspection of his property. If he passes the inspection, he is allowed to keep some of his tigers, if he fails he loses all of his tigers for good.

The film gives a balanced view of both sides of the argument. Hill’s calm and assuring personality makes it hard to believe that he has anything but his animal’s best interests in mind. At the same time you have to question whether the tigers are truly happy having to spend their entire lives in small cages isolated from one another. Questions are also raised throughout about the quality of homes that Hill sells his tigers too. Hill never makes it clear how much background checking he does to ensure that the buyers aren’t simply buying the tigers to slaughter for their meat and skins.

Joe Taft of the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, is also featured throughout the film and provides a counter viewpoint to that of Dennis Hill. Taft’s facilities are clearly better funded and better equipped to provide a more fulfilling life to the captive tigers. Taft believes that the tigers need extremely large areas to roam, and that they require the company of fellow animals. Throughout the majority of the film the two are filmed separately giving their opposing viewpoints. At the end of the film they finally appear on screen together where things get heated and some shocking allegations are made by both parties. 

The film makes it clear; there aren’t easy answers for the issue. On the one hand the tiger’s natural habitat is constantly shrinking and they are on the path to extinction. If the only alternative though is to live isolated in captivity in small cages, is it worth it?