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12 Search Results for ""vernon yates""

• Vernon Yates Producing More In Vernon Yates Producing More Inbred Cubs

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Vet, hospital team up to
    save cub

    Updated: Thursday, 30 Apr 2009, 9:40 PM EDT
    Published : Thursday, 30 Apr 2009, 4:54 PM EDT

    • Frank Robertson

    ST. PETERSBURG - A tiger cub may find a new lease on life at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

    "Fabian" is one of two cubs born on Easter Sunday at a wildlife sanctuary in Seminole. He's now been taken by Safety Harbor veterinarian Dr. Don Woodman.

    The cub's parents never appeared to be more than just friends.

    "They are roughly 19 years of age and they've been housed together for 14 years, is my understanding, and never shown any real inclination to breed. Easter Sunday, I got a phone call -- there was a surprise," Dr. Woodman told FOX 13.

    Both of the baby tigers were born with a cleft palate. Essentially, there's no roof to their mouths.

    Several veterinary specialists recommended euthanizing the cubs -- a step Dr. Woodman wasn't willing to take.

    "I was born with a cleft palate and I just didn't have it in me to euthanize an animal simply because they were born with a severe cleft palate," he explained.

    So Dr. Woodman turned to All Children's Hospital and pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Gallant, who was willing to perform corrective surgery. Unfortunately, the second cub did not survive, but Fabian will undergo surgery in about two months.

    Dr. Woodman and his wife are caring for the cub both at his animal hospital and at home. Fabian has to be fed with a squeeze bottle and a feeding tube because he's unable to nurse as he would in the wild.

    The Woodmans are optimistic, saying Fabian is a fighter.

    Baby Tigers Treated at All Children's Hospital

     

    When it comes to some unique patients at All Children's Hospital, the cat's out of the bag.

    Make that cats - Chester and Fabian. They're tiger cubs, born Easter Sunday at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Seminole, FL.  A local veterinarian contacted to check out the newborns quickly discovered they both had a problem - cleft palate, a hole in the roof of the mouth that makes it difficult for babies of any kind to suck, swallow and grow.  Tiger cubs born with this defect usually don't survive, and might ordinarily have been euthanized on the spot.

    But this vet just couldn't do that.

    Dr. Don Woodman, from the Animal Hospital of Northwood in Safety Harbor, was born with a cleft lip and palate that was repaired by Virginia surgeons forty years ago. He knew - in theory - the cubs' cleft palates could be fixed.

    But as Woodman began checking with veterinarians across the nation, he could find no one who had attempted a cleft repair in a big cat.  Undeterred, Woodman turned to an expert in human cleft repair - Dr. Michael Gallant, a pediatric reconstructive surgeon at All Children's Hospital.  For more than thirty years, Gallant has been changing the faces of newborns at All Children's with miraculous results. 

    Could he help a pair of tiger cubs?

    Maybe - but first, he'd need more information. And the best way to get it would be through an MRI study. Gallant approached administrators at All Children's Hospital, which agreed to scan one of the cubs, so long as it could be done without additional costs or impact to patient care.

    On Wednesday night April 22, the Woodmans brought the cubs through a rear hospital entrance close to the MRI unit. A group of doctors and hospital staff volunteered their time to help out, including pediatric anesthesiologists Linda Jo Rice, MD and Michael Garcia, MD; pediatric radiologists Kevin Potthast, MD and James Anderson, MD; MRI Radiology Technologist Deb Brannon; Speech-Language Pathologist Margie Wells-Friedman and orthodontist Amy Anderson, MD, members of the All Children's Cleft Palate Team.

    It's hard to ask a baby - or a ten-day old tiger - to hold still for an hour-long MRI scan. So Fabian had help sleeping through the study, thanks to Drs. Rice and Garcia.
    Dr. Potthast and MRI Technologist Brannon collaborated to customize the scans to a tiny tiger's anatomy. And, all the while, Dr. Woodman stood at his furry little patient's side in the MRI Unit.

    Meanwhile, Chester was surrounded by his own group of specialists.  As he nestled in the lap of Susan Woodman, vet tech and wife of Dr. Woodman, Dr. Anderson used a special material to cast a mold of Chester's upper jaw and cleft. It allows Anderson to fashion a cleft feeding appliance like ones occasionally used for babies.   Much like a retainer, it snaps into place, covering the cleft with a hard surface that will make it easier to suckle.

    Then, it was time for Chester's dinner. Until this point, the Woodmans and their staff had been feeding the cubs their formula through a tube into their mouths. Speech Pathologist Wells-Friedman showed Susan how to use a baby bottle with a special nipple designed for human infants with cleft palate. Bottle-feeding will be much easier than the tube approach once the tiger's teeth begin to come in.

    Sadly, five days after their visit to All Children's, one of the tigers - Chester - passed away due to respiratory arrest. Despite the best efforts of Animal Hospital staff, he could not be revived.

    It will take some time for Drs. Woodman and Gallant to evaluate the cleft repair possibilities for Fabian, but they are hopeful the surgery can be done. Fabian will need to grow before surgery - at least two months from now. In the meantime, he's getting the best of care at Animal Hospital of Northwood - with All Children's ready to help if needed.

    http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/tiger_cub_cleft_palate_043009

    While the doctors and hospital are to be commended for their compassion, Vernon Yates of Wildlife Rescue should be ashamed for allowing yet another "accidental" mating that has resulted in more tigers being bred for life in a tiny, concrete jail cell in his back yard in Seminole, FL.  Given the fact that tigers can breed several times a year, the far more likely scenario is that this poor captive tigress has been getting pregnant and then killing and eating her own cubs all these years, which is what captive cats often do.  Real sanctuaries do not breed, buy, sell, trade nor enable those who do.  Find out what a real sanctuary looks like at SanctuaryStandards.com

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
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• Re: Vernon Yates Re: Vernon Yates

  • From: perasite
  • Description:

    I live across the fence from Vernon Yates in a condo upstairs. I have seen many animals pass through (deer and horses) as well as the caged big cats. This guy is the worst ind of abuser leaving them in cramped conditions regardless of weather and he packs in as many as he can. I hear the cats fighting all day and night and the stench coming from his area is apalling. Once I contacted him to see the animals and he said I could come back and look and touch them for $150.

     

    He is running an

  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 290
  • Forum: Animal Abus...

• Vernon Yates Vernon Yates

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    Vernon Yates Appearance to the Public
    
    I would like to recount an experience my sister and I had this past Saturday, 27 September 2008.  My sister and I had discovered a very tiny rabbit in our back yard.  Thinking that perhaps a “wildlife rehabilitator” could help us, I finally contacted a man who said he was such a person, and would take the rabbit.  He told me that grown rabbits do not make good surrogate mothers, but that he would take the bunny.
    
    I was very upset that morning as I had lost my cat and then finding this tiny bundle of life and knowing it had no real chance to live, I decided to take him/her to this man.  I asked him where he lived and he said Seminole, FL.  The name he gave me still did not connect, even though I am a Big Cat Rescue Advocate and receive your magazines online, and thru the mail.
    
    When we arrived at this person’s place, I said to my sister, “OMG, look at the sign in front of his yard.”  It said Big Cat and Exotic Rescues (or something to that effect.”  I was dumbfounded, as I thought he said he was a “wildlife rehabilitator” and, in my mind, that meant a person who rehabilitates small wildlife such as rabbits, deed, raccoons, opossums, etc.  I said again to my sister, look at the sign;  I don’t think this is the right place.
    
    My sister called him from her cell phone in the car and, as she got out and was talking to him, I got also out of the car, with the bunny, and I saw the man coming towards me still talking on his cell phone.  I heard angry exchanges between him and my sister.  He looked at me and said, “Was I just talking to you on the phone?”  I said no, that was my sister.  Then I realized why she was arguing with him – it was in regard to his surroundings where he kept big cats and other exotic animals.  Big Cat Rescue would have been proud of my sister as she would not let up on him.
    
    In the meantime, I asking him if he wanted the rabbit, (we were behind his chain link fence”; he said yes, and I handed the poor little thing over to him.  I noticed his hands were filthy and he grabbed the poor baby, who started crying, and I asked him what in the h___ was he doing?
    
    My sister was still in a debate with him about the surroundings in which (only could see the front yard) a lion was laying down in small area (right next to where he was having his yard sale and BTW, what a dump that place is) and 2 large baboons pacing back and forth in a cage out front with very little room.  I saw the wife take the rabbit inside, and I wanted to yell at her to give it back to us, as I thought she would now probably feed it to one of their exotic snakes.
    
    By this time, this man was really angry at my sister about how he had rescued several cats from Big Cat Rescue, and went on to make derogatory comments about Carole Baskin which just threw us into a rage (we both defended her and Big Cat Rescue.)  All the while this melee was going on, several bystanders, who had arrived for the yard sale that was ongoing, were staring at my sister, taking in all she was saying to this idiot regarding how he should emulate how Big Cat Rescue cares for their cats.  She told him his lion had too small a cage, no way to cool off, and what kind of life did he think he was giving this poor animal – not to mention the rest of his zoo.  He told her she should stop listening to PETA which really sent Susan off again.
    
    At this point I was very upset and went to my car where I called Big Cat Rescue to determine if they knew who this depraved individual was that we were unfortunate enough to have contacted.  After speaking to a young girl (whose name I did not get), but was very kind and listened to our harrowing experience.  She asked me to repeat what the sign said, which I did.  She then called back a bit later and left a vm on my cell phone telling us that we were a Vernon’s place!
    
    She also told us that he keeps around 200 animals on just 3 acres, and that he sells some of them.  She told us Big Cat Rescue has been trying to shut him down for years.  Now I have a personal vendetta to settle with this guy.
    
    I absolutely went berserk, as I remembered reading about him on the Big Cat Rescue web site not long ago and thinking what a despicable person he is, not only in his looks, but his actions as well.  I shudder to think how he treats his animals.
    
    To think I was actually standing in front of this person made me sick!
    
    The person my sister and I both spoke to at Big Cat Rescue requested that we send an e-mail about our experience.  I am sending this letter in lieu of e-mail as we do not have a personal computer at home and cannot send personal e-mail over company computers. 
    
    I would like to mention here, in case you are not aware, that a friend of mine, whose son used to work as a policeman at the Gulfport Police Dept. informed us (after we told him our story) that the police often contact Vernon and he “rescues” the animals they find on duty.  I am considering calling Gulfport to let them know about this person and ask them to consider other alternatives:  a rescue league, group, or animal shelter.  I think if they knew the story, behind this piece of scum, they may change their minds.
    
    I know everyone at Big Cat Rescue has been trying to shut Vernon Yates down for years.  How can we help, other than sending e-mail messages to our elected officials, from your web site?  I know Big Cat Rescue has been very successful, in the past, in shutting down these road side circuses, zoos, so-called “rescue sanctuaries” where the animals have lived in deplorable conditions.  So why is there no way to shut Vernon Yates down?  What kind of evidence will it take?  I know Florida laws are lax in many ways and there are loop holes which evidently Yates must be a pro at getting around.
    
    He is a sorry excuse for a human being and to think I handed that poor frightened rabbit to him.  He couldn’t have cared less!
    
    What is frightening is that he lives in a neighborhood at the end of a cul-de-sac with an elementary school nearby.  How can this be allowed???
    
    Forgive me for my rambling, but please know if there is anything my sister and I can do to help get rid of rats like Vernon Yates, we will be very happy to oblige.
    
    Thanks of “listening” and keep up the great work you do for the big cats.  I admire you all greatly !!
    
    Sincerely, Sandra and Susan
    
    PS:  We have taken several of your tours and I have donated an Oak tree and other items.  We are planning on taking another tour in the very near future. 
    
    
    Nov. 3, 2008
    
    Dear Sandra and Susan,
    
    I just got your letter yesterday and I see it was postmarked Oct. 3, so I don’t know why it took so long to get to me, but thank you for writing.  Thank you for the tree and your support of the cats too.
    
    I am enclosing 10 copies of a letter that would help end the trade in exotic cats which would shut down those like Yates who “rescue” and then sell the animals back into the trade.  USDA’s comment period is only open until December 22, so if you have friends who are willing to sign and send these, it will really help.  Feel free to make copies if you have more people who care about animals in your circle . 
    
    There are only three ways to shut down places like Yates’. 
    
    1.    Catch him breaking the law with evidence like photos.
    2.    Get laws passed that end the trade in exotic animals.
    3.    Educate people about why it is so bad to have cats on display so that they don’t hire him to bring tigers to schools and parking lots.
    
    None of these is easy, but all of them are critical.
    
    As you know, Florida’s laws are very lax and enforcement is almost non existent.  The reason is that Florida’s Wildlife Commission is a 10 member board of hunters who do not want to hear anything about animal protection.  They are the ones who make the rules in FL and are responsible for enforcing them.  Vernon Yates is their buddy and he brings cougars, bears and other animals to their display at the fair where they are tormented by crowds for days on end.  The FWC knows that if they have to confiscate an exotic, Vernon will come pick it up for them.  Problem solved.  They don’t care that he sells the animals.  They don’t care and don’t want to know what he does with them, as long as he meets their very minimum standards of cage size and barriers. 
    
    He can have them at his yard sale, as long as he has a rope between the big cats and the public.  He can drive around with tigers in the bed of his truck if he wants to.  You are right to fear for the bunny’s life.  One of his former volunteers told me that when he “rescues” bobcats, he sets up a fund on TV for people to donate to and then once the spot light is gone he feeds them to the tigers.  That is the main reason we branched out into rehab;  just to save the bobcats from ending up being fed to his cats. 
    
    Even doing that, as awful as it is, doesn’t break any rules that I am aware of.  Catching him in the act would only help in educating the public so that they might think twice about paying him 1500. to bring a tiger to their party.  He almost never allows volunteers and has no paid staff, to my knowledge.  I keep hoping one of his many women will turn him in.  He has gone through quite a few since I have known him, but they are usually as hostile as he is and this one is even more so.
    
    Sending a copy of the letter you sent me to USDA and to the FWC would give them a little insight to what the public sees when dealing with him.  It would be good to post on the www.911AnimalAbuse.com site too. That site comes up when people google his name, to let them know what kind of person they are dealing with. 
    
    I wish I could wave a magic wand and all the evil people would become full of goodness and love, but I can’t.  These devices are all we have at our disposal.
    
    For the cats,
    
    
    Carole Baskin, Founder 
    
    Hi Carol,
    
    I just received your response to my letter of Oct. 3rd regarding our horrible experience with Vernon Yates.
    
    I am so happy to have had a reply from you and would like to ask you to please post our letter on the www.911AnimalAabuse.com web site, as I keep getting an error message whenever I try to access this site.
    
    Thank you also for enclosing the 10 copies of the letter to the FWC to help end the trade in exotic cats.
    
    I can't tell you how much I despise this Vernon Yates!  My sister and I will do our best to get people to sign and mail in the letters before December 22nd.
    
    I wish so badly that we could shut this sorry excuse for a human being's 'rehab' place down forever!  When I read your letter about his feeding the bobcats to his tigers, my mind just cannot compute this kind of evil. He is so disgusting.  I only wish I could do more.  If I lived closer to this depraved individual, I would stake out his place and try to get photos of him breaking the law.
    
    It is appalling to me to learn that the FWC board members are all hunters and do not care about animal protection.  I am going on their website and see if I can leave a message.
    
    Thank you so much again for responding to our letter and the information you provided.  I still get so very upset when I recall our experience with that evil man the day we took that poor innocent bunny to him.  I should have gone back and said give me that rabbit  back -- but I was afraid that my sister and I would truly anger him to the point that he would have called the police.  
    
    Anytime I can do anything to help your cause, please let us know.
    
    Sandy

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Conservation or Cruelty? Conservation or Cruelty?

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:
    Conservation or Cruelty? Much of this was filmed at Darryl Atkinson's Horseshoe Creek.
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 254

• Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue & Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue & Rehab

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:
    Wild animals should be protected in the wild and not bred for life in cages. Find out why this is so abusive at http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000news/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 302
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• Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue a Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue and Rehab 2

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    In 2008 Vernon Yates was dragging his wagons full of pacing tigers in a parade and the crowd boo'd him to the point that he was told he is no longer welcome. The times are a changing...

    Vernon Yates refers to his own family as belonging on the Jerry Springer show.

    Family dispute turns deadly

    After deputies shot the husband with a Taser, he pulls a gun. The deputies shoot, killing him.

    Published January 13, 2006

    A Pinellas County sheriff's deputy investigates the scene of Thursday's shooting at 1438 Chesterfield Drive in Clearwater . An apparent domestic dispute turned deadly when deputies shot a man who pulled a gun.

    Deborah K. Yates and her husband were fighting when deputies responded to a 911 call.

    DUNEDIN - Sheriff's deputies trying to break up a struggle between a husband and wife Thursday shot and killed the man and apparently wounded his wife by accident, authorities said.

    Pinellas County sheriff's deputies heard screams from the couple's home at 1438 Chesterfield Drive as they responded to a 10:31 a.m. 911 hangup call.

    Borrowing a neighbor's ladder, four deputies climbed over the home's fence where they found Donald R. Yates, 45, and Deborah K. Yates, 42, fighting in the corner of a screened room at the back of their home.

    Mrs. Yates was behind her husband during the struggle, sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said, and the couple did not respond to commands from the deputies. Standing 3 to 4 feet away, Deputy Jason Stibbard hit Donald Yates with a Taser.

    The Taser forced Donald Yates away from his wife. That's when he pointed a .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic handgun at deputies, McMullen said.

    From 6 feet away, Deputy Christine Smith and Deputy Christopher White saw the gun pointed at them and feared for their lives, McMullen said.

    They fired eight rounds from their .45-caliber handguns. Donald Yates was struck several times in the legs and torso. Mrs. Yates was struck in the left leg.

    McMullen said Donald Yates did not fire his weapon. It appeared that two of the deputies' rounds struck Mrs. Yates, he said.

    The shooting took place in a quiet middle class neighborhood of well-kept, well-landscaped ranch homes near the Toronto Blue Jay's spring training complex. The Yates' home has wind chimes and a little windmill in the front yard and firewood stacked in front of the garage.

    Neighbors said they heard the shots about 10:45 a.m.

    "I opened the door, and there was an army out here," said Marcia Patton, 52. "I heard Debbie screaming. Then I heard pop-pop-pop-pop-pop."

    The couple was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg where Donald Yates died and Deborah Yates was listed in serious condition late Thursday, McMullen said.

    McMullen said it appears Deborah Yates was trying to prevent her husband from killing himself.

    Both deputies who fired their weapons were placed on nondisciplinary paid administrative leave, McMullen said. A fourth deputy, Cpl. John Davis, was injured climbing over the fence.

    None of the deputies have been involved in a shooting before, according to McMullen.

    In the past six months, deputies have responded to three calls at the Yates residence. In July, they responded for a report of family trouble. In October, they responded to a reported battery. Information on a third incident in November wasn't released.

    local wildlife trapper Vernon Yates. He liked to play the tough guy but would give you the shirt off his back if he liked you. Or he could be your worst nightmare if he didn't.

    "If you look at the family tree it's a Jerry Springer show," Vernon Yates said.

    Deborah Yates entered the family in 1980 when she married another of Yates' brothers, Richard Lee Yates. She was 16, he was 17. They divorced three years later but were remarried in 1992. The marriage ended for good in November 1998.

    The couple has two sons, Richard Lee Yates Jr. 24, and Alfred Michael Yates, 11.

    In February 2004, Deborah Yates married Donald Yates, her former husband's brother. It was Donald Yates' third marriage. He has a son and two daughters from his first two marriages.

    Donald Yates worked at a dental lab in Oldsmar. After a heart attack about 10 years ago, Vernon Yates said Donald Yates decided to live for today because there may not be a tomorrow.

    He bought a couple of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and had his girls decked out in leather Harley garb while they were still toddlers.

    His other joy was his 1970 Monte Carlo .

    Still, trouble found its way to 1438 Chesterfield Drive . The call deputies responded to Oct. 25 was to arrest Deborah Yates after she hit her son Richard with a fist and plastic telephone, according to records. She pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on that charge March 15.

    Vernon Yates doesn't believe his brother was suicidal. All the Yates boys have gun collections in their homes, he said. Donald Yates seemed fine when they spoke just before Christmas, Vernon Yates said, and his brother loved his kids and his motorcycles.

    He said his sympathies went out to his nieces and the sheriff's deputies who fired.

    "Donald, I'm sure, had the option to put the gun down and he didn't," he said.

    Mrs. Yates skates with the family's grade school-aged daughters, neighbors said. The family has four dogs, including two bloodhounds, three birds and two ferrets.

    "They loved their animals, they were very good to their animals and their children; the kids got everything they wanted," said neighbor Sherri Pauline, 59. "And if you needed anything, Don was there to help you."

    Times staff writer Jacob H. Fries and researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.

    http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2006/01/13/Northpinellas/Family_dispute_turns_.shtml

    

    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/bigcat exhibition.htm#VernonYates

    

    Tiger cub found along Florida interstate

    WTVT's Stan Jason reports on this unusual find

    December 28, 1998

    Web posted at: 10:36 p.m. EST (0336 GMT)

    LARGO, Florida (CNN) -- A Siberian tiger cub spent the weekend recuperating in a sanctuary for rescued animals after the rare feline was discovered by a couple driving on a Florida interstate.

    The motorists spotted the cat walking alongside U.S. 275 in Pasco County about three miles north of a rest stop on Friday. Fearing a car might hit the cub, they caught it and called the Florida Fresh Water Fish and Game Commission.

    A Chiefland family reported the cub missing several hours later. They told authorities the tiger was being transported by a relative when it apparently escaped a cage inside a horse trailer and then fell or jumped.

    The 50-pound (23-kilogram), 5-month-old tiger was en route from Gibsonton, 25 miles south of Tampa , to Chiefland in Levy County .

    Tiger will get vet checkup

    A wildlife officer alerted Vernon Yates of the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Largo , which has about 40 big cats . Yates, who cares for animals that have been abused or abandoned, took in the cub, named "Jimmy."

    On Monday, wildlife officers planned to send the tiger to a veterinarian, saying it had sores that didn't appear to be from a fall onto the roadway.

    "There's no real injuries like you expect if it dropped out the back of a trailer," said Yates. There were some small sores and some bigger sores that had already formed a scab, he said. Otherwise the cat appeared to be healthy.

    The Fresh Water Fish and Game Commission is investigating. Authorities say the driver faces charges related to the improper transport of an animal resulting in escape.

    http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/28/fringe/tiger.cub/

    Buzz on Hunter's Green panther turns to roar

    Though a trapper finds no evidence of a Florida panther or escaped cougar, more residents say they have seen it and parents continue to keep their children inside.

    By DAVID PEDREIRA

    © St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

    HUNTER'S GREEN -- The legend of the Hunter's Green panther continues to grow, but the trapper charged with snaring the elusive beast remains a skeptic.

    

    There are no tracks and no photographic evidence, said Vernon Yates, a Seminole-based trapper who agreed to try to catch the phantom cat at no charge to the community.

    A rooster Yates put in a trap out in the woods more than a week ago to lure the big cat is still crowing away every morning. If a panther were lose, Yates thinks the bird would be in its stomach by now.

    "If he was a wild cat, he would shred that trap," Yates said. "There's just no hard-core evidence right now."

    A lack of proof hasn't stopped the panther buzz running through Hunter's Green.

    Many residents are still keeping their children indoors as new sightings get traded from community to community.

    Saturday, another resident of tony Heritage Oaks saw a large cat near a pond on the Hunter's Green golf course. Later in the week, another sighting allegedly occurred at the Vinings apartment complex.

    Every time the cat is seen, Yates said, it grows in size and menace. One resident swore the animal topped out at 180 pounds.

    "It's getting bigger," said Yates, who runs Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation. "But so far, we've only caught a possum."

    Ann Johnson, manager of the Hunter's Green Community Association, said all the people who reported seeing the animal are credible witnesses. The association has told all its residents to stay alert, she said.

    "Some people think it's a panther, some people think it's a cougar," Johnson said. "For the most part, people are anxious for us to get the cat contained."

    The Florida panther, or Felis concolor, is one of the most endangered large cats in the world. It is a relative of the western mountain lion.

    Panthers, also known as cougars, mountain lions or pumas, usually don't roam north of Highlands County .

    State wildlife officials have visited Hunter's Green several times in the last few weeks to look for traces of the big beast.

    "We still haven't verified what it is," said Mike Cundiff, a wildlife officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

    Yates believes the animal is either a bobcat or a jaguarundi, a south American cat introduced to Florida in the 1940s. He plans to pull up his traps by the end of the weekend if the animal doesn't appear again.

    "If someone had a picture of it today, it would be a different story," Yates said.

    * * *

    -- David Pedreira can be reached at (813) 226-3463 or pedreira@sptimes.com.

    http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/News/050500/Northoftampa/Buzz_on_Hunter_s_Gree.shtml

    Rising from the bait, rooster now a pet

    After the bird languishes in a panther trap for a month, pitying subdivision neighbors bring about its removal.

    By MELANIE AVE

    © St. Petersburg Times, published May 27, 2000

    TAMPA -- The white-feathered rooster was living in a cage in New Tampa, bait for a phantom panther.

    But it was the trapper who got caught.

    Someone felt the rooster wasn't living the good life of his neighbors in the Hunter's Green subdivision. There was an anonymous complaint, officials came to take away the bird and the trapper ended up accused of neglect.

    "We have no problem with trappers leaving their bait," said Sgt. Lois Wimsett, investigations supervisor with Hillsborough County Animal Services. "But they can't leave them to emaciate and suffer while they're waiting to be eaten by a panther. That's inhumane."

    On Friday, the rooster, unnamed but described as "friendly" in an animal control report, sat in an air-conditioned pen alongside barking stray dogs at the county pound. He was waiting to go to his new home, a farm with a roomy chicken coop with plenty of sawdust and hand-mixed feed.

    And trapper Vernon Yates of Seminole was fuming.

    Yates said he did not mistreat the rooster and wants to know why it was seized after he left it in the care of two Hunter's Green residents.

    "I don't think they ought to make the statement that I was neglecting it," Yates said.

    The saga of the rooster began in April.

    A Hunter's Green resident saw what she thought was a panther frolicking in her back yard. Weeks later, a neighbor saw a similar large cat as she pulled into her driveway. Another neighbor saw it drinking from a golf course pond.

    It has been seen several other times, as recently as last weekend near the Vinings apartment complex.

    While no one had seen tracks or photographed the elusive beast, a skeptical Yates agreed to take the case.

    "I told them I'd bring the trap and wouldn't charge them if they agreed to feed" the rooster, he said. "They agreed to do it."

    Yates said he told one of the Hunter's Green women that the rooster could "eat just about anything": corn, bread or meat.

    For about a month, the rooster waited at one end of the trap, about 4 feet long. He was separated from the main trapping chamber by wire mesh. He had a feed and water bowl.

    The rooster attracted two opossums and a raccoon, but no panther.

    Wimsett, the animal services supervisor, said her department received an anonymous report May 15 about a confined chicken "without sufficient food, water or exercise." Animal services left a note on the trap.

    A day passed, and Wimsett said she heard nothing from the rooster's owner. So an officer took the rooster, in good condition but a little hot and underweight, to the animal shelter on Falkenburg Road .

    After 10 days without word from the rooster's owner, Wimsett let Hillsborough County Animal Services employee Linda Smith adopt the rooster. Wimsett said she may cite Yates for abandonment or neglect.

    When Yates finally learned his rooster was gone, he drove to Hunter's Green and collected his trap.

    "The game commission, everybody, knew that chicken was there," he said. "If they had a problem, they knew how to get ahold of me."

    Yates is not going to try to get his rooster back.

    "To hell with them," he said. "As long as the chicken's being cared for, I don't care."

    Friday afternoon, Smith prepared to take home the rooster, whom she calls "sweetie" and "pretty boy." He will be cock of the walk on her 2.5-acre Wimauma farm with 16 chickens, six goats, two cats, three dogs, one guinea pig and one quarter horse.

    "I just couldn't stand to see him euthanized," said Smith. "I thought, "Hey, I've got room for one more animal.' "

    -- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3473 or melanie@sptimes.com .

    http://www.sptimes.com/News/052700/T ampaBay/Rising_from_the_bait_.shtml

    This pictured appeared in today's St. Petersburg Times.

    For vehicle security, get The Cub

    

    [Times photo: Dirk Shadd]

    Nen-Nen, a 200-pound, 14-month-old Siberian tiger, waits in the truck of her owner, Vernon Yates, who was attending to another matter. Yates, the director of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, was called to Atlantic Auto Repair in St. Petersburg to assist in the removal of a 6-foot snake from a car. Nen-Nen provided nothing but moral support.

    I would have given anything to see the look on the poor Parking Enforcement Officer's face when they passed this vehicle on their rounds!

    Phil Oropesa
    
    One 4th Street North
    St. Petersburg , FL 33713

    http://www.expo1000.com/parking/contest/cub.htm

    The article below had a photo of Vernon Yates with his baby white tigers on his boat.

    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/white_ tigers.htm

    An unnatural fate

    St. Petersburg Times; St. Petersburg , Fla. ; May 27, 2001; LINDA GIBSON;

    Abstract:

    [Janie], a white Siberian tiger; Taking a cruise last weekend on Lake Seminole are, cubs Teddy and Emily, 5 months and about 75 pounds, and Nini, 11 months and 150 pounds, with owner [Vernon Yates], and his girlfriend Tina Pennington.; This tiger cub,; one of a litter of three - she yellow, the other two white males - was born in December at Wild Bill's Airboat Tours and Wildlife Sanctuary in Inverness.; [Susan MacKay] of Inverness holds a Siberian tiger cub; Photo: PHOTO, JILL SAGERS, (2); PHOTO, STEVE HASEL, (2)

    On Jan. 6, the St. Petersburg Times ran a picture of an Inverness woman bottle-feeding a couple of 4-week-old tiger cubs, who at that age were cute enough to soften the hardest heart.

    The photo featured Susan MacKay, who along with her husband, Bill, runs Wild Bill's Airboat Tours and Wildlife Sanctuary in Citrus County , where they breed tigers.

    Readers probably assumed cubs at the sanctuary would stay there for a safe, comfortable life. In reality, they are for sale. And their futures, particularly those of the distinctive-looking white tiger cubs, are fraught with hazard.

    Until a few years ago, white tiger cubs were one of the hottest commodities in the wildlife trade. People who work with captive wildlife say a blue-eyed white cub could fetch a price of $50,000 or more.

    High prices encouraged frenzied breeding. Females can give birth to litters of two to three cubs up to three times a year. The result is a glut of tiger cubs, both white and yellow. Predictably, prices have plunged. Below is white tiger at Wild Bill's.

    "They were rare. Now everybody's got them," said Mitchel Kalmanson, an insurance broker in Maitland who specializes in animal and entertainment coverage. "Values have dropped so drastically on white tigers they're not worth insuring anymore."

    Now that their dollar value has plummeted, their prospects are gloomy.

    Exact numbers are impossible to obtain, but owners of wildlife sanctuaries say there are far more cubs available than suitable places for them to live. Some are bought by people who think they can make pets of them. Sellers often encourage this misperception.

    "They get sold to somebody who may be buying them with some degree of innocence," said Lynn Cuny , founder of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Boerne , Texas . "They'll be given a false bill of goods about how these animals will behave. People really believe that in 10 generations you can breed out millions of years of being an elusive carnivore."

    Cuny says she knows of one dealer who tells potential buyers the animals will remain tame if they're not fed red meat.

    The quest for valuable cubs led to inbreeding of mothers with sons, brothers with sisters. As a result, many white tiger cubs are born with deformities of the eyes, organs, skeletons or digestive tracts. Because of those conditions, "They have absolutely no conservation value whatsoever," said Ronald Tilson, a Minnesota Zoo executive who coordinates the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's species survival plan for tigers.

    In nature, white tigers are rare. Both parents must carry a recessive gene for that color. Normal tiger behavior in the the wild prevents the kind of inbreeding necessary to produce white cubs.

    Once captive-bred cubs are grown and become problems for private owners, they face even bleaker prospects. Most zoos and circuses breed their own cats. Sanctuaries already are full of castoffs and routinely turn down people who offer to donate the tigers they bought as cubs.

    "We had to turn away 311 cats last year, mostly lions and tigers," said Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary for big cats in north Hillsborough County .

    So what happens when the owners can no longer handle them?

    "They end up in roadside zoos where they'll probably live a wretched life," Tilson said.

    "If they're lucky, people might call a vet and arrange a humane death," Cuny said.

    Janie's story is an example of what can happen to a white tiger cub.

    When she arrived in 1997 at Vernon Yates' of Seminole, she was 4 years old and should have weighed about 400 pounds.

    She weighed 100 pounds.

    "Janie could hardly hold her head up," Yates said. "You know what a greyhound looks like? You could see her ribs. We didn't even have to hold her down to put an IV in her."

    Janie's owner, Bruce Eisenmann, sent her to Yates on orders from an inspector with the state Wildlife Commission. She was one of three tigers in Eisenmann's possession in Alva, near Fort Myers . The inspector found the cats after a neighbor complained. All were emaciated, with hairless patches of skin and open sores, according to wildlife commission records.

    Through his company, Tiger Rescue Foundation, Eisenmann got the tigers to display at schools, churches, nursing homes and civic associations. In June 1997, he pleaded no contest to a charge of animal cruelty and was put on probation.

    Yates said Eisenmann told him the tigers had been ill.

    "We could never find anything wrong except not enough food," Yates said.

    Eisenmann has moved from Florida , according to his mother in South Carolina . Contacted there, Louise Eisenmann said her son was too ill to discuss the matter. She did not elaborate.

    Eisenmann's Tiger Rescue Foundation no longer exists. Because nobody ever paid Janie's boarding bill, Yates says, the tiger still lives with him.

    So do Nikita and Natasha, whose Jacksonville owner gave up on them as pets; Sunny, the pet of a Fort Lauderdale man who got scared of her; Roslyn, another ex-pet; Calvin, a pet who was going to be euthanized because of medical problems; and Hobbes, who was given to Yates in a shoebox a few hours after his birth; and a number of cubs.

    Kalmanson said at least a dozen people in Florida breed white tigers for sale.

    The MacKays advertise their cubs in a trade magazine called Animal Finders Guide. Among listings for elk calves, albino groundhogs, wolf cubs and wallabies is theirs:

    Two male white and one natural color female tiger babies. Raised in our home on bottles with lots of love, they are real sweet. White tiger babies have blue eyes. Another litter due April 1.

    McKay said he hopes to sell the white cubs for $10,000 each.

    When the cubs are small, they're so cute and playful that some people find them irresistible.

    But, says Baskin, "After a year or so, people realize they make horrible pets."

    As sexual maturity nears, tigers experience a growth spurt and a change in behavior that can stun unwary owners.

    "Suddenly, this person has a several-hundred-pound carnivorous animal in their home," Cuny said. "It's not uncommon for people to have dogs, cats and children in the same home."

    Even Yates, who runs the wildlife sanctuary, has had difficulty managing his tigers. Twice in a year, they have had litters of cubs unexpectedly, which he acknowledges shouldn't have happened. He said he plans to castrate the males or get contraceptive implants for the females. He plans to keep the cubs, not sell them.

    There's one other issue. If tigers aren't suitable pets, what message does Yates send by taking them for rides on his boat?

    "It is a problem," he said. "When people see that, they see the good side. But I tell them, 'You're not seeing the other side. These are large animals, and they can hurt you.' "

    Yates has a state license to keep tigers and tells people it's illegal to keep them without one.

    The challenges grow along with the animal.

    "How do you get a 500-pound tiger to the vet? We have people call us all the time asking, 'How can we do it?' " Baskin said.

    People also fail to consider that the vet who treats their dogs and cats probably doesn't have any experience with tigers.

    Tigers live for up to 20 years, Yates said. They're noisy even after being spayed or neutered. They eat 15 to 20 pounds of raw meat a day.

    One of MacKay's tigers weighs around 800 pounds.

    "He's very friendly," MacKay said, "but he's testy if you turn your back on him. He'll come for you like you're a toy. He could crush me in a heartbeat."

    He has been hurt just once, he said, when one of his tigers gave him a "love bite."

    "Just a 14-stitcher," MacKay said. "He put his mouth around my ankle and didn't release his grip."

    Although MacKay gave an initial interview to the Times about raising cubs, he later would not respond to telephone and fax inquiries regarding the advisability of breeding them or criticisms of the practice by others.

    Once owners decide their "pet" isn't working out, they discover how hard it is to get rid of a grown tiger.

    "The first thing they'll do is call the local zoo," Cuny said. "Nine times out of 10, the zoo says, 'No thanks.' Then they'll call animal control, which tells them to try a sanctuary. The sanctuary will most likely say, 'We'd love to help you but we're full.' Or, 'We're a non-profit. We can take it if you can contribute several thousand dollars toward its lifetime care.' "

    In Florida , it's against the law to own a tiger as a pet. But there are loopholes. If you're going to use a tiger for some commercial purpose, such as as a mascot for a business, or to educate the public, or to be photographed for movies or commercials, you can get a license to own a tiger. The animals also can be sold to buyers from states that don't regulate private ownership of non-native wildlife, such as Texas or Alabama .

    But even within Florida , enforcement is scattered. Florida 's Wildlife Commission has only 10 investigators to cover the entire state.

    "People hide them from inspectors," Kalmanson said. "They get thrown in cages that are too small."

    Some people who buy or sell tiger cubs tend to be secretive. Even if properly licensed, they don't want to attract attention from neighbors or animal-rights activists.

    One seller with an ad in Animal Finders Guide listed four Siberian tiger cubs, born April 20, as free to a good home. She listed a phone number in the 727 area code.

    She abruptly hung up when she learned her caller was a reporter.

    St. Petersburg Times staff writer Linda Gibson can be reached at (813) 226-3382.

    Wife Shot, Husband Killed When Deputies Enter Fray

    By STEPHEN THOMPSON , The Tampa Tribune

    Tampa Bay Online

    DUNEDIN - At the front door of Donald Yates' home, a sign reads, "We Don't Call 911," and beneath it dangles a replica of a gun.

    At 10:31 a.m. Thursday, someone did dial 911 from the home. Then the call went dead.

    When deputies arrived at 1438 Chesterfield Drive , they heard screaming from a screened-in area at the back of the house, Pinellas County sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said.

    Four deputies then found themselves in the room, with Deborah K. Yates, 42, on the back of her husband, Donald, 45, who was holding a .40-caliber handgun, McMullen said.

    As the struggle continued, deputies shot Donald Yates multiple times, and he died after being flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg .

    Deborah Yates was shot once in the leg and was in serious condition at Bayfront, McMullen said.

    Neither Yates nor his wife obeyed the deputies' commands as they attempted to break up the fight, McMullen said. Deputy Jason Stibbard shot his Taser at Donald Yates from three or four feet, he said.

    The couple separated, with Donald Yates rolling to the floor, his weapon pointed at the deputies, McMullen said.

    Deputies Christine Smith and Christopher White, fearing for their lives, fired their .45-caliber handguns eight times at Donald Yates from about six feet away, the spokesman said.

    Yates was hit multiple times in the torso and legs. The bullet that hit Deborah Yates could have come from either deputy's weapon, McMullen said.

    A preliminary investigation suggests Deborah Yates might have been trying to stop her husband from killing himself, McMullen said.

    Donald Yates is the brother of Vernon Yates, who runs Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation , a Seminole shelter for wildlife that police agencies can't find homes for anywhere else.

    "I find it hard to believe Donald did this," Vernon Yates said. "It's almost out of character for him, even though he thought he was a Hell's Angel biker dude and wore leather.

    "I don't blame the officers," he said. "I'm sure they told Donald to drop it and he didn't."

    When Vernon Yates heard media reports about the Chesterfield Drive shooting, he wondered whether it was at his brother's house "because him and Debbie fight like cats and dogs."

    Deborah Yates was Donald Yates' third wife, Vernon said. With his first, he had a son, D.J., 26. The two worked in the maintenance department at Knight Dental Group, which makes crowns and bridges for dentists, the company's chief executive officer said.

    Donald Yates also had two daughters, 8 and 5, with his second wife, Cheryle, whom he divorced in 2002. The two shared custody of the girls.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/1083099 3/from/RL.5/

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners . See people being stupid with big cats, endangering themselves and others HERE . See the awful conditions that many captive cats endure HERE .

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• Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue a Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue and Rehab 1

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Vernon Yates Wildlife Rescue and Rehab

    Because Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc., is located in Seminole, FL and its owner, Vernon Yates is often set up in parking lots with his tigers in circus wagons for people to gawk at, we get a lot of angry mail from people asking us if this was our display. Big Cat Rescue does NOT take exotic cats offsite and we do not condone it. There is no way to insure the cat's safety, nor the public's safety in such situations and it shows disrespect for the animals to treat them like props. If you see people using animals this way, please take photos, videos and document when, where and what the conditions were. Send it to us at MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org and we will use it to try and get laws passed so that animals cannot be abused this way.

    PDF with photos

    Check for yourself to see if Vernon Yates of Wildlife Rescue and Rehab meets the sanctuary standards for an accredited animal refuge. Vernon will argue that he is a shelter and not a sanctuary to overcome that shortcoming, but what does that really mean? There is no good place for these cats to go as the accredited sanctuaries are full so where do his cats go if he is just a temporary shelter as he claims?

    At the following link is a story that ran on CNN about 5 tigers and a lion who were being starved and were more than 100lbs underweight. The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) was reported to have been investigating the owner for two years and believed the cats were starving but couldn't prove it. The owner, Susan MacKay, was said to have a tiger in her freezer that she was feeding to these cats, and still the FWC did nothing. When the FWC did finally take action they called Yates because he will pick up anything they ask him to take. He already has 200 exotic animals on 2.5 acres in a residential neighborhood next door to an elementary school.

    In the clip you can see Yates yelling at the obviously stressed cats who were being kept, two to a cage, in circus wagons. If Yates cannot control his temper in front of a CNN camera crew, it is depressing to think how he must behave when no one is looking, which is most of the time.

    One tiger appears to have lost half of her tail and the cats are roaring at each other, baring their teeth and threatening violence. In the video Vernon claims that if he gets the cats he will "find a new home for them," but legitimate zoos don't want castoffs from the pet trade, so the only buyers will likely be similar or worse situations than where the cats came from.

    http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/t ech/2007/11/12/sot.fl.starving.tigers.lion.wtsp

    In the video above, his lack of intelligence, compassion or patience is abundantly clear, so why does the FWC call him? It is most likely because he will make their immediate problem go away.No one wants to be the bad guy and euthanize an animal, but there are not nearly enough true sanctuaries to take in the exploding population of lions and tigers. If the FWC were to tighten up the rules on who could possess these cats, Vernon Yates wouldn't have a market for them and wouldn't have any way to bail out the FWC.

    This link is to a County Commission meeting where Vernon Yates accuses a County Commissioner and others of lying and demands that they apologize to him and the tiger that he carries all over town in the back of his pick up truck. http://www.pinellascounty.org/medi a/bcc022205/Results.htm

    In the photos at right you can see the awful concrete and steel prisons that are jammed together on less than 2.5 acres in a residential neighborhood, near a school. Big cats are not designed to live on concrete and need far more space than is provided at places that just meet minimum state requirements. Vernon Yates started Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in 1980 and is reported to have more than *40 big cats in the back yard of his residential home located in Seminole, FL. See the video here on Fox 13:

    http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox /pages/News/Detail?contentId=2180325&version=1 &locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3 .1.1

    *an article from 1998 said he had 40 big cats, Vernon Yates has claimed to have 48 big cats, but as of 11/11/07 he only has 14 tigers and a lion in his collection of 200 exotics.Where did all of the other exotic cats go?

    Vernon Yates figured his Siberian tiger , Tai , was owed an apology .

    February 27, 2005
    Section: PINELLAS
    Page: 6

    CARLOS MONCADAcmoncada@tampatrib.com

    By CARLOS MONCADA cmoncada@tampatrib.com

    CLEARWATER — Vernon Yates figured his Siberian tiger , Tai , was owed an apology .

    Yates characterized the big cat as a victim of circumstance when the outspoken wildlife trapper had an altercation with county Commissioner Ken Welch last year. Welch saw Yates driving the golden, white and black tiger in the back of a pickup truck in the commissioner's south St. Petersburg neighborhood one morning in September. He called the number on the truck and talked to Yates , who was behind the wheel. What happened next depends on which version you believe.

    Welch told his colleagues at a meeting in January that Yates and Tai apparently had been visiting in the neighborhood overnight, as he spotted them at 7:30 a.m. while taking his daughter to school. On Tuesday night, with county commissioners set to act on setback requirements for outdoor wildlife cages,

    Yates showed up and angrily confronted Welch about the phone call and comments the commissioner made in January. Yates said the incident happened at 9 a.m., that he wasn't in Welch's neighborhood all night and that he was there picking up animals, not visiting. He said the commissioner told him over the phone several times, "Do you know who I am?" "I don't think it's right for any government person to scream at anybody, "Do you know who I am?' " Yates said.

    Yates also took issue with Pinellas animal services director Kenny Mitchell, who told commissioners he saw children coming up to Yates ' truck at Bardmoor Shopping Center in Seminole and putting their hands on Tai 's steel cage. Yates said no children touched his tiger 's cage. He said Mitchell should have reported the incident to the state if he believed the public was in danger.

    "My tiger was totally within his legal rights to be where it was ," Yates said. "I think some people here owe me and my tiger an apology ." Welch denied asking Yates whether he knew who he was . The commissioner said he did identify himself and asked Yates why he had a tiger in the back of his truck. "At no point did I say, "Do you know who I am?' " Welch said. "Most of your statements are patently false." As for an apology , Welch said, "You won't get it from me." Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 823-3412.

    
    Cutline: Vernon Yates Confronted county Commissioner Ken Welch at meeting Tuesday Tribune photo by MARK GUSS This caged Siberian tiger caught the attention of county Commissioner Ken Welch one morning as it rode in the back of Vernon Yates ' Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation truck.

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners .

    Vernon Yates' tiger breaks off her teeth on chain link cage:

    Re: "The Tiger and My Dentist" (aka My Dentist, Animal Hero), this issue. I received the following email from Dr. Craddock's chief nurse and significant other....

    SONG is a 200 lb. Siberian tiger who lives at the Seminole Wildlife Rescue and Preserve. Vernon Yates is the owner of Wildlife Rescue and also happens to be one of our dental patients.

    Several months back, Vernon Yates approached Dr. Craddock and explained that he had a problem with one of his Siberian Tigers. The tiger, 11-year-old SONG, had tried to get into a male tiger's cage by chewing through a chain link fence. In the process of doing so, she broke her canine teeth, and they consequently became abscessed. Thus, she stopped eating and was rapidly losing weight.

    The dilemma!

    Normal procedure would be to extract infected broken teeth on an animal such a a tiger. However, due to the structure of a tiger's skull (their roots being so close to their sinuses) removing their teeth can create future sinus problems. Not to mention also making it extremely difficult for them to chew up meat.

    In any case, after Vernon Yates explained the problem to Dr. Craddock and myself, we decided to go to work and create instruments long enough that would allow us to do a root canal on her 2.5-inch long canine teeth. We volunteered our time and expertise to do this with the hopes of getting her to eat again. If the root canal was a success, we could then prepare her teeth for crowns.

    The first of two precedures was done several months back in May. SONG was placed under general anesthesia at the Bayshore Animal Clinic. Dr. Craddock and I prepared for the 3-hour long surgical root canal procedure. Lo and behold, the root canal was successfully completed and impressions were taken for her new white gold crowns.

    Our dental lab, Fox Dental, located in Tampa , donated the white gold for her crowns. They even went so far as to engrave Dr. Craddock's initials (JEC) into the white gold crowns.

    On 9/23/02, SONG was again placed under general anesthesia and prepared for the installation of her new crowned canines.

    After 5 long hours, the surgery was another success!!!! Her new white gold crowns were in place!

    Last reports from her owner, Mr. Yates: She was once again eating and smiling and very pretty with her four (4) new shiny teeth.

    http://www.crazedfanboy.com/nolansnewsstand02/popculturereview131.html

    Vernon Yates Calls Commissioner a Liar

    type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="540" height="438" src="http://www.veoh.com/videodetails2.swf?permalinkId=v10905969XZ73Fg2&id=770881&player=videodetailsembedded&videoAutoPlay=0" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">
    Online Videos by Veoh.com
    

    This link is to the entire County Commission meeting where Vernon Yates accuses a County Commissioner and others of lying and demands that they appologize to him and the tiger that he carries all over town in the back of his pick up truck. http://www.pinellascounty.org/medi a/bcc022205/Results.htm

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• Susan Aronoff Bradshaw Susan Aronoff Bradshaw

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Susan Aronoff Bradshaw

    PDF with photos

    Susan Aronoff Bradshaw began slandering them in an attempt to draw the attention off the subject; Exotic Animals as Pets, which is not a subject anyone can defend, and try to misdirect attention in any way she can. She even lied to the police in 2005 when she told them that she had really lied in her sworn affidavit of 1997 regarding Don Lewis' will. In 1997 Susan had no reason to lie, but in 2005, after Carole been successful in campaigning for laws that banned the sale of big cats across state lines as pets (a trade Susan wanted to pursue) she decided to lie to police in the hopes of jailing her adversary.The police saw through her ploy and no action was taken on her false report.

    Susan Aronoff, nka Susan Bradshaw was thrown out of the Wildlife on Easy Street volunteer program when she was caught making money on the side by inviting guests to stick their hands in Judah, the lion's mouth to let him lick raw meat off their hands. She since has relocated a number of times, living briefly with Debbie Sandlin and others. Susan started a number of big cat breeding facilities, such as the Preservation Station, but has had to relocate several times after irritating her neighbors, alienating her sponsors and being financially incapable of staying afloat. Vernon Yates has housed her lion, Judah, for her when she was without land and caging in his 2 acre backyard facility that holds 14 big cats, amid 200 other exotic animals, in concrete cells.

    It was this alliance of Vernon Yates , Susan Aronoff, and Debbie Sandlin, that fed the lies and half truths to the Bay News 9 reporter, Chris Hawes . Because they have been able to mislead one reporter they have used the credibility of the Bay News 9 name as their sole source of credibility.That was until they were able to persuade Leonora LaPeter Anton to reprint much of the same false information and innuendo in her Nov. 11, 2007 piece called The Big Cat Fight. What they were not counting on was that the reporter would go on to report about the magnitude of the problem with dangerous exotics, making them all unwitting pawns in demonstrating exactly why their kind should be banned.

    The St. Pete Times article reported that Susan Aronoff Bradshaw "has taken in or bought about 75 exotic animals, including tigers, bears, lynx, bobcats and primates. She hopes to open her living classroom zoo next year."

    People who know Susan (age 47 in 2007) say that she has used Debbie Sandlin to make her accusations publicly against Carole Baskin. Debbie Sandlin was briefly a volunteer at Wildlife on Easy Street about a decade ago. She never graduated from Red level to Yellow level which indicates that she either was there less than 6 months, did not keep her volunteer hours up or that she was not progressing through her training as required to achieve the next level. After Don Lewis disappeared in 1997 the sanctuary stopped breeding and trading in exotic cats and there was a small band of people who left when the policies changed. Between 1997 and 1999 Susan Aronoff, Judy Watson , Jim Moore, and Debbie Sandlin left Wildlife on Easy Street because of the change in direction .

    Debbie Sandlin was the woman in the trailer carrying the pet monkey around with her in the video taped interview by Bay News 9. She openly bragged that she was above the law because she was having sex with a Florida Wildlife Conservation inspector and later announced that they were engaged, but the officer claims they are not. People who know her say that she does most of this at Susan Bradshaw's bidding because she looks up to Susan and wants to please her. She stalks Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue and has called in to repeat her nasty diatribe as a phone in caller on WMNF when Carole Baskin was interviewed. She has written numerous letters to supporters, regulating bodies, accrediting organizations and the media trying to discredit Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue.

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners . See people being stupid with big cats, endangering themselves and others HERE . See the awful conditions that many captive cats endure HERE .

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• Phoenix Exotics Part 4 Phoenix Exotics Part 4

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    From: < lndmonk@yahoo.com
    To: <Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 11:51 AM
    Subject: [Phoenix_Exotics] Florida

    A bill is going to be presented in the house tomorrow possibly called the
    "Python Act or Bill". It is being presented by Rep Bill Posey district
    24 (1850-487-5053) and Rep Poppell district 29 (850- 488-3006).

    The actual bill or number could not be found yet but it is to stop the
    breeding and selling of exotics in Florida. Not sure which exotics yet.

    Carol Baskins is going to be at a press conference in Tallahassee today
    to support it.

    Just getting information on this and will let you know clarifications as
    they come. Please get involved in this one!

    _Simply~Simian Inc._ (http://www.simply-simian.com/index.html)
    _Protest Big Cat Rescue and Carole Baskins _
    ( http://www.simply-simian.com/catrescu.htm )

    

    From: "Bob Nevin" < bob@...
    Date: Thu Feb 9, 2006 2:32 pm
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Florida iluvclydesda...

    What's the deal with these people?!

    We had a 10' boa constrictor or python for a 6th grade classroom pet in
    Elementary school and no one blinked an eye. Now if your neighbor has one
    people freak!! More small pets get squashed by cars than get swallowed by a
    pet snake. Give me a break. Oh now I see they want to lump in other exotics
    in as well.

    This society has gotten so into safety and sterilization, its driving me
    nuts! Here is the latest safety craze at my supermarket, seat belts for the
    shopping carts - required!!! ugh

    One thing I need to stress regarding this bill is the breeding situation.
    Banning breeding will highly limit the amount of genetic diversity in an
    animal population. Though controls can be made so that the animal breed
    doesn't overpopulate, banning breeding outright will not fix the problem.
    Banning the sale of such animals will also not solve the problem and
    actually make it more difficult to for state animal control officers to
    enforce. All this would just go underground and there will be a huge lack of
    control on the breeding because it will go undocumented just as there is in
    drug trafficking.

    I know I'm preaching to the choir but want to give my thanks to lndmonk for
    bringing this to our attention.

    I will send my 2 cents to the Governor and state congress people ASAP even
    though I'm not from Florida.

    -Bob
    (Its my God Given right to responsibly own a lion and support those who do.)

    

    From: "Ray" < rrooney@ucwphilly.rr.com ...
    Date: Tue Feb 7, 2006 2:59 pm
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Contact Geraldo runeraion
    
    Who? Big Cat Rescue? It's been covered here in excruciating detail the last
    month. Just go to the Yahoogroups site and read the messages you passed
    over. In a nutshell:

    The story starts with Carole's husband's dream.

    Big Cat Rescue got its start as Wildlife On Easy Street (WOES) back in the
    mid 90s.

    It was founded by millionaire Don Lewis, who made his fortune in real
    estate, trucking, and other ventures.

    WOES was started as a unique bed & breakfast where visitors were allowed to
    come and learn about exotic cats and, after a bit of instruction, were
    allowed to spend nights in a cabin divided in half - one side for the tiger,
    lion, etc.they would spend the night with and the other for the guests. A screened
    wall separated them.

    They bred and bought animals in a fashion similar to Tippi Hedren years ago.
    They published books on having exotic cat pets. Things were sweet for the
    millionaire and his second wife but they were about to sour.

    Tired of hassles from government and AR people Don Lewis purchased 200 acres
    of land near Begaces, Costa Rica to move the operation to. This is when
    trouble started for him.

    Life in the USA is easy, convenient and comes with all civilized amenities.
    At the best, life in Costa Rica would be uncomfortable and basics such as
    electricity undependable. Never mind good highways, malls, clubs, spas,
    entertainment, etc. Carole was well less than thrilled and made it known to
    Don.

    Don started setting things up and was preparing to transport vehicles there
    on Monday, August 18th, 1997. He supposedly left home to do this and drop
    off some signs at his real estate agent's office and was never seen again.

    The signs were found outside the real estate agent's office when they
    arrived that day but nobody had seen Don.

    The next day, August 19, Don's wife Carole filed a missing person report
    with the sheriff's office.

    Don's van was found the following day at Pilot Country Airport in
    Springhill. The manager said it had been there a couple of days, parked on
    the grass between some planes and hwy 52. The keys to the van were still in
    it, tossed on the
    floor. Nothing of note was found in it.

    Then authorities got a tip that Don and Carole were having marital
    difficulties and that Don had gone to court 2 months before claiming Carole
    had threatened to kill him. The judge turned down his petition for
    protection and Don went on living with Carole until he disappeared.

    Don's children from his first marriage accused Carole of killing him and
    feeding him to the big cats. Deputies searched Wildlife On Easy Street but
    found no evidence.

    Did Don Lewis just up and fly away to Costa Rico, leaving everything in
    life, including his kids, friends, and millions, behind? Or did someone just
    want it to look that way?

    In 2002 Carole got Don declared legally dead and inherited everything.

    In 2004 Carole married board member Howard Baskin on November 1st and is now
    known as Carole Baskin.

    Following Don's disappearance Wildlife On Easy Street turned 180 degrees. It
    no longer promoted ownership but opposed it and joined AR and sanctuary
    groups and started spouting the party line against ownership.

    The cats that Don and Carole had bred and bought suddenly got "stories"
    about how they were saved from abuse and abandonment. A few animals were
    taken in and their stories embellished similarly.

    The move to Costa Rica obviously never happened and it is unclear what
    became of the land. Sold to developers? Defaulted on?

    Carole decided the name of her operation did not sound good and changed it
    to Big Cat Rescue. She is now Florida's version of Carole Asvestas (Wild
    Animal Orphanage aka Animal Sanctuary Of The United States) and campaigns
    for bans countrywide and seeks to change Florida's constitution if she can't
    get them to ban more ownership.

    Stories abound of questionable fund raising, improper keeping and treatment,
    and shady deals. See the recent messages here for more.

    I will let those engaged in the protests fill you in on their actions and
    reasons but that too has all been here for weeks.

    What is missing is any media interest in telling the true story of this
    terrible string of events. Even Geraldo's show will be promoting them
    instead of investigating them.

    This is wrong.

    Ray

    

    From: < lndmonk@yahoo.com
    To: <monkeyyardsale@yahoogroups.com; <repo-pac@yahoogroups.com;
    <simply_simian@yahoogroups.com; <Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com;
    <SSAMembership@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 10:59 AM
    Subject: [Phoenix_Exotics] Protest information:

    The Protest against the Big Cat Rescue and Carole Baskins will be on this
    coming Saturday starting at 9 AM thru 1 PM. Meet at the corner of Easy
    Street and Citrus road. Please dress in a manner that will not reflect badly on
    the protestors. This is an important protest as Ms. Baskins is one of the
    very ones who is influencing legislators against private owners of exotics.
    Not just cats. All exotics. If she can be shown for exactly what she is her
    influence will be nullified. This is very very important and anyone that
    can be there should try and attend.
    NO YELLING OR SCREAMING OR PROFANITY. simply hand out flyers and answer
    questions. DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS. Vernon Yates will be spokesman and
    talk to the media which will be in attendance.

    Lets show our support for this man who has stood up for private owners for
    years and continues to do so.

    I will be leaving NC on Thursday for Florida and have room for a few
    companions if you want to attend and need a ride let me know asap.

    Linda

    _Simply~Simian Inc._ (http://www.simply-simian.com/index.html)
    _Support Vernon Yates Demonstration_
    (http://www.simply-simian.com/catrescu.htm)

    

    From: Tim Stoffel < tim@...
    Date: Sat Jan 28, 2006 2:37 am
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Carole Baskins is on the Hillsnborough Co. Animal Advisory Committee timbalionguy

    On Fri, 2006-01-27 at 14:24 +0000, Dana wrote:
    Hello Group! I am a new member. I have the large macaws for pets. I
    live in Hillsborough County Florida.
    Carole Lewis Baskins is on the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory
    Commmittee.The Animal Advisory Committee is an appointed group of
    people to develope the long range plans for the Animal Ordinances and
    Policies of this county. The appointed memebers of this committtee are
    also members of animal activist groups. So much for being neutral, all
    seem to have personal agenda to push thru.(mandatory microchipping ect.)
    I object to Carole being on this committee. I would like any feedback
    that would give me factual info on her.
    It is bad enough that she would like to take our right to own exotics
    away, but now to "regulate" how we own our pets(dogs and cats).
    Thanks, Dana

    Expose and discredit them!

    For the lions,
    Tim Stoffel

    

    From: "Bob Nevin" < bob@...
    Date: Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:14 am
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] URGENT iluvclydesda...

    Well you caught me with nothing but dust mites in my wallet!! lol I just got
    done paying a huge tax bill and I'm up in Ohio. I have an idea though and
    that's to spread the word about this to other animal groups like
    DraftnDrive, Some of your primate sites. There is another one called Tigers
    as Pets too.

    Hope this helps.
    -Bob

    

    From: < lndmonk@yahoo.com
    To: <Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 10:15 PM
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] URGENT

    In a message dated 1/24/06 8:05:53 PM Central Standard Time,
    bob@... writes:

    I'm with him in spirit.

    I was hoping for more than spiritual help..lol... I am going to be going
    down there I am pretty sure, and am busy printing out flyers now. We are
    also making a booklett of Carole Baskins life to mail out to the polititians
    she is courting now.. lets see how they like being associated with a suspected
    murderer? And a admitted liar and forger.. Susan already admitted to the
    cops she lied n the stand about the will and her name was forged on it.. too
    bad she didn't tell the truth the first time and this all may have had a different
    outcome.

    Is there no one on this list that can take the time for a Fl vacation now?
    People need to start standing up for what they believe and say.. bullys always back down when faced with real opposition.

    _Simply~Simian Inc._ (http://www.simply-simian.com/index.html)

    

    From: "Z" < tigers9@...
    Date: Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:03 pm
    Subject: RE: [Phoenix_Exotics] URGENT zbrubruff

    I live too far but please keep us posted:-)
    Z

    

    From: Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    [mailto:Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lndmonk@yahoo.com
    Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 10:42 AM
    To: Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [Phoenix_Exotics] URGENT

    OK guys we have a guy that is willing to stand up and be heard... Vernon
    Yates in Fl is going to picket Carole Baskins and her big Cat rescue
    Facility during the upcoming event at her place with the polititians ( major sucking
    up) and needs help... Anyone that can attend the demonstration please get in
    touch with Vernon. I am personally planning on trying to get there.. If
    you can help in any other way please do so. He will need funds to print flyers, but

    mostly he needs support. He has fought this woman for a long time with no help and should have been supported all along since Carole has made it very clear she is against us all as private owners... Lets help him out... Linda

    You can also donate to just help Vernon with his facility since Carole has done all possible to discredit and dishonor him for his stance against her. I am sure he would appreciate some help with his animals at this time also.

    _Simply~Simian Inc._ (http://www.simply-simian.com/index.html)

    

    From: "Z" < tigers9@...
    Date: Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:14 am
    Subject: RE: [Phoenix_Exotics] carole Baskin petition zbrubruff

    Here is the story of these cougar kittens as told/seen/imagined by Carol
    Baskin.
    She makes people feel sorry for these cubs, but her petition is against
    private ownership, gee, how deceitful IMHO.
    Z
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/rescuenewscubs.htm

    

    From: "Bob Nevin" < bob@...
    Date: Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:06 pm
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Kids, Cats & Candidates-Carol Baskin press release iluvclydesda...

    Ok this Carole person is a true whack Job.

    

    From: < lndmonk@yahoo.com
    To: <Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 11:19 AM
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Kids, Cats & Candidates-Carol Baskin press
    release

    From the WEB:

    _Welcome to Wildlife Rescue and Rehab_ (http://www.wrrfl.org/)

    Follow up on the "disappearance" of Carole's Lewis Baskin's former
    husband, Don Lewis, in 1997, case # 97-069-358 with the Hillsborough County
    Sheriff's Dept.

    On Thursday January 19th a cold case detective paid a visit to Susan
    Aronoff, a former friend of Carole and staff member of Wildlife On Easy
    Street/Big Cat Rescue. During this interview Susan admitted to the detective that it
    was not her signature on Don's supposed will which appeared after he
    disappeared. Susan revealed that Carole had forged her name as a witness to Don's will
    and that she was told by Carole to appear in court and say that the signature
    was in fact her own.

    Susan further admitted that she perjured herself in court out of fear of Carole, as she had cats boarded at Easy Street and believed they could be in danger if she did not cooperate.

    

    From: lndmonk@yahoo.com
    Date: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:01 am
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Kids, Cats & Candidates-Carol Baskin press release lndmonk

    In a message dated 1/23/06 4:56:22 AM Central Standard Time, tim@...
    writes:

    This woman doesn't mess around!
    She's mis-educating children and politicians at the same time. Perhaps a
    whole bunch of us need to visit that day wearing T-shirts with the TRUTH
    on them!

    there are already people out there insisting on something being done about
    her..On Thurs Jan 19th a cold case detective showed up at the home of one of
    the supposed witnesses on the will.This witness admitted to the detective that
    it was not her signature on the will, that Carole forged it, and the witness' perjured herself in court under fear of Carole, as her cats were boarded there.
    That same detective is following up on several other peoples information on
    her.

    Why don't we all simply write the polititians stating what we all know about
    her and her so called rescue operation? I am sure they would not want to be
    associated with someone that was suspected of feeding her vanished husband
    to the cats?

    Hopefully in the near future the whole thing will be resolved so Don's children and friends can get on with their lives knowing the truth about his dissappearance. There are agencys working on it now.

    _Simply~Simian Inc._ ( http://www.simply-simian.com/index.html )

    

    From: "chimps" < chimps@...
    Date: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:32 pm
    Subject: [Phoenix_Exotics] Carol Baskin: link w/interesting info re BCR/WOES luvgr8apes
    
    Here's an interesting site where someone finally has the cajones to stand up to
    Carole and expose her true agenda and lies on an actual website. There's also a
    link to an article from a People magazine special edition titled True Crime
    Stories with photos of Carole and her mysterious 'missing' millionaire husband.
    Check it out..
    http://wildliferescueandrehab.org/learnthetruth/index.html

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• Phoenix Exotics Part 2 Phoenix Exotics Part 2

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    

    Subject: PE members are threatening you?

    To: Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    From: SOUTHZOO@AOL.COM
    Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:38:50 EST
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] Carole- BCR comments- My response

    In a message dated 2/17/2006 12:37:20 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
    tigers9@cox.net writes:

    U mean kind of like a bullet?...;-) it depends if u r on the receiving end
    or not.;-)

    ROFL! Yup, fully loaded!

    Community email addresses:
    Post message: Phoenix_Exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Subscribe: Phoenix_Exotics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
    Unsubscribe: Phoenix_Exotics-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    List owner: Phoenix_Exotics-owner@yahoogroups.com
    Website: http://www.PhoenixExotics.org

    Shortcut URL to this page:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenix_Exotics/

    

    Subject: Comment from GreenPeople directory

    Hello,

    We received the following comment from tigers9@cox.net regarding your listing at:
    http://www.greenpeople.org/searchResults.cfm?memid =5833
    The comment is:

    Wasn't Carole Baskin/Lewis formerly called Widlife on Easy Streeta breeder, and most of her animals she bought/bred herself,or got retired tigers from Ringling,who pay for their upkeep?See link to her book where she admits it: http://www.species.net/Carnivora/General/Easy/Easy indx.html I also own her video,BIG CAT COMPANIONS on breeding exotic cats.

    Subject: Comment from GreenPeople directory

    Hello,

    We received the following comment from azooforu@yahoo.com regarding your listing at:
    http://www.greenpeople.org/searchResults.cfm?memid =5833
    The comment is:
    Wildlife on Easy Street is nothing more then a place a greedy woman keeps HER RETIRED BREEDERS at, and some Ringling Circus tigers who are paid for (OVERCHARGED) by the compnay. She higly inflates the cost for enclosures that are secured by hog rings. The land their enclosures are built on was formerly a dump, and junk still pushes it's way to the top
    of the animals' enclosures. They have been under investigation for numerous violations to the ANIMAL WELFARE ACT by the USDA. This isn't paradise, it's BUSINESS.

    Subject: GreenPeople listing: Big Cats and Private Owners

    Bob Nevin ( Bob@chnevin.com ) Robert W. Nevin, VP, Recruiting10223 Sablewood Dr. Aurora, Ohio 44202 (Tel) 800-388-7986 (Fax)330-995-3592
    has visited your GreenPeople listing:
    Big Cat Rescue
    http://www.greenpeople.org/searchResults.cfm?memid =5833
    
    and is emailing you the following:
    
    Its my right to responibly own a lion. If you don't like that then clam up. I feel real bad that you can not educate people on how to work and care for big cats short of saying you can't have them. If owning big cats are banned, then you will see an even greater problem with enforcement because all the cats will be sold on the black market without any papers or breeding certificates. Also a lot more accidents and inexperienced people working with them will get hurt or even worse.
    Its very important that you educate people how to work and train the big cats. Also, its very important that we save the species and private owners are doing a good job. I think that you should start realizing and welcoming that fact instead of trying to make a mockery of it.

    Carole’s Note: GreenPeople decided that the opinions were without merit and did not post these libelous comments. The book link is maintained by one of our opponents who hides behind a bulk registrar and the text is not endorsed by Carole Baskin or Big Cat Rescue.

    

    Linda Hunnicutt lndmonk@yahoo.com Brought pet monkey from NC into FL and said she left it in her car at Vernon Yates while she protested our Kids, Cats & Candidates day. She had led the group from Phoenix Exotics in coming here from out of state. Linda Hunnicutt of Simply Simian Address: 27 Beaton Path, LeicesterCity, State Zipcode: Leicester, NC 28748 Phone: (828) 683-2009 Her criminal convictions that include bank fraud and charity fraud are HERE .

    Email: lndmonk@aol.com

    From: lndmonk
    To: monkeyyardsale@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:32 PM
    Subject: [monkeyyardsale] Home again

    I just got in this afternoon and found 1300 messages none of which I could get too. This computer has gone AWOL. I have had to go to yahoo then back to aol to read the newest ones? what a mess.
    Anyway needless to say I deleted the most of them..
    I got to Fl on Friday night, really Late, Had a flat on the I 10 INTERSTATE and had to get the Road Rangers out there to help change it and found they couldn't doit either as it has locking nuts on the wheels to keep people from steeling them.. My Son finally told me to tell them to knock off the stud that had the lock on it. which was the solution..
    Then had to drive very slowly for the next hundred forty miles which was worse than waiting for the Rangers..lol.. Anyway after staying lost on the interstate interchanges for about an hour I just called and told my son to come get me which he did and found I was only about 10 minutes from his house.lol... I did get there though which is what counts. The demonstration was a good one, have the photos etc and will get them up on the website and in the newsletter comming out in a few days.

    I did get a lot of aggravation there, those people are really mean. One blonde which I will not mention her name, was put up to pulling my strings, she had the nerve to come up and start asking me questions about what I had in my car, if I had a monkey in there? when I asked her who the hell she was she said Carole Basking, now I think you all know I have a mouth, but I only uttered a few profane words to her and told her to get the FFFFFFF away from me.. I never raised my hand but my Grandaughter was standing there with huge eyes just waiting for the blows to start flying..lol... Of course everyne thought that was really funny.... then Vernon who I entrusted with Buddy during the demonstration came by and put his arm around me and told me we had a little problem... Buddy had opened his cage and was up in a tree? He also learned a few new words ...lol...

    It was a wonderful experience, those people are dedicated, serious and working for us all. I got to put faces with names and loved meeting all of them.

    We did our job. Only abut 3 cars went into the place while we were there , and one of the candidates read our material and switched sides, grabbed a sign and was standing with us on the street. The cops she had called to keep us from harrassing her guests ( she had very very few of them to harrass) took our flyers thanks to someone who told them their husband was a cop also and eased up on us.

    People in that town got the message, the traffic was heavy, and everyone slowed down to see the signs.. They were read. Lots of people would give us the thumb up sign so they must have nad some previous knowledge of BAskins.

    The most excitement was when the fire engine flew in with sirens and lights flashing followed by a ambulance.. I actualy was hoping maybe Carol had met with a horrid accident? but we never did find out what the problem was.

    I am really dissapointed that Geraldo didn't show up to see the real truth and went ahead and aired the show but from what I heard from someone? it was not a good one and didn't show much of her place at all so he evidently edited it quite a bit. That is a positive thing. Our messages did get through.

    That is not the end of it, there will be bigger and better demonstrations and like I said on another list. It aint over till the fat lady sings and I haven't had any voice lessons yet. so we will keep on till we get it right.. After all we are new at this stuff but are learning real quick.

    It is good to be home and get some real sleep in my own bed but Karen better get my bed at her house ready cause I am heading out of here next week for Texas... Yeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    It is snowing still here, the ground is frozen and I am movin on south... Buddy told his father tonight he was a southern monkey.. didn't like this hillbilly place.. LOL.....

    Linda

    Carole&rsq uo;s Note: Name: Linda Hunnicutt of Simply Simian Address: 27 Beaton Path, Leicester, NC 28748 Phone: (828) 683-2009 Email: lndmonk@aol.com She is said to use a number of other names and aliases as well to make it look like several people are responding on an issue, rather than her, or just her.

    I did not go up to the group of protestors but did have them filmed to find out who was there. They claim to have had a candidate join them, but all of the candidates who were scheduled to come, did come, with the exception of one woman and I do not know who the man in the photo they are promoting as a candidate was. While she claims only three cars came, we had 178 guests. The officer we hired to manage traffic was not duped by them and knows the trouble that irresponsible exotic animal owners cause in the Tampabay area.

    

    From: lndmonk@yahoo.com
    Date: Sat Mar 4, 2006 11:35 am
    Subject: Fla Python bill. lndmonk

    This is the bill Carole Baskin is pushing so hard.. it is only a open door
    to other more dangerous amendments which will be coming if this is passed...
    Everyone keep in mind that we need Fla as a example of regulations that are
    fair and working .

    Fla. Python bill:

    It now has a number - HB 1459. The Senate bill still does not but if you
    track the house bill, when the Senate companion is ready it will tell you so
    you don't always have to keep checking on Posey's reptile bill. I hope you
    will give this number to everyone you know so they can track it . That is how
    to find out what Committees it gets assigned to and who is on them, When it is
    put on the Committee Agenda (in the order the Speaker assigns the
    Committees) and where, what time, date, etc., then after, if it was passed,
    failed, tp'd (temporarily 'postponed 'Note this doesn't mean passed - but postponed)
    .
    Once there is a Senate Bill you will want to take its number and go to
    Senate bill tracking to find out, the who, when, what, etc. as described above.
    (Florida)

    _SIMPLY SIMIAN INC._ (http://www.simply-simian.com/)
    _Repo-Pac_ (http://www.repo-pac.com/)

    _Grannys against Peta_ (http://www.grannysagainstpeta.com/)
    Warrior Grannys strike against Peta.

    

    From: Bigcats10@aol.com
    Date: Sat Mar 4, 2006 7:14 am
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] BCR Ban Big Cat Exploitation petition bigcats10

    In a message dated 3/4/2006 3:02:51 AM Eastern Standard Time,
    lndmonk@yahoo.com writes:

    If you notice the very first line on the petition admits she is lobbying .... isn't that against what her non profit status allows?

    Here is an excerpt from the IRS re: 501:

    Exemption Requirements
    To be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of
    the Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or
    more of the purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and none of the
    earnings of the organization may inure to any private shareholder or
    individual.
    In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial
    part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity
    for or against political candidates.
    _http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0 ,,id=96099,00.html_
    (http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0 ,,id=96099,00.html)

    Ms. Baskin is on the BOD of Humane USA which is a political group which has the freedom to participate in these activities.

    Also, USDA has no jurisdiction over these activities. Contacting the IRS with all of Carole's political maneuvers is an excellent idea. It can't hurt.

    Vicki

    

    From: "Ray" < rrooney@ucwphilly.rr.com Raymond Rooney
    Date: Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:13 pm
    Subject: Re: [Phoenix_Exotics] API expose runeraion
    
    This must have happened while I was away but I am dismayed that people here fell for this.

    Without having read the exchanges I can only guess that they were taken on their word and no checking was done. I would appreciate it if someone could
    point me toward the time period when these guys popped up. I'd like to study their approach.

    This may mark the first time an AR sting has been pulled successfully but it's not the first time someone has come to us wanting to see animals and owners with negative intent.

    We all remember the NY Times reporter, the Al Guart "expose'" and court circus, and nibbles from various TV producers. We did get lucky with one UK photographer but that was a fluke.

    Strangers are not going to seek us out to tell our wonderful story. There's no percentage in it. It's a poor seller. At best it might make filler in a pet publication but people who come thousands of miles don't do it for penny pieces.

    And I don't care how nice you think someone is, you never show them a dirty enclosure, ratty fences, or less-than-perfect specimens. It doesn't matter if they were just sick or if you just rescued them from somewhere, animals in poor condition look bad and give a bad impression.

    You can not count on slack from a "fellow exotic owner", especially if you haven't verified that they are owners or seen their place. Carole Baskin is a "fellow exotic owner."

    Outfits like API have huge resources and can drag people in from anywhere in the country. Or the world. Sister organizations can supply people if they think you might know their own staff. HSUS, IFAW, and API are global.

    Those who had poor conditions and/or animals did a lot of damage and need to clean up their acts. They should expect a visit from some agency - F&W, animal control, humane society, USDA, as appropriate. These people will give names when they see the lawmakers next and documenation is a natural request.

    Worse, it will cost Phoenix credibility and scare away those who might have supported its actions. They now have to fear this being used against them if they support us in the future. If the group representing "responsible ownership" is so "bad" what does that leave?

    AR people are a lot of things - cultists, fanatical, emotional, and sometimes disturbed - but they are not idiots and are determined liars, two-faced, and well-connected. They WILL lie to your face, assure you they are your friends, share your concerns and goals, and want to help you and your animals then turn around and blow you all to hell.

    The ends justify the means.

    Remember, to them we are not nice people with interesting jobs or hobbies. We are scum, exploiters, abusers, psychotic, and stupid. There's no shame in lying or doing any other action to horrible people, there's pride.

    And if it negates a whole group of opposition people then it was justified and furthers the goal of animal liberation.

    Empty cages! Empty cages!

    But we should take this away from all this: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

    Let this be a learning experience. Don't be a show-off. If you can't control the outcome, don't get involved. Even if you are within regulations they make it sound awful - poses with wild animal, animal lives life in small prison, etc.

    If they aren't from a trusted group don't let them on the property! Ray

    

    From: <President@...
    To: <Phoenix_exotics@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 11:44 AM
    Subject: [Phoenix_Exotics] API expose

    Opening Statement given at the Phoenix Exotics meeting, 9am, Feb 24th by
    President Jeanne Hall.

    Welcome to the Phoenix Exotics Meeting.
    Due to the nature of this meeting we may possibly have protestors or reporters outside or in attendance. Please refer such folks to Vicki. We have security, and she is in charge.
    We also have another similar situation. As many of you know Phoenix Members have been opposing ban legislation from API (Animal Protection Institute) for years. One of the most successful places we have opposed ban bills is Washington State. Well, API has done an undercover operation which they have just released as an "in depth investigation". Actually, a couple of very nice seeming fellows dropped by from overseas. Known on the list as Austrian Tom, he and friend "fred" were welcomed into our homes as fellow exotic owners
    visiting our country. This occurred a few months ago. Their report shows they did not understand what they were shown or told. We are supposed to respond to such a violation with terror. We are supposed to run away from the big scary ARA (Animal Rights Activists) and withdraw from the fight. But this violation shows something else much more important. It shows WE are being effective enough against the API that they felt the need to use dirty tricks. There was no need to resort to such deceitful behavior as pretending to befriend owners or intentionally record owners without their consent. In fact, the report tries, hard, through editing the info, to meet their agenda without really hitting the mark. Soon we will have a full response to this report up on the web. With pictures of these undercover agents included. We are NOT running away or hiding. API's cowardly actions only show we ARE having an effect.

    Message to API: API, we know WHO you are and WHAT you are doing. You are invited back anytime, but this time let US record YOU.

    President, Phoenix Exotic Wildlife Association
    Jeanne Hall
    http://www.PhoenixExotics.ORG
    President@...
    P.O. Box 1132
    Chehalis, WA. 98532
    360-767-0746

    Permission to crosspost and forward freely, granted.

    

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 113

• Phoenix Exotics Part 1 Phoenix Exotics Part 1

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Phoenix Exotics

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners . See people being stupid with big cats, endangering themselves and others HERE . See the awful conditions that many captive cats endure HERE .

    Phoenix Exotics is comprised primarily of a group who believe that they should be allowed to breed, buy, sell and trade exotics of all types. They maintain a chat list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoe nix_Exotics/ and anyone can join. Because they spend much of their time trying to discredit Big Cat Rescue, many of their members have made a point to copy me whenever my name or organization is the subject of their bashing and threats. The group has 866 members and it appears that the main purpose of the list is to mount counter attacks to legislation that is being promoted to protect exotic animals from exploitation and abuse.

    The purpose of sharing quotes here from members of Phoenix Exotics is to show that they are actively trying to discredit anyone who would speak out for the animals. They cannot fight the issue of keeping wild animals as pets based on the merits. They seem to believe they can only succeed in "protecting their right to have whatever kind of animal they want" by trying to take the focus off the issue and put it on things that happened a long time ago in the pasts of those who have evolved in their beliefs far beyond where these people are so deeply entrenched.

    A lot of misinformation about Big Cat Rescue will be quoted by them below, just to show the extent to which these people will go to try and cause us harm. To read all about us, visit About Us and follow the links from there. Some of these people have tried to discredit Big Cat Rescue by making accusations about our practices to The Association of Sanctuaries , the USDA and others. None of the allegations against us have been found to have any merit.

    The only person to give them any help, was Chris Hawes at Bay News 9 who had just run a story on our rezoning. She had tried to find someone who was against it, but all of our neighbors were for it, so she twisted and edited an interview with our next door neighbor to make it look like they were opposed. After the story ran our neighbors came to us and told us that she took what they had said, completely out of context, and pieced it together to make it look like they were opposed to us. The one place where I said, “You got me on that. I just don't know. It's not in the list,” was when she said, "You claim that you stopped breeding cats in 1997 but I have proof that you had caracal kittens born in 1998." When she showed me her "proof", it was a newsletter that said we thought that one of the caracals was pregnant, but we must have been wrong because there were no kittens after that time. If she had shown the tape from where she made the accusation through where I showed her that no kittens had been born the viewers would have seen that my statement was only reflective of the fact that I didn’t know how she could have proof that we had kittens when I knew we didn’t. She cut it to just that one statement to make it look like she had caught me at something, when in fact I was able to show her that she had not. Despite her claim that we never disclosed on the web site that some of the cats were born there in the early years, we have always linked those cats stories to our own history and evolution .

    We spoke with Jim Moore who was quoted in her story and he said he intended no harm to us and knew that we were not breeding on purpose after 1997 because he was there and saw that we were separating animals as quickly as funds would allow. We don't know why Chris Hawes seems to have such a vendetta against Big Cat Rescue. We suspect it is because of the wrath she incurred from people who know that exotic cats don't make good pets after she previously ran a story promoting hybrid exotics as pets. She had interveiwed us prior to running the story and we showed her all of the abandoned hybrids we have had to take in and informed her of all of the reasons why it never works out for the pet or the people, but she ran the cutesy-exotic-on-the-couch story anyway. She probably got a lot of negative mail from people who know better who often cite our website as the explanation of why wild animals shouldn't be promoted as pets.

    When Chris Hawes said that Vernon Yates and others we are trying to bar from breeding, selling and keeping tigers as pets had told her bad things about us, we invited Chris Hawes to look through all of our records to show the allegations to be false, but she chose instead to go with the story she had concocted with their help and did not indulge our request to show her the proof of our innocence. If you were to play the tape she took of the hour or more she interviewed on camera, you would see that over and over I offered to show her the truth, but that she didn't want to see it. She claimed to be using USDA documents as her source, but USDA doesn't keep records more than 3 years old, and the records she referred to were all dated prior to 1997. There was nothing in the old records that we have not freely admitted all along on our web site and on our tours. This was not investigative reporting or she would have determined the same thing that everyone else did; we were wrongly accused. In just one year since her story ran we have been featured in the press, in a positive light, more than 130 times! We have had more than 300 positive stories done on us in just past few years. Not one other negative story ever aired because everyone else knows better.

    Despite being tried and convicted on nothing more than gossip I don't hold any ill will toward Chris Hawes or Bay News 9. I was thinking in the aftermath how sad it would be to be her. Every day I am surrounded by people who love me, who share my vision and who are all working together to make the world a better place. My life is full of joy. Chris Hawes has probably never had a single day in her life that is as good as every day I enjoy and I can’t even imagine how sad a life that would be. When you focus on bad things you attract bad things into your life. While many of our supporters, who saw the show that is being distributed widely by those who breed and sell dangerous animals as pets, have contacted the station asking that she be fired, we did not encourage that and have not asked that she be reprimanded. Until she experiences an awakening of how good life can be, if you focus on the positive, she condemns herself.(You might note that it was one of the last stories she ever did for Bay News 9 and she is no longer working for any news provider in Florida)

    Resignation from Animal Advisory Commission

    On the above paragraph 3 you will find quotes from the The Association of Sanctuaries and the actual report from USDA on their investigation into the false allegations being made by the exotic pet owners. Just click on the links in that paragraph to view them. I found it interesting that in March Linda Hunnicutt (lindmonk) who listed at Publi.com as having a criminal record in bank and charity fraud was bragging that she was having me removed from the Animal Advisory Committee, three months before I knew anything about it, and her email suggests that she and the person she intended the email to, were sending multiple letters to pressure Commissioner Blair to have me removed.

    Please note that it specifically states that one purpose of effort with the reporter was to have me removed from the “commission board”, i.e. the Animal Advisory Committee.

    “----- Original Message -----

    From: lndmonk@aol.com

    To: monkeyyardsale@yahoogroups.com

    Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 3:11 PM

    Subject: Re: [monkeyyardsale] Caorle Baskins.

    In a message dated 3/10/06 3:06:36 PM Central Standard Time, lndmonk@aol.com writes:

    No Vernon didn't I did... with Vernons information..lol.... and with all the messages we have sent out, (you and me) she is being removed from the commission board and they will be doing a TV expose' on her next week.. the tv crew is out at Vernons now.. he keeps calling me and having me speak to the reporter on behalf of simply simian... so we are in the forefront anyway.... Gloria is the one that wanted the website.. she is our ace in the hole, a professional lobbyist.. doing a crack up job at it too.. and she is thinking we are angels as we put that site up for her.. she was supposed to send you a check for the cost a few days ago.. so when you get it that is what it is for... not a membership... from Gloria Johnson...

    I thought this was going to Karen please you guys keep this quiet... “

    As you can see, it has been their plan to use you to remove me from the Advisory Board since back in March when they fed Chris Hawes the misinformation she relied on for her article. Gloria Johnson is the person in the St. Pete Times article today called Cuddly Pet or Wild Animal? HERE

    The following seems to be circulating all over.

    On Behalf Of Raven Simons
    Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 5:59 PM
    To: EPOU@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [EPOU] FW: FL Animal Rights activist removed from Animal Advisory

    Hello all,

    I am asking an important favor of everyone. Please write a thank you letter to Mr. Brian Blair for removing Carole Lewis Baskin (Big Cat Rescue and Humane USA) from the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee. Carole is having a fit at being removed. Mr. Blair needs to show community support on this decision.

    To all the bird people- This is the women that posted our names and address on her Humane USA website.

    To all the pet owners- I welcome anyone to attend the meetings with us. This group called the Animal Advisory committee are nuts. They are extreme in their views.

    Please feel free to forward this email to supportive individuals. We need as many letters as possible by Sunday 6/4/06. Anyone and everyone can write a letter, not just Hillsborough County people. This effects any animal owner. Counties tend to follow each other's lead.

    Animal rights activist do not have a place on an advisory committee. They have a personal agenda that is not in anyone's best interest, including the animals.

    Mr. Blair can be reached at Blair b@hillsboroughcounty.org . I am including the letter that I sent.

    Thank you,

    Lisa

    Dear Mr. Blair:

    I am writing to thank you for removing Carole Lewis Baskin from the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee.

    I have been attending the Animal Advisory meetings. The committee is made up of animal rescue/ animal rights individuals and local veterinarians. Ms. Baskin is the Florida director of Humane USA , an animal rights group. I feel there should be individuals representing the pet community (groomers, kennel owners, dog trainers,ect.) on this advisory committee.

    The current Animal Advisory committee is outrageous in their proposals. They would like theHillsborough County ordinances to regulate the pet population and our ownership to an extreme. Without the balance of pet industry individuals, I feel that Hillsborough County will not be a pet friendly place to live. The pet industryprovides many jobs in our area andhas amultimillion dollar impact on our County. The medical community has also proven that pets improve the quality of our lives.

    The story on BayNews 9 about the fraudulent fund raising at Big Cat Rescue, which Ms. Baskin is the CEO, is of concern also. It makes you question her integrity.

    Thank you for taking the time to address this issue.

    Respectfully,

    Lisa Welch

    This is also being circulated through the email list of the Phoenix Exotics, a group who promote exotic pet ownership and whose abuse was documented in the API study. Please notice that they view the entire Committee as “nuts” and feel people who are concerned about animal welfare have no place on it. This link is an undercover investigation video into members of Phoenix Exotics http://www.api4animals.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=16&pos=0 It is well worth the time to watch to fully understand why these people are doing all they can to discredit me and Big Cat Rescue.

    See more on the resignation HERE

    Posts from Phoenix Exotics and Others

    We have listed information on those who seek to discredit Big Cat Rescue for two reasons:

    1. So that you can make your own determination as to their credibility and sincerity.

    2. In the hopes that you will say a silent prayer for them asking that they find peace and discover their inner beauty that will cause them to want to spread good will rather than gossip.

    In the posts below, you will see that these people appear to threaten my life, encourage others to try and discredit us, sow seeds of doubt and even try to cause us financial harm by getting the whole group to click repeatedly on our pay per click advertising so that we will be billed unfairly. They suggest contacting those who provide service to us and our supporters to try and poison them against us. We have not included it here, but on their chat group they discuss methods to violate the Lacey Act and smuggle exotics across state and federal borders. Despite all of the malicious intent on the part of the following people, who we will identify as best we can, since they hide behind email addresses, we do not have ill will toward them. We are all here on planet earth to learn our lessons and to grow from them. We are no judge of anyone and provide this so that you can make your own judgment.

    All of the typos, mis spellings and bad grammar of the original writers have been left in tact.

    Who are these people and why do they not want laws that would restrict the trade in dangerous exotic animals? Find out HERE

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Debbie Sandlin AKA Debra Sandl Debbie Sandlin AKA Debra Sandlin

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Debbie Sandlin

    When Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue became known for trying to stop the trade in exotic cats as pets, Debbie Sandlin began slandering them in an attempt to draw the attention off the subject; Exotic Animals as Pets, which is not a subject anyone can defend, and try to misdirect attention in any way she can.

    Debbie Sandlin was briefly a volunteer at Wildlife on Easy Street about a decade ago. She never graduated from Red level to Yellow level which indicates that she either was there less than 6 months, did not keep her volunteer hours up or that she was not progressing through her training as required to achieve the next level. After Don Lewis disappeared in 1997 the sanctuary stopped breeding and trading in exotic cats and there was a small band of people who left when the policies changed. Between 1997 and 1999 Susan Aronoff , Judy Watson , Jim Moore, and Debbie Sandlin left Wildlife on Easy Street because of the change in direction .

    Susan Aronoff, nka Susan Bradshaw was thrown out of the volunteer program when she was caught making money on the side by inviting guests to stick their hands in a lion's mouth to let him lick raw meat off their hands. She since has relocated a number of times, living briefly with Debbie Sandlin and others. Susan started a number of big cat breeding facilities, such as the Preservation Station, but has had to relocate several times after irritating her neighbors, alienating her sponsors and being financially incapable of staying afloat. Vernon Yates has housed her lion, Judah, for her when she was without land and caging in his 2 acre backyard facility that holds nearly 50 big cats in concrete cells. It was this alliance of Vernon Yates , Susan Aronoff, and Debbie Sandlin, that fed the lies and half truths to the Bay News 9 reporter, Chris Hawes . Because they have been able to mislead one reporter they have used the credibility of the Bay News 9 name as their sole source of credibility.

    Debbie Sandlin was the woman in the trailer carrying the pet monkey around with her in the video taped interview by Bay News 9. People who know her say that she does most of this at Susan Bradshaw's bidding because she looks up to Susan and wants to please her. She stalks Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue and has called in to repeat her nasty diatribe as a phone in caller on WMNF when Carole Baskin was interviewed. She has written numerous letters to supporters, regulating bodies, accrediting organizations and the media trying to discredit Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue.

    These people often use aliases, false addresses and other methods to hide their real identities when they spread their libelous claims because when their background becomes known, it is apparent that there is no truth to their assertions. It is all a ruse, meant to distract from the real issue which is that exotic animals should not be kept as pets.

    The letter that Carole Baskin wrote advising neighbors of exotic animal owners about a public workshop to address the proposal that neighbors be notified in the event of an escape is posted below:

    Dear Exotic Animal Neighbor, October 2, 2007

    Did you even know that there are people living right next to you who own dangerous Class I and Class II wild animals? It could be anything from a bobcat to a tiger. While they may be caged now, what happens in a hurricane? The cobras and black mamba sort of neighbors are even more prone to escape. We post a list of the big cat escapes, killings & maulings on our website.

    Keeping wild animals in private collections is cruel to the animals and dangerous for you.

    At a recent meeting of the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission they voted down a recommendation that neighbors be notified BEFORE someone moves in next to them with dangerous wild animals because the breeders, dealers and exotic pet owners were there but their neighbors weren’t. They decided to offer two more meetings for neighbors to respond before voting on whether you should be notified when a dangerous wild animal escapes near you .

    Of course, just like all of their other meetings, you won’t be notified by them of when and where.

    We think you have a right to know.

    DATE AND TIME: October 8, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    PLACE: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry Auditorium, 1911 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32614.

    DATE AND TIME: October 9, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    PLACE: The Ft. Lauderdale City Commission Chambers, 100 N. Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1016.

    For more information on the meetings contact Captain Linda E. Harrison, FWC Division of Law Enforcement Linda.harrison@MyFWC.com

    To find out who in your neighborhood has these animals will cost you $50.00 (and a lot of frustration, because the FWC doesn’t want you to know) but you can try to get the list from FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Attn. Debbie Manderfield 2590 Executive Center Circle, Suite #200 Tallahassee, Fl 32301. We purchased the list and found your address to be adjacent to one of the owners of Class I or Class II wildlife. We thought you ought to know.

    For the cats,

    Carole Baskin, Founder

    Debbie Sandlin was quoted in opposition to a bond requirement that insures exhibitors of big dangerous animals can be held accountable.

    Captive wildlife changes

    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering requiring anyone obtaining or making change to a permit for large wildlife to notify neighbors and emergency personnel.

    Owners who exhibit animals would be required to buy $2 million worth of insurance or post a $10,000 bond to cover the costs of escapes and injuries.

    For more information, visit http://myfwc.com/commission/2007/Sept07/index.html ...

    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Thursday considered changes for Class I wildlife permits. The permits are required for owners of big cats such as tigers, large primates like baboons, elephants, bears, rhinoceros and other large wildlife.

    More than two dozen residents and organizations in the region hold Class I permits. They include zoos and wildlife sanctuaries as well as private businesses that train, breed and sell exotic animals.

    ...But the commission did move forward a measure requiring owners who exhibit animals to buy $2 million worth of insurance or post a $10,000 bond to cover the costs of escapes and injuries.

    The Florida Legislature passed the bonding and insurance requirement last session, expanding a bill that initially dealt only with venomous snakes. Gov. Charlie Crist signed the measure into law, so the requirement will be effective next year unless lawmakers make changes.

    ...Others include wildlife breeders, trainers and roadside zoos. Exotic animals in the region gained attention in 1998, when a Bengal tiger in Newberry killed its trainer and owner in a six-week span.

    Kari Bagnall, founder and director of Jungle Friends, said the incident shows why private owners shouldn't keep large wildlife. She said private owners also include businesses that sell animals for their parts, teeth and pelts.

    The law should be changed to prevent anyone except certified sanctuaries and zoos from having Class I permits, she said.

    "They really just need to make these animals illegal," she said.

    Florida's subtropical climate, tourist industry and Miami's role as a major port account for a large number of exotic wildlife in the state, said Capt. John West of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

    The state bans residents from having Class I wildlife as pets. Residents can still obtain permits to exhibit the animals, which allows rescue operations and others to keep wildlife if they publicly show the animals or use the animals for educational purposes.

    Wildlife must be kept behind fences at least 8 feet tall. New regulations require public notification in case an escape happens.

    "The neighbors would get a call, law enforcement would get a call and we would get a call," West said.

    Holly said he used to breed wildlife in Maryland and had a neighbor there who continually called law enforcement for minor issues. He said he fears a requirement to notify neighbors of permits will lead to similar problems here.

    "There's lots of reasons your neighbors should not control what you do," he said.

    The bonding and insurance requirements apply only to people who exhibit wildlife and not those who breed them. Holly said he already has insurance, which he thinks is a necessity for anyone with large animals.

    "Everyone should have insurance in this world," he said...

    Archer resident Debra Sandlin has permits for large cats and primates, but said she only has a black macaque, a monkey that now requires a Class II permit.

    Fish and Wildlife should concentrate on enforcing existing regulations, she said, rather than adding new ones.

    The changes are intended to bolster large sanctuaries while forcing small operations out of business, she said.

    "It's not going to benefit the animals," she said.
    

    Excerpted from the Gainesville Sun

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners .
    

    See an interactive online map of exotic cat owners . See people being stupid with big cats, endangering themselves and others HERE . See the awful conditions that many captive cats endure HERE .

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  • 2 years ago
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