A dispute between residents and a nearby wildlife zoo in Washington County has made its way to the courtroom.
People who live near Shalom Wildlife Zoo are suing both the Town of Farmington and the zoo, arguing that officials wrongly approved a permit allowing Shalom to keep operating and add a new event space.
Here’s what to know about the dispute:
What is Shalom Wildlife Zoo?
Shalom Wildlife Zoo, formally registered as Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary LLC, is located in the Town of Farmington, near West Bend, at 1901 Shalom Drive.
Owned by David and Lana Fetcher, the zoo was established in 1979, according to its website. Animals on display at the facility include exotic animals like tigers and camels alongside more familiar creatures like deer, raccoons and opossums.
Shalom is federally licensed as an “exhibitor” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the same license required for zoos, circuses, and other facilities that show animals to the public.
The zoo isn’t listed on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries websites. Unlike the USDA license, these voluntary accreditations require much stricter welfare and conservation standards.
What sparked the dispute with Shalom Wildlife Zoo?
In March 2024, the Town of Farmington began reviewing Shalom Wildlife Zoo’s conditional use permit, originally approved in 1995. The board voted to update and reapprove it that month.
However, later that year, Shalom sought an amendment allowing construction of a new event venue, prompting another round of hearings.
At a December 2024 town meeting, several Farmington residents raised concerns about traffic, lighting, noise, water impacts and animal safety, according to meeting records. Among them were Leann Beehler and Andrew Willetts, who later became plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the zoo.
The zoo’s owners told the board their plans were limited to occasional events and said all proper permits would be obtained.
The board approved the permit in January.
Who filed the lawsuit against Shalom Wildlife Zoo?
The lawsuit was filed in February by “We Love Farmington,” a group of residents and taxpayers from the Town of Farmington, including two of the zoo’s neighbors: Beehler and Willetts.
The lawsuit argues that the Town of Farmington wrongly approved the permit in January.
The suit claims town rules require that facilities granted a conditional use permit must be appropriate and safe for the area. Plaintiffs cite flimsy animal fencing and added traffic as safety concerns.
Plaintiffs also say the zoo’s planned event space sits within a regulated floodplain, making it an illegal site under state and federal flood protection laws.
In addition, hosting weddings and other events would go beyond what’s typically allowed on agricultural land, which is how Shalom’s property is zoned, the lawsuit states. The suit also cites a town zoning rule that bans exotic animals from being kept on agricultural land.
How has Shalom Wildlife Zoo responded to the lawsuit?
In response, Shalom filed counterclaims against the neighbors and the community group behind the lawsuit. The zoo argues that the case is part of a coordinated effort to shut down its operations, court records show.
According to the filings, Shalom claims that Beehler — one of the plaintiffs, and a former deputy director and veterinarian at the Milwaukee County Zoo — began contacting officials soon after moving near Shalom in 2021 with complaints about animal care, light pollution, and environmental issues.
In September, Shalom sued Beehler and another neighbor, R.J. Kahn, accusing them of making unfounded complaints to officials and threatening zoo staff near the property line. The zoo is asking the court to throw out the group’s lawsuit and make them pay damages for harassment and financial harm.
Shalom took to its Facebook page in September to speak out against the lawsuit and is raising money for its legal fund. As of Oct. 15, the post has over 10,000 shares and 3,000 comments.
Homes near Shalom Wildlife Zoo display “We Support Shalom” yard signs, created after a lawsuit challenged the zoo’s conditional use permit.
What happens next?
The group’s lawsuit is making its way through Washington County Circuit Court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Aug. 12, 2026.
In the meantime, local businesses such as Cardinal Lanes in Mayville and The Stillery in Richfield plan to hold fundraising events this month to raise money for Shalom.
Local printing company Kruepke Printing also printed hundreds of yard signs reading “We Support Shalom.” Proceeds from sales of the signs will go to the zoo’s legal defense fund.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Farmington residents file lawsuit over Shalom Wildlife Zoo’s expansion
