Laura Hilderbrand

307 E. 10^th Street

Coffeyville, KS 67337

620-251-9258

laudylu@hotmail.com

To whom it may concern:

As I was in the process of sending out this letter, I saw on the news where yet another person was attacked by a Liger (cross of Tiger and Lion). This happened at the Safari’s “sanctuary”, a facility in Broken Arrow, OK. This is a facility that is supposedly more regulated for safety reasons.

What is it going to take for people to understand that these big cats are NOT domestic, docile or tame???

How many people have to be attacked before we realize that they can and will attack and we will not know when this might happen? They do not warn ahead of time. Taking the chance is like playing Russian Roulette!

When will we understand that “licensed”, “approved”, “insured” are words that do not guarantee that facilities or groups tossing these words around do not necessarily follow the regulations or laws that the license or approval implies they should?

When will we quit letting groups who have a license or approval and call themselves “circus”, “carnival” or “road show” are only using these terms to slide under the few laws there are to promote safety of the animals and the public who wish to view them?

Read on and I will tell you about one such group who was recently in Southeast Kansas doing just that; sliding under the law.

And the law enforcement agencies who didn’t know these laws and yet when made aware of them (actually shown in print), refused to enforce them…basically stating it was not their job...And the law states authority lies with local law enforcement.

Kindly,

Laura Hilderbrand

PS: This young man did not survive the attack.