Neighbors file lawsuit against Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bend

WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A wildlife sanctuary with buffalo, bears, and even tigers, has found itself in the middle of a legal battle. Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary claims neighbors have been trying to close the zoo for years. Neighbors say the zoo never should've been allowed to open.

Lawsuits have been filed by neighbors under the name of "We Love Farmington" against the town of Farmington. In turn, Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary sued the neighbors, saying this is just a way to get the zoo to shut down. The neighbors say the zoo operations "negatively impact the use and quiet enjoyment of their properties and...value." 

Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary has been around for over 30 years.

Andrew Willets moved into a home next to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in November of 2024 with his wife, renowned author Jeneva Willets, who is also known as Jeneva Rose. Also named in the suit are Leann Beehler and Bruce Beehler, who had reportedly formerly served as the deputy director of the Milwaukee County Zoo and its first full-time veterinarian. They bought their home near the zoo in 2021. 

By filing a complaint, "We Love Farmington" hopes to revoke the conditional use permit (CUP) first granted in 1995. 

The neighbors claim that in 2024, two plots of land were bought by the zoo owner's relative and son to turn it into an event space. 

Other issues listed in the complaint are "relatively flimsy wire mesh fencing," lights that reflect across a pond into another person's property, waste issues, and inadequate enclosures for animals.

In 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture found Shalom to be at fault for the death of two cubs.

The suit alleges the Town of Farmington did not provide meeting notice, allow meaningful comment, or "provide requested information supporting the CUP for the event space or addressing concerns."

After public comment and hearings, the board approved the zoo's CUP to expand operations in January of this year. One month later, "We Love Farmington" started, and a lawsuit was filed.

An email from Town of Farmington Board Chairman Doug Neumann, included in court documents, shows he wrote to one of the complaining neighbors, Leann Beehler:

"The zoo has been in operation for almost 40 years with minimal, to almost no, issues brought to the town board. To be honest, the town has received more complaints from yourself in the past 2+ years than we've received over my past 10 years I've been involved with the town government."

He went on to say, "This is not a back yard family farm zoo. This is a legitimate, highly regulated, operation that has received high 'praise' or 'achievements' by high level government agencies that regulate their operations. I'm confident speaking on behalf the entire town board members, the town board as a whole, feels the zoo is an asset to our community."

Shalom wrote on Facebook that the claims are "baseless" and "a clear attempt to harass our zoo operations to shut Shalom down and force us to spend money to defend ourselves."

"If you move into an area and there's already a business there, you’ve got to expect there may be things you don't like about the situation. But respect the fact they were there first and try to work with them. Part of being a good neighbor is being able to compromise and reach agreement on things. Maybe not everybody gets what they want but you have to be a good neighbor," said Cindy Stuewer, visiting Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time. 

Shalom has requested a jury trial.

Andrew Willetts and We Love Farmington sent the following statement to CBS 58: 

"We have no desire to interfere with the long-standing operations of the Shalom Wildlife Zoo. The legal filing is not about shutting down the Zoo, but rather about protecting our family’s safety and privacy and ensuring that local ordinances are applied fairly for all residents, particularly around the expansion of the zoo and the addition of a new event space / wedding venue on a residential property. We will allow the legal process to address these issues and refrain from engaging in disputes through social media or any further public commentary."