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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Resident vows fight after TID cuts back bushes Voter turnout at 29 percent for Jackson County pot tax Famed 'Star Trek' producer Harve Bennett dies in Medford Ashland friends remember Lee Perlman as writer, officer ... and mensch Police Reports Education Willow Wind students raise money for water Getting its balancing act together Pulling strings for youth music education Bee college takes to the air Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Environment With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Locally grown businesses bid for micro-investor attention Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Politics and elections Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. 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Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Voter turnout at 29 percent for Jackson County pot tax ... Famed 'Star Trek' producer Harve Bennett dies in Medford ... Ticket Availability ... Voter turnout at 29 percent for Jackson County pot tax ... Famed 'Star Trek' producer Harve Bennett dies in Medford ... Ticket Availability ... PHOENIX Lion sanctuary in Phoenix could be shut down Sanctuary could be shut down after county says it didn't receive proper approval By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 11:58 am Brian McMillan shares a moment with Lufuno at the Walking With Lions sanctuary on the outskirts of Phoenix. Jackson County now says the sanctuary didn't get proper approval. By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 11:58 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A lion sanctuary with a guest cottage outside Phoenix is at risk of being closed down after Jackson County officials said it didn't receive proper approval to open. The Walking With Lions sanctuary owners have received a summons to appear at a hearing at 9 a.m. March 17 in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. Jackson County officials say the couple didn't get the proper permits to run a bed and breakfast inn or permission to have people come to the property and view the lions, which constitutes a quasi-commercial use, said the sanctuary's attorney Dan O'Connor. He said he hopes the issues can be resolved and the hearing does not have to take place. Animal trainer Brian McMillan and his wife, Vikki, own the lion sanctuary and guest cottage on Houston Road just outside Phoenix. "We want to make it work with the county and with the community," Vikki McMillan said Tuesday night. O'Connor said the couple plan to apply for the proper permits to use the cottage on their property as a bed and breakfast inn. They also want to resolve the issue of having the public view the lions, he said. After moving from California, the McMillans opened the sanctuary and guest cottage last year and had hoped guests this year could help pay for the upkeep of their lion and six lionesses — who gobble up 50 to 60 pounds of meat each day. The animals have worked on numerous films and commercials, but are gradually being replaced in the film industry by computer-generated special effects. "We built a facility for them for the years they have left," Vikki McMillan said. She said the couple received the summons to appear at the hearing after a Phoenix area resident, concerned the lions could escape, complained to county officials. The lions are surrounded by tall electrified fencing, but Vikki McMillan said the couple are willing to add another fence if it will help put fears to rest. She said county planning staff members previously said the county does not regulate lions as pets. The sanctuary has all its required permits to keep lions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vikki McMillan said. O'Connor said the lions have become an issue because the McMillans want guests to be able to see the lions and be involved with them. Paying guests can view the lions inside their enclosures and feed them milk with giant baby bottles through their fence enclosures. Guests are not allowed inside the enclosures. Brian McMillan does go inside and have the lions demonstrate agility exercises. In October 2013, when the McMillans were planning to open the facility outside Phoenix, a U.S Department of Agriculture spokesman told the Mail Tribune the couple would need a permit from that federal agency to house lions on the property. The Jackson County Development Services Department did not answer phone queries from the Mail Tribune in December and January whether the lion sanctuary and cottage inn had county approval to operate. In February, the newspaper met with the couple at the sanctuary and did an article about the lions. Since getting notice from the county about the approval problems, the sanctuary is not accepting guests, Vikki McMillan said. Until issues can be resolved, she said, "It's wait and see." Meanwhile, the McMillans have launched an online petition at Change.org calling on Jackson County to keep the lion sanctuary and tourist cottage open. More than 900 supporters had signed the petition as of Tuesday evening. Phoenix High School is visible from the 41-acre lion sanctuary property and Phoenix Elementary School is less than a half-mile away. Phoenix High School Principal Jani Hale previously said she was initially scared about the lions, but visited the sanctuary and was impressed. The high school and the McMillans had hoped to team up on educational activities, such as helping students learn about veterinary science and agricultural operations. The McMillans had planned to offer free open houses and educational events to locals. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous for the Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 5, 2015 @ 11:58 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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