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• Nay Aug wildlife housing has l Nay Aug wildlife housing has long, troubled past

  • From: Guatemala
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    Nay Aug wildlife housing has long, troubled past

    
    

    Princess Penny, a 21-month-old elephant, unties the shoe of a visitor. Times-Tribune archive - Sept. 1, 1966

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    BY LAURA LEGERE
    STAFF WRITER

    Published: Tuesday, April 07, 2009
    Updated: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 12:56 PM EDT

    Third of three parts
    
    The Nay Aug Zoo was a center of civic pride for decades after it opened in 1920. In 1924 and 1935, new elephants were purchased using money raised by schoolchildren, a penny at a time. In 1955, about 500 people visited each day. Footage compiled by Hank Robinson into a film about the history of the zoo shows the park crowded with visitors during a summer day in the 1960s. Copies of his film are available at all Lackawanna County public libraries.
    
    When Genesis Wildlife Center was officially opened in November 2003 in one of the former zoo’s buildings, Mayor Chris Doherty called up that past.
    
    “Even I remember coming here as a kid,” he said at the center’s unveiling. “The zoo was a big part of the city’s identity. The thing I didn’t anticipate with this project was how much of an emotional hold it had on people.”
    

    Critics of the wildlife center say the “emotional hold” of the park’s past — and a selective memory about the zoo’s history of mistakes — helps explain how the city has been able to persist in keeping exotic animals in an aging structure there.
    
    
    
    “The mayor has very good company in our collective nostalgia for Nay Aug the way it was,” Eunice Alexander, a former Scranton resident, said. “I think it colored our thinking as a people. It just seems like we’ve allowed ourselves to think that we could have this.”
    
    Ms. Alexander pointed out a “long history of keeping animals in too-small areas” at the park during a period when “we didn’t know any better.”
    
    “But now, we know better,” she said.
    
    A familiar debate
    
    The debate over the future of the Genesis Wildlife Center is strikingly similar to the debate over Nay Aug Zoo that raged a quarter century ago, and another debate that flared two decades before that.
    
    In 1983, the Humane Society of the United States named the zoo to a list of the nation’s 10 most substandard zoos. Sue Pressman, director of captive wildlife protection for the Humane Society, noted “the exhibits at the Scranton Zoo are so outdated and sterile that there can be no understanding of the animals’ natural behaviors.” She called even the newest exhibits “archaic” by the standards of modern zoology.
    
    The chairman of the local Zoological Society at the time defended the zoo by pointing out it was licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and it was visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.
    
    “I think the city is getting more than its money’s worth,” said the chairman, W. Boyd Hughes.
    
    Two decades earlier, in 1963, the Humane Society of Lackawanna County criticized the Zoological Society for its approach to renovating the zoo’s heating system, leaky roof and a drafty lion and tiger cage.
    
    It had been a particularly dramatic year at the zoo: a bull elk gored to death a 10-week-old baby elk; a monkey bit the fingers of a zoo attendant who tried to capture it after it escaped; four monkeys and possibly a burro died from exposure to winter weather because the building was insufficiently heated; and a female lion killed two cubs after a faulty door allowed her to get into their cage.
    
    “Zoos start in a spate of excitement and money, and gradually, both diminish,” Hilda Ziegler, the Humane Society’s secretary, said in her criticism of the renovations at the time. “The needs of the animals do not diminish when the money does. It is necessary to look ahead not only to next year but to the next 20 years.”
    
    Tragic history
    
    Before it closed in 1989 because of financial struggles, Nay Aug Zoo’s history was filled with stories of animal escapes, abuse by visitors and occasional tragedies.
    
    In April 1964, two adult bears mauled to death a 2-year-old cub that had gotten into their cage. According to Scranton Times accounts at the time, three boys witnessed “the maelstrom of tangling fur, claws and teeth” as the young bear was killed.
    
    Later that year, a 75-year-old zoo attendant was fatally gored by a bull elk that charged him while he was trying to protect employees fixing a water line. He died after suffering a crushed chest, collapsed lung and severe punctures of the abdomen.
    
    In 1966, a capuchin monkey, described by zookeeper George Lowry as “on the ferocious side,” was shot and killed after it escaped from the zoo. That same year, a baboon was found dead in its cage with a fractured skull, evidently from being hit in the head with a metal bar.
    
    In 1967, a 4-year-old alligator escaped for two days into Roaring Brook, where Mr. Lowry shot it twice in the head with a rifle, mortally wounding it. Less than a week later, someone entered the zoo and let a mountain lion out of its cage. The lion was tranquilized nearby, but during the excitement, an employee left open the cage holding a pony and two llamas, all of which briefly escaped.
    
    The same month, Princess Penny, an elephant, choked on a stuffed toy that had been thrown into her paddock, and a zoo attendant had to retrieve the toy from her throat.
    
    In 1970, a group of boys released two 350-pound Himalayan black bears from their dens. The bears were shot by police as they began wandering in the park near Lake Lincoln. A year earlier, a white fallow deer was found dead in the children’s zoo, near about 20 stones and a bloody 3-foot tree limb that had evidently been used to kill it.
    
    ‘Not a good zoo’
    
    By the end of 1989, the joint city-and-county-run zoo was in debt and struggling to finance a plan to turn the zoo into a facility that better conformed to the natural environment of the hilly park or one that featured only animals native to North America. After a concerted effort to place the remaining animals in other zoos, the number of animals had dwindled from about 200 in the 1960s to three: two bears and an elephant.
    
    By the time the last animal, Toni the elephant, was moved to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., it was acknowledged it had been unsuitable for the elephant to be kept without peers. It was also noted that a stiffening of the lower joint in her left front leg might have been exacerbated by standing on the concrete of her pen all day.
    
    That year, for the second time in five years, the zoo was listed among the nation’s 10 worst zoos in an article published by Parade magazine. Although many defended the animals’ treatment at the zoo, Eleanor Ginader, a board member of the local Zoological Society said, “Truly, it is not a good zoo. We’d be the first to admit it.”
    
    Three years earlier, in 1986, she had explained the problem with the zoo and a hope for its future.
    
    “I’m sure that the Nay Aug Zoo in the 1930s was one of the finest examples of zoos at that time, but it is still a 1930 zoo,” she said. “It has not been updated; it has not kept pace with the times; it’s not had the money; it’s been one financial crisis after another, and so we have to change.”
    
    She added, “We either have to have something that’s one of the best, even though it’s small, or we don’t have anything at all.”
    
    Read more from the Concrete Jungle series
    
    Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com

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  • 1 year ago
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• Bear Creek Feline Center Bear Creek Feline Center

  • From: Anon
  • Description:

    Posted here:

    http://bigcatnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/caroles-letter-re-bear-creek-feline.html

    Bear Creek Feline Center is no sanctuary.  Real sanctuaries do not breed their animals.  Real sanctuaries do not let people go in the cages with animals who are capable of killing animals much larger than humans.  Real sanctuaries are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.  Real sanctuaries meet the guidelines posted at SanctuaryStandards.com
    
    If you visit that site and see how reputable sanctuaries behave you will see that Bear Creek is just a back yard menagerie.
    
    Some of the most disturbing elements that you mentioned were that the owners were bragging about how inbred their cougars are, and how they intend to continue to breed them, so they can fool the public into thinking they are FL panthers.  If you check with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, you will find that these are not FL panthers, but just very inbred to look like them, with the kinked tails, cowlick, etc. that are the earmarks of FL panthers.  Those earmarks are nothing to be proud of.  That is the result of FL not doing their job in protecting wild cougars in FL to the point that their numbers dropped to around 30 in the late 1990s.  They dropped to those levels, largely because of inbreeding that came about from pockets of cats not being able to access other, non related cats.  Eventually the inbreeding causes the animals to stop reproducing.  You can get the whole background on why inbreeding is so bad by learning more about the white tiger: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/white_tigers.htm
    
    I participated in the American Zoological Association's Felid Taxon Advisory Group's assessment of how many species of cats were in zoos back in the late 1990s and there was only one aging Jaguarundi in the U.S. at the time.  How did Jim Broaddus come by his?  Exporting from their native range is nearly impossible.  Can he prove to you that this was done legally?  If it was, what was the point of taking cats from the wild to live in his back yard cages?  For years people have made the excuse for this bad behavior by saying they are "educating" the public and causing them to care about animals in the wild, but you will find these places, including most zoos, either send no money back into conservation, or only enough to serve as lip service.
    
    The fact is that if someone can pay $10.00 to see an exotic cat in a cage, they will not send $10.00 to protect that animal in the wild.  They will pay for the convenience of seeing the cat in a cage, rather than protect it in the wild.  If the only way you could see a Jaguarundi was to go to Central or South America and plow money into eco tourism, then these and other rare and endangered species would have some chance at survival.
    
    No matter what they are saying with their lips, if a person takes a wild cat out on a leash, they make it look like a pet.  This is how so many people are duped into fueling the exotic pet trade, which is second only to the illegal trade in drugs.  It's bad for the animals and dangerous for the people.  The following is a partial listing (583) of incidents in the U.S. involving captive exotic cats since 1990. The U.S. incidents have resulted in the deaths of 21 humans, 16 adults and 5 children, the additional mauling of 193 more adults and children, 170 escapes, the killing of 92 big cats, and 122 confiscations.  These figures only represent the headlines that Big Cat Rescue has been able to track.  Because there is no reporting agency that keeps such records the actual numbers are certainly much higher.  http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news.htm
    
    To see the number of exotic cats abandoned each year go to http://www.bigcatrescue.org/animal_abuse.htm
    
    Florida represents less than 6% of the U.S. population while 12% of all U.S. incidents occur in Florida.  Florida boasts the most comprehensive sets of regulations allowing private ownership of exotic cats while ranking #1 in the highest numbers of big cat killings, maulings and escapes. To see FL rules that are currently being changed go to:  http://www.bigcatrescue.org/laws/2008/captivewildanimalrules.htm
    
    The only intelligent remark made by your subject was, "They're very, very intelligent animals."  That is true and that is why it is so cruel to breed them, support those who breed them (by buying or giving them a dumping ground), or take them from the wild for lives of captivity and deprivation.  At Big Cat Rescue we have 137 exotic cats and our staff of 84 volunteers spends most of their time trying to keep them comfortable and stimulated.  Science is proving that animals are far more complex than we ever imagined.  When you consider that a bobcat needs 5 square miles of territory to fully express all of their instinctual talents then it becomes clear why keeping them in cages is so inhumane.
    
    I used to be ignorant, but I learned better.  Our evolution is all on our website.  There is no excuse, in this day of the Internet, for people to continue to breed wildcats for life in cages.  Those who do are not saving animals, but are exploiting them.  I hope you will continue to investigate this issue and let the public know what is really going on in the name of "rescue" and "conservation."

    Carole Baskin, Founder of Big Cat Rescue

  • 1 year ago
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• Bear Creek Feline Center Jim B Bear Creek Feline Center Jim Broaddus

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    Carole's letter to the reporter:
    
    Dear Will Hobson whobson@pcnh.com,
    
    Bear Creek Feline Center is no sanctuary.  Real sanctuaries do not breed their animals.  Real sanctuaries do not let people go in the cages with animals who are capable of killing animals much larger than humans.  Real sanctuaries are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.  Real sanctuaries meet the guidelines posted at SanctuaryStandards.com
    
    If you visit that site and see how reputable sanctuaries behave you will see that Bear Creek is just a back yard menagerie. 
    
    Some of the most disturbing elements that you mentioned were that the owners were bragging about how inbred their cougars are, and how they intend to continue to breed them, so they can fool the public into thinking they are FL panthers.  If you check with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, you will find that these are not FL panthers, but just very inbred to look like them, with the kinked tails, cowlick, etc. that are the earmarks of FL panthers.  Those earmarks are nothing to be proud of.  That is the result of FL not doing their job in protecting wild cougars in FL to the point that their numbers dropped to around 30 in the late 1990s.  They dropped to those levels, largely because of inbreeding that came about from pockets of cats not being able to access other, non related cats.  Eventually the inbreeding causes the animals to stop reproducing.  You can get the whole background on why inbreeding is so bad by learning more about the white tiger: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/white_tigers.htm
    
    I participated in the American Zoological Association's Felid Taxon Advisory Group's assessment of how many species of cats were in zoos back in the late 1990s and there was only one aging Jaguarundi in the U.S. at the time.  How did Jim Broaddus come by his?  Exporting from their native range is nearly impossible.  Can he prove to you that this was done legally?  If it was, what was the point of taking cats from the wild to live in his back yard cages?  For years people have made the excuse for this bad behavior by saying they are "educating" the public and causing them to care about animals in the wild, but you will find these places, including most zoos, either send no money back into conservation, or only enough to serve as lip service. 
    
    The fact is that if someone can pay $10.00 to see an exotic cat in a cage, they will not send $10.00 to protect that animal in the wild.  They will pay for the convenience of seeing the cat in a cage, rather than protect it in the wild.  If the only way you could see a Jaguarundi was to go to Central or South America and plow money into eco tourism, then these and other rare and endangered species would have some chance at survival. 
    
    No matter what they are saying with their lips, if a person takes a wild cat out on a leash, they make it look like a pet.  This is how so many people are duped into fueling the exotic pet trade, which is second only to the illegal trade in drugs.  It's bad for the animals and dangerous for the people.  The following is a partial listing (583) of incidents in the U.S. involving captive exotic cats since 1990. The U.S. incidents have resulted in the deaths of 21 humans, 16 adults and 5 children, the additional mauling of 193 more adults and children, 170 escapes, the killing of 92 big cats, and 122 confiscations.  These figures only represent the headlines that Big Cat Rescue has been able to track.  Because there is no reporting agency that keeps such records the actual numbers are certainly much higher.  http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news.htm
    
    To see the number of exotic cats abandoned each year go to http://www.bigcatrescue.org/animal_abuse.htm
    
    Florida represents less than 6% of the U.S. population while 12% of all U.S. incidents occur in Florida.  Florida boasts the most comprehensive sets of regulations allowing private ownership of exotic cats while ranking #1 in the highest numbers of big cat killings, maulings and escapes. To see FL rules that are currently being changed go to: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/laws/2008/captivewildanimalrules.htm
    
    The only intelligent remark made by your subject was, "They're very, very intelligent animals."  That is true and that is why it is so cruel to breed them, support those who breed them (by buying or giving them a dumping ground), or take them from the wild for lives of captivity and deprivation.  At Big Cat Rescue we have 137 exotic cats and our staff of 84 volunteers spends most of their time trying to keep them comfortable and stimulated.  Science is proving that animals are far more complex than we ever imagined.  When you consider that a bobcat needs 5 square miles of territory to fully express all of their instinctual talents then it becomes clear why keeping them in cages is so inhumane. 
    
    I used to be ignorant, but I learned better.  Our evolution is all on our website.  There is no excuse, in this day of the Internet, for people to continue to breed wildcats for life in cages.  Those who do are not saving animals, but are exploiting them.  I hope you will continue to investigate this issue and let the public know what is really going on in the name of "rescue" and "conservation."
    
    --
    For the cats,
    
    Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
    an Educational Sanctuary home
    to more than 100 big cats
    12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL  33625
    813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
    
    http://www.BigCatRescue.org
    SaveTheBigCats@gmail.com
    
    Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:
    
    http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU
    
    This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
    confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
    only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above.  You are hereby
    notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
    the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
    recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
    viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
    by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.
    
    Cats rule at Bear Creek (See VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY)
    By WILL HOBSON / News Herald Writer
    February 28, 2009 - 5:38PM
    
    PANAMA CITY - Hero, the Siberian lynx, is suffering from stage
    fright. Tours at Bear Creek Feline Center, the feline sanctuary off
    U.S. 231, are usually treated to Hero's leaping skills, but today the
    50-pound cat won't oblige.
    
    Hero is a regal-looking cat, with sandy brown spotted fur and a white
    belly. He is sitting against the back wall of his cage, ignoring the
    requests of Amanda Libert, a Bear Creek volunteer, to come out and
    play.
    
    At first glance the most striking characteristic of a lynx is its
    oversized feet. They act as snowshoes when the cat is in its frigid
    natural habitat; here they make Hero, an otherwise beautiful
    creature, look a little odd, like a 10-year-old boy with size-13 feet.
    
    "They have these luxurious coats. You put your hand on it and it just
    sinks in," says Jim Broaddus, who started the non-profit sanctuary at
    his home in 2000. Bear Creek, which offers tours ($10 for adults, $5
    for children), also houses bobcats, panthers, caracals, servals, and
    feisty little otterish-looking cats called jaguarundis.
    
    As Broaddus, 65, talks about Hero, the lynx perks up. Hero's pale
    eyes lock in on something behind me, and he pulls his legs, and those
    big feet, together into a crouch, as if preparing to pounce.
    
    Libert recognizes the stance.
    
    "Oh, he's hunting," she says matter-of-factly. I stop paying
    attention to Broaddus and look over to the 19-year-old Libert.
    
    "He's hunting?" I ask. Broaddus normally doesn't allow people inside
    the cage with lynx, which in the wild hunt rabbits, rodents, and
    sometimes game as large as sheep and deer. He made an exception for
    the photographer and me. I begin to wish he hadn't.
    
    "What is he hunting?" I ask nervously.
    
    Broaddus answers dismissively, "Oh, just the domestic," referring to
    Obama, one of his four housecats, who is conveniently outside the
    cage.
    
    They're right - Hero zones in on Obama, sizes up the cage, then gives
    up. He barely looks at me or the photographer. I exhale.
    
    Most of Broaddus' cats are rescues, or re-homes. Hero was bought from
    a Nova Scotian fur farm, where he was destined to become a blanket or
    a coat before Broaddus bought him.
    
    The biggest feline on Broaddus' 2.5 acres is Cleo, a 200-pound
    mountain lion. The smallest are the jaguarundis, which are just a bit
    larger than housecats, but you can tell the difference right away.
    Jaguarundis hiss like angry rattlesnakes at strangers, but Broaddus
    says they're all bark, no bite.
    
    The panthers are the big attraction. Dani is four years old, weighs
    about 70 pounds and, according to Broaddus, is the prototypical
    Florida panther.
    
    "She has the Romanesque nose, the cowlick, the tip on her tail, the
    whole package deal. If we could only get her to breed, we'd be
    famous," he says.
    
    Educating the public
    
    Broaddus created Bear Creek for conservation and enrichment - to
    teach people about these cats while also providing a place where, he
    hopes, the ones facing extinction can breed. He estimates there are
    only about 100 Florida panthers in the wild, and Bear Creek's
    breeding efforts have been in vain so far. Dani and Thatcher, the
    male panther, don't get along well, Broaddus says.
    
    We are not allowed to join Broaddus in the cage with Dani. Panthers
    are not known to attack humans, but they can get playful, and playful
    for a 70-pound cat can be painful for a human.
    
    Bear Creek is in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by a six-foot
    chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. A slightly taller wooden
    fence runs outside the metal one. Other than a few of his housecats,
    none of Broaddus' animals have ever escaped, he says.
    
    Bear Creek volunteers train to handle the cats under Broaddus'
    direction, so they can obtain state licenses to train on their own.
    Mike Myers, one of those volunteers, takes Marilyn, a 9-month-old
    panther, outside of her cage on a leash. Myers tries to get Marilyn
    to sit, but she does not comply. He asks her again. She half-sits for
    a second, then rolls over on her back.
    
    "Okay, lay," he says, admitting defeat. Marilyn then curls around his
    left leg and starts gnawing on his jeans. As he tries to shake her
    loose I ask him what it takes to get comfortable around a panther.
    
    "Just spend time with her, and don't mind a few nips," he answers.
    Marilyn has acquiesced to being petted as Myers kneels, but then she
    clutches onto his leg. Myers tries to stand up, and Marilyn rises
    with him, her paws latched onto his leg. She falls off, then,
    apparently a bit upset, leaps and bites Myers in the rear end. His
    laughter breaks into an "Ow!"
    
    Lynn Culver, a past president of the Feline Conservation
    Organization, sold Broaddus some serval kittens (servals look like
    small cheetahs, between jaguarundis and lynx in terms of size) when
    he started Bear Creek in 2000.
    
    "Florida is rather unique in that it does have a large and exotic
    animal population," Culver says in a phone interview.
    
    "With so many people interested in the animals ... there's a need for
    what Jim does, so we can have the next generation of keepers, and
    they can be better than the previous one."
    
    `Very intelligent animals'
    
    A few days after our first visit to Bear Creek, I join Broaddus in
    his kitchen. Gregarious when leading the tour the previous week,
    Broaddus is now a bit quieter, but no less eager to talk shop.
    
    "Bay County is starved for good, quality, family things to do. The
    restaurants, the night clubs, when you run through those, what are
    you going to do?" he asks.
    
    Broaddus used to own two local radio stations - WPFM (107.9) and
    Island 106 (105.9). He sold them both, the latter in 1996. His
    interest in music is still evident, though. He named Dani after "Dani
    California", the song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. When asked about
    tattoos on his wrist and neck, Broaddus simply says, "I guess they're
    from the whole rock and roll scene," and quickly changes the topic.
    
    His wife, Bertie, is a teacher at Waller Elementary School. The cats
    are like family members; one of the servals slept with the Broaddus'
    until it started urinating in the bed. Dani spends most of her time
    on a deck outside their bedroom.
    
    A silence in the conversation is broken by the sound of liquid
    clapping against concrete. Dani is relieving herself from the deck.
    Jim blushes.
    
    "Well that's kind of embarrassing," he says.
    
    I ask him if he ever worries about one of the cats going off on him
    Siegfried and Roy-style.
    
    "I do. I think about it," he says, then looks off into his yard in a
    moment of introspection.
    
    "I probably shouldn't even tell you this, but I was in the hospital
    for a while last year ... Cleo slapped me in the head. It wasn't his
    fault, he was just doing what cats do."
    
    The blow gave Broaddus a subdural hematoma. He recovered, though, and
    is quick to point out that that could never happen with a guest; they
    don't go in the cage with Cleo.
    
    "They're very, very intelligent animals," said Broaddus of his
    panthers. I ask him how a panther reacts when it encounters humans in
    the wild.
    
    "He'd run away from you if he had the chance," he answers. "If I had
    100 acres, and had one living out there next to me, I'd try to make
    friends with it."
    
    http://www.newsherald.com/news/broaddus_72224___article.html/bear_hero
    .html
    
    

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  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 836

• 1 Southwest Ranches FL Think B 1 Southwest Ranches FL Think Big Cats Are Trophies

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Despite the clueless reporter making a cutesy fluff piece of this article, the 128 public comments show that the public isn't so ignorant any more.  The vast majority recognize that people who own exotic animals as pets and status symbols are animal abusers and don't understand that most of the exotic pet owners live in poverty and squalor. If the rich were spending their money to help animals, they would see that they are only imitating the poor and illiterate. 
    
    Some South Floridians, wild about big cats, let carnivores roam their home
    Licensed owners take on the commitment — and the risks
    
    By Mike Clary |South Florida Sun Sentinel
        7:53 AM EST, January 23, 2009
    
    In Southwest Ranches, a 100-pound Siberian lynx named Sasha roams Steve and Barbara Burk's house like the alpha-male predator he is.
    
    At times the powerful cat paws playfully at a llama, a goat or another critter in the menagerie the Burks invite in to wander the house. At other times Sasha grows bored with the barnyard hoi polloi and retires to his bedroom, furnished with a double bed and a television.
    
    "He is very socialized, very affectionate," said Barbara Burk. "If he wanted to, he probably could kill me. He has never given me any reason to be worried, but I always have to think that possibility is there."
    
    About 30 residents of Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties hold licenses from the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to keep as pets carnivores that include all wild felines with the exception of lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.
    Related links
    
        *
          Big cats behind those suburban doors Photos
        *
          Rules for getting a wildlife license
        *
          South Florida's exotic animal licenses
        *
          Number of licenses to keep wild cats in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties
        *
          What happens to unwanted exotics?
          Many end up at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, where David Hitzig and a staff of 17 care for hundreds of native mammals, birds and reptiles along with several exotics confiscated by the state. Among current residents that private owners could no longer handle are five cougars, five bobcats, several foxes and a Siberian lynx, Simba, who last year escaped from its owner in Martin County.
    
          Hitzig said he understands the lure of exotic pets. But caring for them, he said, "is a major responsibility."
    
          "If you're looking for a companion, love and attention," said Hitzig, "animal shelters are full of dogs and cats that need a good home."
    
    Many who have exotic medium-sized cats — including cougars, servals, caracals, for example — keep the animals caged outdoors as they would be in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. But other wild cats have been turned into household pets, let loose in the living room, walked outside on leashes and lavished with the same affection and trust as any dog or domestic cat.
    
    West of Lake Worth, Bob the bobcat also has his own bedroom. There he romps with his owners, Felicia Serpico and David Linde, and likes to dart through a 7-foot polyester tunnel from Ikea.
    
    "He's very loving, very happy," said Serpico, a psychologist with a private practice in Sunrise.
    
    At about 30 pounds, Bob is a third Sasha's weight, but he, too, is a wild cat. Serpico keeps that in mind.
    
    "We can trust that he is a bobcat," said Serpico of Bob. "He has strength, stubbornness, agility and sharp teeth. We read him really well. If he's in a bad mood, we're not playing."
    
    Many wildlife organizations and government agencies oppose keeping wild animals as pets.
    
    Beth Preiss of the Humane Society of the United States, said, "A smaller cat such as a bobcat can be as dangerous to a child as a lion or tiger."
    
    Capt. John West, the commission's wildlife coordinator, said, "Wild animals are not recommended" as pets. "They are not domestic, and you are not going to domesticate them," he said.
    
    Injuries have happened. In November a 16-year-old girl was mauled by a cougar in Miami-Dade County. Earlier in the year, two recently adopted cheetahs attacked Judy Berens during a fundraiser at her Panther Ridge Conservation Center in Wellington.
    
    And in a highly publicized 2004 incident, a wildlife officer shot and killed a 600-pound Bengal tiger named Bobo after it escaped from the Loxahatchee home of former Tarzan actor Steve Sipek.
    
    Still, if properly housed by licensed owners in rooms or cages that must be inspected two times a year, keeping wild animals as personal pets is legal in Florida.
    
    Owners say they know the risks, and they also understand the time and money required. Captive wild animals require special diets of whole animals or raw meat, vitamin supplements and, in Bob's case, $130 a month in medications. Cleaning up is nearly a full-time job.
    
    "This is a lifetime commitment," said Serpico, whose 4-year-old cat has epilepsy and takes drugs to control gran mal seizures.
    
    Explained Barbara Burk about Sasha: "To those people who see him and say, 'I want one, too,' I say, 'You have no idea.'"
    
    In choosing to take in an exotic, Palm Beach County conservation commission investigator Shannon Wiyda said, "Your entire life is dedicated to these animals. It has to be. You can't ask the neighborhood kid to watch your pet lynx or bobcat."
    
    Indeed, the daily schedules of the Burks, Serpico and Linde are designed to accommodate the 24-hour demands of a household pet who may be awake all night, has a tendency to spray urine to mark territory and could be a serious danger to himself or others if allowed to escape. The potential for escapes is a major concern of law enforcement. "Some people like to have these things roaming around their house as a status symbol," said Lt. Pat Reynolds, a wildlife commission inspector in Miami.
    Click here to find out more! 
    
    But, he added, "Most of our escapes occur when it runs out the front door. That's the number one problem with these small cats."
    
    Serpico and Linde decided to adopt Bob several months ago after meeting the captive-born kitten at Panther Ridge, where they volunteered.
    
    "It is not about having this animal, but helping this animal," said Linde, a software engineer. "If we didn't have the right to keep him in our house, he probably would have to be put down."
    
    Like Bob, Sasha also was born in captivity. The Burks got him at 3 months from a dealer after their beloved 6-foot water monitor died. "I was looking for a challenge," said Burk, 66, once a body builder who finished second in a Mr. USA competition
    
    The Burks moved in 2005 from Miami Beach to the 4-acre Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports compound where they board 15 horses and spend nearly every waking hour feeding, mopping up and refereeing inter-species squabbles.
    
    At times, the Burks' 7,500-square-foot house resembles a chaotic Noah's Ark, or a fever-dream movie set for a Doctor Dolittle remake.
    
    On a recent morning, for example, Buddy the llama and two goats were scampering through the living room while Phil, a Sicilian donkey, tempted fate by nipping at Sasha's neck as the cat sprawled languidly on the floor.
    
    With a large, squawking hyacinth macaw named Rio flying around, Barbara Burk sat on a couch — tattered by teeth, hoofs and beaks — and stroked a hedgehog the size of a bread loaf.
    
    In the kitchen, Steve prepared a bountiful salad plate for the Sulcata African tortoise — one day closer to gaining his full-grown weight of 100 pounds — and then tossed a handful of live worms to two bearded dragons.
    
    "We're retired," said Steve. "This is our job."
    
    Mike Clary can be reached at mclary@sunsentinel.com or at 305-810-5007.
    
    
    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbcats0123sbjan23,0,7920977.story

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• Tiger Escapes Ingram, TX Tiger Escapes Ingram, TX

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    Escaped tiger nabbed near Ingram
    
    By Zeke MacCormack - Express-News
    
    Kerr County authorities say they'll retain custody of Kimra, a Bengal tiger, until its owner repairs the pen from which the big cat escaped briefly Sunday morning, alarming its Ingram-area neighbors.
    
    The 300-pound pet was shot with a dart gun about 4 a.m. Sunday, said Jamie Roman, Kerr County animal control officer.
    
    “We tranquilized the tiger and took it into custody and the owner is currently working to get the enclosure back into compliance,” she said.
    
    The tiger wasn't acting aggressively, Roman said, and its owner, Anke Leitner, was present when it was caught in a neighbor's yard on Beaver Street just outside Ingram.
    
    Still, Roman admitted, “It was pretty intense.”
    
    Mildred Crenshaw, in whose yard the animal was shot, agreed.
    
    “That's a terrible feeling to wake up with police surrounding your house, with their lights on, and to look out your window and see a tiger standing there,” she said Wednesday.
    
    Crenshaw's daughter, who has a police radio scanner, called to tell her what was transpiring. “Nobody came to my door. Nobody called,” said Crenshaw, 79.
    
    Kimra is properly registered with the county, as required under dangerous animals regulations adopted in 2001, Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer said.
    
    That hasn't eased the concern among those living near the tiger's home, he said.
    
    “I guarantee you all those people don't want it there, but unfortunately she's meeting the law and there's nothing I can do about it,” Hierholzer said.
    
    Leitner declined comment. It took five people to move the sedated animal, which is being kept at an undisclosed location until the pen is repaired and reinspected, Roman said.
    
    “Apparently when (Leitner) went to feed the cat, one of the barbed wires on top (of the pen) fell off and it jumped on a small ledge and got out,” said Roman.
    
    Crenshaw said Leitner's tiger has been a cause of concern for years to nearby residents, some of whom appealed to county and state leaders to no avail.
    
    “Regardless of if she has the right permits and everything else, I don't think anybody should have one, period,” Crenshaw said. “They're not pets.”
    
    Beyond the county regulations, Texas law sets requirements for the registration of dangerous animals and their penning, transport, care, sales and liability insurance coverage. The statute's long list of dangerous animals includes lions, tigers, bears, hyenas, chimps, gorillas and “any hybrid” of any one of them.
    
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/pets/Escaped_tiger_nabbed_near_Ingram.html
    
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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• Big Cat Attacks 2008 Big Cat Attacks 2008

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    December 26, 2008 Mexico City, Mexico:  Lions and tigers were confiscated during drug raid.  A gardener detained along with more than a dozen members of an alleged drug trafficking ring testified that police threatened him to feed him to lions and tigers during a raid at a Mexico City mansion. The gardener, Fernando Maya, testified that police dragged him to cages with lions and tigers and threatened to throw him inside. "They kept saying, where is he? And that they were going to throw me to the lions, they were going to throw me to the tigers, which had not eaten."  Eleven Colombians, a U.S. citizen, two Mexicans an Uruguayan were detained in the raid. Prosecutors said the gang allegedly arranged for cocaine shipments from Colombia to Mexico's Beltran Levya cartel.
    
    December 9, 2008 Albion, IN: Noble County 911 Director Mitch Fiandt said an18-year-old female tiger escaped from the Black Pine Animal Park.  Park officials say the tiger returned to the property 8 hours later and was back in its enclosure about an hour after that.  An Albion firefighter alerted authorities after spotting the tiger on his property.  Authorities shot the tiger with a tranquilizer, but were not immediately able to capture it.
    
    December 8, 2008 Hamilton TWP, NJ:  Santa Claus bit by pet bobcat in Petsmart.  Scratches and bites cover the hand and arm of Jonathan Bebbington, after being mauled by a pet bobcat who was brought to Petsmart for a photo session.  Bebbington says, "It hurt, it had a lot of power in its jaws."  He struggled to control the cat for nearly 5 minutes while it bit him repeatedly. "He locked on here, grabbed the skin," he says as he points to his left hand. The cat's owner left after the incident without providing her name, though she did tell volunteers with Penny Angel's Beagle Rescue, which ran the event, that she had it shipped from Wyoming for $1,500. It is illegal to own a bobcat in New Jersey and allegedly this owner was keeping hers tethered in yard. There have been other cases of bobcats in South Jersey, including Mr. Peepers at the Cape May County Park Zoo, which was rescued from Bridgeton. Anyone with information about the bobcat or its owner should call the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at (609) 645 5931.
    
    December 6, 2008 Wisconsin Dells, WI: Alan Borud was greeted by a 50 lb Siberian Lynx in his yard.  Borud watched as the cat came up on the porch, stood on its hind legs, at which point it was about chest high to Borud, and looked in the window. He called DNR who took the cat to a local humane society.  Big Cat Rescue called the authorities and offered a home to the cat, but Derick Duane of the McKenzie Wildlife Center said the owner was coming to retrieve her. They have had issues with this owner before, and have taken our name as a placement option if the owner cannot keep the Siberian Lynx contained. An anonymous tipster said the owner bought this cat and her mate in MO and then raised them as pets. When the cats reached about a year of age, the male began attacking the husband and son in the family and both the male and female were said to have been turned loose on purpose. No one has caught the male, and the owner denies that there ever was a male cat and denies that he turned this female loose.
    
    December 1, 2008 Cass, WVa:  Davide Cassell killed his pet tiger today said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources.  Murphy said the snowmaking crew at Snowshoe Mountain Resort saw the big cat on Monday morning.  Cassell, who works at Mountain Lodge on Snowshoe Mountain, was trying to find the animal and tranquilize it, but ended up killing the cat instead.  Cassell had a permit for the animal.  In May 2006, an Asian brown bear owned by Cassell escaped and the 400-pound bear was not seen again.
    
    November 27, 2008 Kansas City, KS:  An exotic African cat (a Serval) roaming a Kansas City neighborhood has been shot and killed by police. Residents worried the cat was dangerous to children. But efforts to trap it over several weeks were unsuccessful, and an officer shot it Thursday with a patrol rifle.  Police think the cat was dumped or had escaped from people who were keeping it as a pet. The identity of the owners is not known.
    
    November 26, 2008 Harrisburg, PA:  A Chester County farm caretaker says he thought he was shooting a bobcat in the chicken coop -- then his heart sank when he saw it had a collar.  The animal he killed was a Serval cat that someone was keeping as a pet.  Heim says once he realized he'd shot a pet, he was sad for the animal -- and angry at its owner for allowing it to be out.
    
    November 19, 2008 Columbus, GA:  Wildlife officials say a cougar killed at West Point Lake was an illegal pet.  The 140-pound, 88-inch cat was shot by deer hunter David Adams of Newnan on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land near the Georgia-Alabama border.  Officials said the cat had not been living on wild game and had callouses indicative of living on concrete her whole life.
    
    November 17, 2008 Miami, FL: A 16-year-old girl mauled by a 150-pound cougar required more than two hours of surgery to repair a large gash in the back of her neck suffered when the animal clenched its powerful jaws around her head. "It's really a miracle that she's alive," said a family spokesman. Because the male cougar, named Chaos, was declawed, the girl did not suffer scratches to her face or body.  Saturday's attack was witnessed by the girl's mother, who had brought her daughter to work cleaning out cages at a private wild animal sanctuary in a North Miami-Dade home to earn community service hours required to graduate from high school. The cougar lunged at the teen in the yard of the home of Alan Rigerman who keeps the animals at his home in the 17900 block of Northwest 84th Avenue.  Rigerman owns a second cougar, snakes, tortoises and alligators. The girl and her mother had been brought to the home by Anthony Zitnick, 21, who after the attack was arrested on a charge of burglary of an occupied dwelling. Rigerman told The Miami Herald that Zitnick entered the property with a key he had given him after Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but that Zitnick only helped with the animals while under Rigerman's "supervision."  Zitnick casually knew the girl's mother and had asked her if any of her children would be interested in the nonpaying job.  The girl and her mother had no idea Mr. Zitnick did not belong on the premises, which they entered with a key.
    
    Chaos got agitated, suddenly lurched and pinned the girl, and put his mouth around her head. A neighbor who heard the girl's screams jumped over the fence and helped free her from Chaos' jaws by punching the animal in the face. At the time of Saturday's attack, Rigerman was out of town at a reptile show in Tampa. Rigerman often attends public meetings of Florida's Wildlife Conservation Commission praising them for their lax regulations and enforcement and opposing new rules that would curb his behavior.  He has publicly threatened other attendees who favor tougher regulations.
    
    November 16, 2008 Luray, VA:  A 15 year old keeper lost her finger to a 5 year old tiger named Star at the Luray Zoo located at 1087 US Hwy 211 West, in Luray, Virginia 22835 owned by Mark Kilby and Jennifer Westhoff.  She was showing off and petting the cat in front of visitors at the time.  The Page County Sheriff's Office says the girl's finger was amputated as result of a tiger bite. The private zoo's web page is covered in pictures of people petting exotic cats and behaving recklessly.  The Luray Zoo has frequently employed people as young as 14, said Kilby. It is a violation of VA's Dept. of Labor laws that teens under 18 work in any "occupation that exposes them to a recognized hazard capable of causing serious physical injury or death."  Kilby declined to discuss whether the zoo carries insurance for such attacks.  Besides the tiger, the zoo's 37 mammals include five other breeds of what Kilby terms "big cats" - two lynxes, one serval and one bobcat.
    
    November 14, 2008 Camperdown, So. Africa:  12 lions escaped the Lion Park after a storm downed the fences.  Ten lions have been recaptured and are being kept in cages, while two others are still roving about the reserve.  "Two lions were found at the front gate [of the park] and this was when we first became aware that the others might have escaped," Boswell said.  A search party of about 20 Lion Park staff members, a helicopter pilot and a district official from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) conservation authority searched for the remaining 10 lions throughout the morning.  The police and the EKZNW officials were notified, but were asked NOT to alert the public of the potential danger lurking in the tall grass.  Boswell said that the park did not want to involve the public because they did not wish to cause public panic.
    
    November 13, 2008 Singapore:  Three white tigers mauled Nordin Bin Montong, 32, a Malaysian working as a cleaner at the zoo, to death after the man jumped into their enclosure. "Keepers managed to separate the worker from the tiger. While waiting for the ambulance, our vets attended to him," said Guha. "The worker
    tragically succumbed to his wound." Nordin was seen behaving in an agitated manner before he fell into the moat. Terrified visitors near the section watched the vicious attack in horror and screamed, the paper said. Aziz Ansari, 16, a student, filmed the initial part of the horrific attack with his handphone. The video clip showed Mr Nordin's desperate fight to save himself, first by trying to get up and back into the moat, then by kicking one of the two tigers.
    
    November 11, 2008 Mexico City, Mexico:  A tiger escaped from an unlocked cage at a commercial zoo and fatally mauled its caretaker before it was captured and killed.  State officials said that Bioparque Estrella had closed Monday when the tiger escaped his unlocked cage and fatally attacked 26-year-old Herminio Rodriguez Palma.  Some 150 police officers and zoo veterinarians began an intense search for the tiger at the 740-acre wild animal park in the countryside northwest of Mexico City. Mexico has had problems with dangerous animals escaping from their caretakers recently.  In September, a five-ton elephant got away from his trainer at a circus, wandered onto a highway outside Mexico City and was fatally hit by a bus. The bus driver also was killed.  Three tigers escaped from a circus truck and took shelter in a house in western Mexico last week and in August, a 500-pound lion escaped from a local lawmaker's private zoo in southern Mexico, killing two dogs and a pig and attacking a woman and child on a donkey before it was sedated and captured.
    
    November 11, 2008 Maddaloni, Italy: A 700lb Siberian tiger which can grow to 12 feet long prowled the streets of Maddaloni, southern Italy, for more than five hours after escaping the circus.
    
    November 9, 2008 Junsele, Sweden: A keeper was mauled by a white tiger at the zoo.  The keeper, who has worked with the zoo's tigers for 16 years, was trapped in a cage with the big cat unti the zoo's owner, Ulf Henriksson lured the tiger away with a piece of meat so rescue workers could get the man out of the cage and into an ambulance.  The keeper was bitten in the foot and the shoulder and would be hospitalized for a couple of days to ensure against infection from the wounds, Henriksson said, noting the tiger saw the keeper more as a playmate than a threat.
    
    November 8, 2008 Anchorage, AK:  In the past week, three reports of the cat wandering near Fort Richardson and Point Woronzof, some 10 miles apart, have reached Rick Sinnott, Anchorage-area wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The cat's reported spots and size appear to describe the serval, an African wildcat sometimes kept as a "designer" pet, he said.  Possessing such an animal is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine, he said.
    
    November 5, 2008 Mexico City, Mexico: A family in Mexico was in shock after finding a tiger, which had escaped from a circus, lying on their patio, police said. The tiger terrified the town of Zitacuaro, in western Michoacan state, as it wandered the streets for an hour and a half before entering a house.  The tiger "went through the house and lay down on the patio," the officer said. "The family was terrified and they hid." A total of three tigers escaped from their circus cages when the doors were left open the day before.
    
    November 3, 2008 Ratchaburi:  A male Bengal tiger has been on the loose in Ratchaburi since Thursday, when it escaped from its cage at a wildlife research station after attacking a keeper.  The tiger, named Silathong, attacked Bunma Thongkerd, at the Khaoson wildlife research centre as he opened the cage for cleaning. Mr Bunma was mauled but survived. The tiger slipped out of the cage and ran off.
    
    October 29, 2008 Broken Arrow, OK:  Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary is home to 27 big cats. Former keepers have warned for years that the practices there of allowing contact with adult tigers would lead to injuries, escapes and death. SIAS' website is covered in the typically ignorant photos of the President, Lori Ensign Scroggins (ex-wife of Joe Estes who runs Safari Joe's) bottle feeding tigers and walking them on leashes. That kind of irresponsible behavior can only lead to tragedy for humans as well as the animals when they pay the ultimate price. Now the liger named Rocky may be killed for mauling to death a volunteer named Peter Getz who walked in the cage while feeding the cat a deer carcass.  The mauling happened in the presence of more than 40 pre schoolers who were ushered away from the scene.
    
    October 29, 2008 Winston, OR:  Two cheetahs headed for the Memphis Zoo aboard a Delta flight made a stop at the Atlanta airport where it was discovered one of them had gotten free in the plane. The cheetahs are one-year-old sisters from Wildlife Safari Park in Winston, Oregon.
    
    October 29, 2008Cambridgeshire U.K.:Hamerton Zoo offers 'Face to Face with a Cheetah' sessions but today the face to face happened with a little boy after the Cheetah escaped the zoo.  The 6ft long animal was just 15 feet from 9 year oldToby when he spotted it. Toby dropped the bicycle he had been playing with and fled. As he reached the house the three-year-old, 66lb cheetah named Akea bit chunks out of the saddle and ripped the tires with his claws. Toby has since had nightmares over the incident. He said: "I panicked. It looked massive and really scary. I thought it would attack me. I ran as fast as I could."
    
    October 28, 2008 Latham, NY: Many attacks and escapes go unreported as those who deal in exotics do not want the bad press, but they can't help but brag about it on what they think are private chat groups.  This was posted on Phoenix Exotics by a breeder of Savannah cats:  "Hell I got seriously bitten by a serval and I went to the ER and said I fell out of a tree and landed on barbed wire..." signed Deborah-Ann Milette, The home of the best known Savannah"MOTZIE"  In 2005 USDA fined her and revoked her license 21-C-0218 for because she allegedly drugged and killed a tiger cub among other things.  See 911AnimalAbuse.com for more.
    
    October 28, 2008 Berlin, Germany:  Rescue workers saved six tigers from a blazing 43-foot wagon by turning them loose on the highway.  One tiger appeared to have suffered some smoke inhalation, but the other five were in good condition, owner Daniel Renz said.  Renz said his show would go on, as planned on October 30, but the six tigers involved in Monday's blaze -- Queeni, Aschima, Lena, Sonja, Sibi and Goldi -- will be given a break and some of the circus' seven other tigers will perform in their place.  The suspected cause was an overheated suspension system on the truck, said Renz.
    
    October 14, 2008 Johannesbrg, So. Africa:  Nelson Silaigwana of Three Streams Farm in Mangwe was found mauled to death by escaped lions.  Two weeks ago, the eight-year-old daughter of a farmer was mauled by a lion and a lioness her father kept caged.  Courtney Sparrow, who suffered a hole in her throat and serious injuries to her arms, face and head, underwent ten hours of surgery in Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg.  Her father, Ron Sparrow, said he used the lions to deter attackers, but two lions broke through a weak window and the lioness attacked Courtney. A domestic worker was injured when she tried to rip Courtney from the lioness's grip.
    
    October 13, 2008 Fallon, NV:  A volunteer named Emmie was invited to pet the big cats at Tiger Touch owned by John and Barbara Williamson.  She was petting a cougar named Kicky when the cat latched onto her palm and tried to drag her into the cage.  See photos of the injury and read more about the mauling HERE.
    
    October 4, 2008 Palm City, FL: A 50 lb, declawed Siberian Lynx disappeared from 3560 SW Wood Creek Trail at about 4:30 a.m., shortly after owner Tina Love fed her on the screened patio.  "She's not the type to walk around," Love said. "But I thought she might have just wandered off."  The property was unfenced. Love bought Simba from a breeder in Wisconsin for $2,500 after she gave away her bobcat because it was too wild. The Siberian Lynx was found again a couple weeks later, a mile and a half away, hanging out in a children's playground.  She was confiscated by authorities as the owner did not have current permits and lacked appropriate caging.  Often Big Cat Rescue has to turn away cats, from irresponsible owners who are trying to dump them, because the owners refuse to sign a contract stating that they will never again fuel the exotic pet trade.
    
    September 16, 2008 Gaveston, TX:  Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough said Tuesday that a tiger is out of its enclosure from an exotic pets center. The news follows reports of a lion holed up in a Baptist church with its owner on Bolivar Peninsula.  Yarbrough said, "I understand he's hungry ... so we're staying away from him."  Hurricane Ike made landfall Sept. 13 but a week later, the tiger still had not been found.   The lioness and her owner were waist deep in water in the church along with several people who had fled there for shelter.  "They worked pretty well together, actually," said the lion's owner, Michael Ray Kujawa. "When you have to swim, the lion doesn't care about eating nobody."
    
    August 20 Reno, NV: Washoe County Regional Animal Services originally responded to a call about a large black dog on the roof of a home in the valley east of Washoe Lake.  When they got there, they found not a dog, but two black leopards on the roof.   State Wildlife Department spokesman Edwin Lyngar says the cats are exotic pets that escaped from the home of their owner Andy Kay who could not be reached for comment at telephone numbers associated with the West Coyote Drive address or the Ann Road address.  Washoe County Assessor's Office records indicate the Washoe Valley property is owned by Coyote Irrevocable Trust and that Kay is a trustee.  In March two black leopards were fired on by the police after allegedly mauling a puppy 200 yards from their home.  Those cats were never found and are suspected to be the same as these found on a rooftop.  Regional Animal Services Center Director Cindy Sabatoni said two Siberian tigers were found in Washoe County two years ago and a bobcat was found last year in Stead.  The problem in NV is so prevalent that the tigers never even made the news.
    
    August 19, 2008 West Palm Beach, FL: Authorities found and sedated a missing tiger from McCarthy's Wildlife Center. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the adult lion and tiger escaped and were loose overnight at McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary (a breeding compound and not a true sanctuary) about 20 miles northwest of West Palm Beach. Three schools, Golden Grove Elementary, Acreage Pines Elementary and Western Pines Middle, were on lock-down until the tiger was found and sedated at 11:00 am the next day. Authorities say they don't know how the big cats escaped.  A person who answered the telephone at the sanctuary on Wednesday said they couldn't comment and abruptly hung up.  Marc McCarthy houses 22 big cats on what appears in aerial maps to be about 8 lots in a subdivision.  In May, McCarthy was rushed to the hospital after being bitten on the leg by one of his tigers, Sabi, on the set of a rap video being filmed in Miami.
    
    August 5, 2008  Richmond Township, IL:  Larry Dean said he was practicing a circus act at the Hawthorn Corporation farm near Richmond when the tiger suddenly became aggressive and grabbed him with its mouth. "He had numerous scratch marks and bite marks," said Richmond Township Fire Chief Rick Gallas. "I would say that was a mauling... he was pretty bloody." Gallas said workers told paramedics they had to beat the tiger with baseball bats to get it to release Dean. Gallas said Dean told paramedics it was the second time a tiger had attacked him at the farm, but Dean declined to comment when asked about that on Thursday and Hawthorn's owner, John Cuneo says Dean should not have been near the tigers.  Hawthorn owns about 50 tigers but only about 30 of the animals are at the farm, Cuneo said. Others are performing at circuses around the world, Cuneo said.  In 2003 the U.S. Department of Agriculture accused Hawthorn of failing to care for its elephants properly. But in 2004 he agreed to give away his elephants in exchange for keeping his circus tigers.  Cuneo has tried to get rid of his tigers when they won't perform by asking Big Cat Rescue to take them, but Big Cat Rescue does not enable bad behaviour.  Cuneo's Sarasota neighbors are concerned that he plans to move his tigers to their neighborhood as he has purchased 5 acres of beach front there and asked for permits to install n 8 foot high wall.  FL law requires 5 ac and an 8' fence for people to keep tigers in their back yard. 
    
    August 4, 2008 Branson, MO:  A 16-year-old boy named Dakoda Ramel is in the hospital after an attack at the Interactive Zoo and Aquarium( fka Predator World) in Branson West owned by Breck Wakefield. Rescue crews say a 16-year-old employee entered the tiger exhibit to take some photos for guests. Witnesses tell rescuers the teen was knocked to the ground.  That's when they say two other tigers joined in, dragging the teen to the water trough. "We have two puncture wounds on the neck, one big one on the leg, a big gash on the leg. His neck is bleeding," a caller says on the 911 tape.  That's the condition in which he was airlifted to Springfield, where he remains four days later in critical condition.  The father of the boy, Jim Barr said, "It was holding him down by his leg and tearing his calf off, eating it right in front of him."  A lot of people remember Predator World from last year, when some wolves, a fox and a bear escaped. The bear killed an adult tiger at the park.  What this park is known for is its interactions with animals like sharks, tigers and alligators.
    
    August 3, 2008  Warren County, MO:  A 26 year old volunteer named Jacob Barr was mauled by a tiger at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya Animal Facility and lost his leg below the knee.  The Warren County Sheriff's Department responded, to a report of a dog attack. Staff at the compound described not a tiger, but rather a pitbull attack. "This was not a dog attack, it was indeed a cat (800 lb tiger) attack on the person," Sheriff Kevin Harrison said. "And that they had tried to mislead my investigators and cover it up."  The victim lost his leg below the knee and was airlifted to Barnes Hospital by Arch Air Medical.  The tiger named Hercules who was said to have hopped the fence was shot to death by the owners, Ken and Sandra Smith. They then hid the body at a family member's house.  The farm is home to 50 exotic animals and has been criticized by animal protection groups and USDA.  About four years ago, the USDA filed allegations against the Smiths that included not providing proper veterinary treatment and lacking adequately trained employees. The Smiths gave up their exhibitor license and later had it revoked for operating without a license.  They are no longer inspected by USDA and the Sheriff's office has no resources to devote to managing these kinds of operations.  More HERE.
    
    July 17, 2008 New Zealand Safari Park:  Lisa Baxter, a 19 year old tour guide knew that if she screamed it would wake the rest of the pack and she would be killed, so she quietly worked to free her hands from the piercing bite of 18 month old Timba, the lion.  Lisa, of Gullane, East Lothian, said: "I was stroking Timba's nose when he just grabbed my hand. His teeth were razorsharp and went straight through my skin."  Later she added, "My hands were so swollen, I thought they were going to explode."
    
    July  10, 2008 Atlanta, GA:  A serval was found wandering near 14th Street and Georgia Tech in mid-town Atlanta and picked up by Animal Services who said the problem is more prevalent than most people think.  Owning an exotic cat as a pet is illegal in GA unless it is being used for "education" so when exotic cats escape their owners rarely come forward.  Big Cat Rescue received a report from a neighbor saying that the owner had become fearful of the cat as he matured and turned him loose on purpose.  The cat, dubbed Ozzie, has been placed in a licensed facility.  GA has no accredited sanctuaries, so that probably wasn't a happy ending for the cat.
    
    June 20, 2008 Thailand's Tiger Temple:  In a report on the Tiger Temple released today is documented and account of a Thai woman who came with her partner to help raise funds for the Temple, put her hand into the tiger, Dao Ruang's, cage to pet her. Dao took hold of the woman's hand with her mouth. When the
    frightened woman tried to pull her hand away, Dao Ruang bit through it and held on. The woman's partner came over and hit Dao Ruang over the head. The woman's hand was badly torn between her 3rd and 4th fingers and required numerous stitches to close the wound. On other occasions, investigators observed tigers attacking staff and volunteers. One resulted in an injured finger, which needing suturing, another a French volunteer whose shirt was ripped, narrowly missing her neck and another a Danish volunteer who was tackled to the ground by and bitten on the leg. The resulting injury got infected and the volunteer need medical treatment at a hospital. During an interview with a journalist in January 2008, the Abbot was asked why the tigers do not bite. The Abbot said, "They want to bite and one day they will bite." Meanwhile the Monks spray tiger urine in the cats' faces to subdue them.   Animal Planet has removed all references to the show.  Read the entire report HERE.
    
    June 19, 2008 Newton County, MO: A deputy shot and killed a 6 month old, declawed, black jaguar after being called to the home of a woman who thought she had seen a cougar. The jaguar had body fat, but no food in its stomach, and his paw pads indicated having been kept on concrete, which means he had escaped from captivity. Missouri does not regulate non-native wildlife, so the agency has no records that might have revealed where the jaguar was being kept.  Last month, a declawed black leopard was shot to death in Neosho, MO.
    
    June 17, 2008  McAllen, TX:  Police said Michelle Ashton, 49, who was arrested while exchanging carriers filled with six tiger cubs in a parking lot, could be linked to a suspected tiger-smuggling ring. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Alejandro Rodriguez says it appears the cubs were bound for Mexico when they were seized. According to the feds, smuggling wildlife is a lucrative business that ranks second only to drug smuggling. "It's a very huge problem," Fish & Wildlife Service Agent Nicholas Chavez said. "It's been prevalent for years. It's something that we see definitely every week." "You could get anywhere from probably $3000 to $25000 a piece for them depending on what color they are, what they look like," he said. Ashton allegedly told police that she was a representative of Spring Hill Wildlife Ranch outside of Calvert in Robertson County. If convicted Ashton could face a $250,000 dollar fine and up to five years in prison for violating the U.S. Endangered Species Act.  Wildlife trafficking earns billions of dollars annually. Smuggling wildlife products feeds into multipurpose criminal distribution networks that generate what Younger called "peripheral
    crime." This includes corruption of officials, falsification of documents, intimidation and murder. "Once we start to dig into these things we find that not only are they smuggling wildlife, for example, but they'll be smuggling narcotics, or diamonds or gold bullion," he said.
    
    June 12, 2008 Shifang, China: Following an earthquake on May 12 and mudslides that caused 400 people to flee on foot, a circus turned loose many of their animals and left 3 lions and 2 tigers behind in cages. On June 3 soldiers shot one 2 year old tiger to death in his cage. One white lion had starved to death already. When Chen Qinghua, head of Wanguan Group, was informed that a tiger and 2 lions were still alive, he organized a rescue party who transported the big cats by helicopter to the Bifengxia Zoo. They had gone without food or water for 25 days.
    
    June 7, 2008 Tokyo, Japan: Zookeeper, Atsushi Ito, was mauled to death by an 11 year old, 330 lb. male tiger while cleaning the animal's cage at the Kyoto City Zoo in western Japan. Police suspected Ito had failed to lock a door that connected two cages.
    
    June 6, 2008 Winnepeg, Canada:  Kelly John Clarke, 38, sometimes called the Tiger Man of St. Clements has been charged with two counts of first degree murder in connection with the brutal killings of Joel Labossiere, 34, and his pregnant wife Magdalena, 33, who were found shot to death inside their St. Vital house on April 20. Clarke first made headlines in 1997 when his Midwest Exotics – a business that bought and sold exotic animals to pet stores, zoos and universities – brought to his St. Clements home Sheena, a Siberian tiger. When his trailer burned to the ground 1998, surrounding residents pressured council to bring forward a restricted exotic animal bylaw. Most of the animals were confiscated, but in August 1999, Winnipeg police seized the 250-kilogram Sheena after the tiger was spotted in a cage in the back of a van in River Heights. In December 2001 Clarke was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison and a 10-year weapons prohibition for 14 armed robberies. He went on the spree to fund a $1,000-a-day crack cocaine habit. In August 2007, Clarke was arrested in Selkirk and charged with intimidation after allegedly disrupting a Winnipeg trial and following a Crown attorney while she drove home from work. These are the kind of people who have big cats as pets.
    
    May 27 So. Africa:  A man in his forties was attacked and killed by six lions on a lion farm in Setlagole, near Mafikeng, North West police said.  Superintendent Koos Degenaar said the man went into the lion's cage to give the animals water.  He was then attacked by six lions. All that was left of the man were fingers and intestines. This is the sixth such incident to be reported in the province in two years. Other incidents include a 13 year old boy who was killed by lions at Tosca, two people who were killed on two different farms at
    Zeerust, anther fatal lion attack at a farm near Swartruggens and a fifth occurred near Potchefstroom.
    
    May 26, 2008 South Bend, IN:  A Potawatomi Zoo worker was attacked by a leopard as she cleaned the cat's holding area, leaving her with head wounds.  Zoo visitors watched Saturday as veteran zoo keeper Jeri Ellis was wheeled away on a stretcher, her head wrapped in bandages and towels spotted in blood.
    
    May 24, 2008 Detroit Zoo, MI:  Royal Oak - An animal handler at the Detroit Zoo has received stitches after being scratched and bitten by a lioness named Katie.  The Detroit Free Press reports the attack happened shortly after Saturday's 5 p.m. public closing time.  Zoo spokeswoman Patricia Mills Janeway says Brett Kipley, who in his 20s, received stitches at a hospital.  The newspaper says Kipley used pepper spray to fend off the animal during the attack.
    
    May 21, 2008 Neosho, MO:  A 61 year old woman was chased into her house by a black leopard.  An officer on the scene said he shot the cat with a shot gun two or three times as it approched him and then fired several rounds from a .45 caliber Glock into the cat's chest before stopping him.  The cat was pawing at the door to get into the house when the police arrived.  The leopard was a declawed pet that had escaped or had been dumped.
    
    May 14, 2008 Russia:  A drunken Russian zookeeper, who was mauled by a lion after climbing into its pen May 1 at a zoo in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, died in hospital Tuesday, investigators said. The man, who had been suspended from work for being drunk, entered the animal's enclosure while the lion slept and was attacked by the big cat as he tried to tap it on the nose.
    
    May 11, 2008 Toledo, OH:  The Toledo Zoo said that a zookeeper suffered three lacerations to the chest while caring for the tigers. The tiger's paw made it through a double mesh barrier at an odd angle, enabling the tiger to come into contact with the keeper.
    
    May 10, 2008 Carrollton, IL:  Authorities have seized an African Serval named Max from Tammy Ruehl who was keeping it as a pet without a permit.  Ruehl says she received a $75 fine. Carrollton Police Chief Mike Kiger says the state had the right to confiscate the animal.
    
    May 9, 2007 Loxahatchee, FL:  According to PR-inside.com  and Palm Beach Post: "Mark McCarthy who took his tiger onto the set of rapper Rick Ross' new video, was savagely attacked by the white tiger.  The big cat, which featured in the background of one of Ross' scenes with Nellie was being used as a prop to look like the rapper's pet.  The tiger turned on the unnamed trainer when he tried to coax the fierce creature out of its cage during filming. Reportedly agitated from being in chains all day, the tiger bit the trainer's leg as he tried to remove it from its cage. The tiger's keeper suffered severe bite wounds to his right leg and was rushed to hospital after the attack.  Now laid up, McCarthy had to cancel some of his other gigs. "Won't be the first time I've been bit, won't be the last. I've been bit by everything from venomous snakes to tigers and leopards and monkeys and who knows what else," said the 52-year-old owner of McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary.  He said the $5,000 bonus he got for the video will barely make up for the shows he missed. "
    
    May 9, 2008 Muskegon, MI: Both a serval and a bear are believed to have escaped April 28 or 29. Numerous residents in Fruitport Township reported seeing the bear early this week before it was recovered.  The serval, a declawed cat with no way to protect himself or hunt, is still missing.  He escaped through a window in the room where he was kept. DNR spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said the agency probably will seek a misdemeanor charge against the owners for failure to report the missing bear, as required by the SPCA's permit.
    
    May 1, 2008 Quebec:  The 70-kilogram king of the jungle, who goes by the name of Boomer, has been on the lam since he escaped last night from a house where he was kept as a man's personal pet. The lion, which is about four feet high, was last spotted beside Highway 105, near Maniwaki, about an hour north of Ottawa.
    
    April 18, 2008 Los Angeles, CA: Five Circus Vazquez tigers have been evicted by Los Angeles animal welfare officials because the big-cats earlier attacked and killed another tiger in their small cage. Department general manager Ed Boks says the tigers killed one of their own in Huntington Park on March 31 and the U.S. Department ofAgriculture cited Circus Vazquez for having too many tigers in close proximity to each other. Los Angeles officials went to the San Fernando Valley where the circus was performing across from the Panorama City Mall and the tigers were close together in the same cage. Boks says it was believed to be a public danger.
    
    April 18, 2008 San Francisco, CA: Nicki Phung, 31 and Steven Tieu, 38, admitted in federal court to trying to illegally import a real, stuffed tiger into the United States. The two were caught in December when a U.S. Customs official at San Francisco International Airport inspected a box labeled "toy tiger" mailed from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and bound for the couple's home in Hercules, CA.
    
    March 29, 2008 Wellington, FL:  Judy Berens, owner of Panther Ridge Sanctuary, was showing off her two male cheetahs, Matt and Charlie, that she says she paid $40,000.00 for in Africa, when they knocked her down and punctured her arms and back more than 40 times before volunteers were able to rescue her.  Berens says she has to pay another $10,000. to the Cheetah Conservation Botswana and Cheetah Outreach as part of her deal with the US Fish & Wildlife Service who are not supposed to allow the import of endangered species unless doing so somehow enhances their species chances at survival.  Many of these Cheetah conservation centers are merely breeding facilities that supply cats to zoos and private collectors.  (The cats are not set free.)  Berens has more than twenty exotic cats in her 5 acre back yard and said, she fashioned herself after Katharine Hepburn's leopard-owning character in Bringing up Baby. "I figured if she can have a leopard, why can't I..?." Judy Berens' comment is exactly why displaying big cats as tractable is harmful to people and the cats. If show biz had not portrayed Hepburn as a master of the leopard, Berens might not have shelled out 7500.00 for her Jaguars nor the 50,000 for her pet Cheetahs. As long as people, like Berens continue to exhibit exotic cats as if they were tame, others will say, "...why can't I?"
    
    March 28, 2008 Davenport, FL:  Darryl Atkinson of Horseshoe Creek says the animals have to go now that he won't be able to exhibit them for money.  He has more than 30 big cats in cages that have been cited more than 40 times for being too small and too flimsy.  When Big Cat Rescue called to see if they could help they were told that Atkinson was going to work with Bhagavan Antle (T.I.G.E.R.S. in SC and FL) and that his cats were going with him.  There isn't much the state or federal government can do to stop him if another dealer is willing to let him continue to operate under their license. 
    
    March 20, 2008 Ontario, Canada Bowmanville Zoo: A martial arts teacher knocked over by a lion during a photo shoot for Desi Life at Bowmanville Zoo says she is happy to have come away with four broken ribs and a bloodied lung.  "To be honest, the sensation I have is a great deal of gratitude to be alive," Gitanjali Kolanad said yesterday.  In the video, one minder kicks the baby lion in the neck while the other pulls on a leash. The lion takes a second, unsuccessful lunge at Kolanad as she lies gasping, before he is hauled out the door. "I couldn't breathe – that was the terrifying part. The muscles in my chest seized up and they didn't relax until I was in the emergency room and they gave me a muscle relaxant."  See it here: http://www.thestar.com/DesiLife/article/347684
    
    February 23, 2008 Miami, FL:  A pet serval was turned in, no questions asked, at an exotic pet amnesty day sponsored by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.  100 owners dropped off bags full of pythons, scorpions and assorted other reptiles, birds and mammals.  "This is garden-variety stuff," said exotic pet veterinarian Thomas Goldsmith, who examined the submissions. "This is Miami. People have sloths and leopards and God knows what else."  The FWC then gave the dumped pets to new owners.  One of the people surrendering her pets, Christie Lyon said, "People have no idea what they're getting into."
    
    February 21, 2008 Honolulu, HI:  A 245-pound Sumatra tiger named Berani was discovered wandering around an unsecured area just before the Honolulu Zoo's opening on Thursday. A startled female volunteer reported the escape after the tiger brushed past her. Zoo workers describe 8-year-old Berani as the tamest of three tigers at the zoo. Quintal says staff members who cleaned the tiger enclosure failed to properly latch a gate.
    
    February 21, 2008 Johnstown, OH:  Ben Uditis was driving when he noticed a fire at 3159 S. County Line
    Rd. Editis woke Rick Armstrong and helped him get his animals out of his garage, including a caged tiger.  Firefighters arriving on the scene had to work around the big cat to put out the blaze. ( Since no one was harmed, this is not included in the totals above as an incident although the first responders would certainly call it one. )
    
    February 13, 2008 Bracebridge, Ontario: Provincial police were forced to shoot and kill a six year old jaguar named Bhino after he broke through a chain link cage at Guhu Exotic Animal Reserve. When officers arrived, they found the jaguar with the family's pet dog in his mouth. The dog was on a chain and therefore couldn't escape the jaguar and had to be put down because of severe injuries.
    
    February 9, 2008 Davenport, FL: Brenda Chapman was clawed by a tiger named Kheira while cleaning out its cage, at Horseshoe Creek said Gary Morse of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.The incident comes on the heels of Darryl Atkinson's Feb. 1 arrest on charges of grand theft and signing a forged instrument. The commission said it found Atkinson accepting money from people on court-ordered probation in exchange for signing off on community service work they did not do. "That's just not what I need with all this other stuff," owner Darryl Atkinson said.
    
    January 24, 2008 Seattle, WA:  Two declawed, yearling servals were found wandering around West Seattle. Animal Control picked up one on Jan. 1 as it was going after some cat food left on a doorstep. Officers picked up the second one on the grounds of Madison Middle School.  Officer Don Baxter suspects they both belonged to the same owner, who has not claimed them.
    
    January 18, 2008 Mayes County, OK:  The fire at Safari Joe's Exotic Wildlife Refuge destroyed a large barn that housed big cats, monkeys, birds and reptiles. Joe Estes, who owns the refuge, says he was able to save some tigers and lions but at least two tigers housed on the property died in the flames along with about 100 other exotic animals.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 994

• Hearing delayed on truck-stop Hearing delayed on truck-stop tiger

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    Hearing delayed on truck-stop tiger

    • By GREG GARLAND
    • Advocate Westside bureau
    • Published: Dec 24, 2008 - Page: 2B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

    The fate of a tiger exhibited at Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete has shifted from the courts to the Iberville Parish Council.

    A court hearing that had been set for Dec. 29 has been postponed to allow the council time to consider amending a 1993 parish ordinance that bars private individuals from exhibiting dangerous, wild animals such as tigers.

    Attorneys involved in the case agreed to the delay in a joint legal motion filed on Monday.

    If the council amends the law, it opens the door for Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin to continue keeping a 550-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger as a roadside attraction.

    Sandlin could be forced to move the tiger if the council refuses, however, because he would not qualify for a permit from the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

    Animal welfare activists have complained for years that a barred cage with a concrete floor at a truck stop is not a suitable environment for tigers Sandlin has displayed as roadside attractions.

    Sandlin has said he has kept tigers for 20 years without escapes or injuries to humans and that the animals are well cared for at the truck stop.

    The issue of what to do about Tony, the only tiger still on display, came up briefly at a council meeting earlier this month. Opposing sides nearly came to blows in a hallway confrontation afterward until a police officer restored order.

    Iberville Parish Council Chairman Gene Stevens said, "It really doesn't matter to me" what the council decides to do on the issue.

    "The cat's been there eight and a half years and as far as I'm concerned, it can stay there," Stevens said. "But it's up to the whole council, not me."

    The move to shift the tussle over the tiger from the legal arena to the political domain of the Parish Council was initiated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

    Bo Boehringer, an agency spokesman for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, confirmed Tuesday that the agency's attorney suggested a delay in the court hearing until the council considers the issue.

    Sandlin's attorney and an attorney for the Parish Council agreed to the proposal during a telephone conference call on Friday, according to a copy of the court filings.

    http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/36675329.html
    
    Carole's Note:
    
    Please write the council and ask that they enforce their 1993 ban on the exhibition of wild animals and NOT make an exception for the Tiger Truck Stop.  We make it easy for you to do here:
    
    http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=12310506&type=CU

    To follow the plight of Tony the Truck Stop Tiger go to http://www.bigcatrescue.org/FreeTony.htm

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  • 2 years ago
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• Charlie Sammut Wild Things Ani Charlie Sammut Wild Things Animal Rentals

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    
           "The Animal Control Advisory Committee Axes the Tyke Ordinance and Protections for Circus Animals and the Public/ the Tyke Ordinance Committee Feels it is Political and Personal Pandering"
    
           We have kept our peace in the media and tried to publicly stay above the fray, hoping against all odds that the circus animals and public would get a fair shake from the County of Monterey.  Little did we know, the Animal Control Advisory Committee, who at their last meeting were overwhelming supportive of this same ordinance, would come out swinging to ax it forever for what we feel are politically motivated reasons.
    
           The Animal Control Advisory Committee voted to protect special interests in Monterey County for political reasons, instead of circus animals, who continue to suffer from abuse and neglect or Monterey County residents, who will not have the protections they would have had in our ordinance, should an exotic animal attack occur.  If any animal escapes from a traveling venue and/or attacks any person on Monterey County land or if that venue was sponsored by any county group, including the Monterey County Sherrif's Deputies Association or if the county is in any way in charge of a site or event, then Monterey County can and will be liable for damages in that attack.  We were providing fiscal protections for the county and Animal Control killed those protections today.
    
           They did the dirty work for the Supervisor who appointed them, because the Supervisors know they themselves have received letters of endorsement for the Tyke Ordinance from the American SPCA and the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club and they know that I have over 12,000 people potentially watching to see what each Supervisor's vote will be, because of the large conservation and animal groups, as well as others that have supported this.
    
           After hearing that Animal Control was reviewing this ordinance, Charlie Sammut  "invited" Animal Control Director, Kathy Prew, to "visit" his ranch to see what an exotic animal roadside zoo entails (a  freebie encounter with exciting, exotic animals that he usually charges around $800.00 for), and she did a sudden about face from the previous meeting and is now adamantly against the ordinance, when she was originally extremely supportive and caring about this exact same ordinance.  Now that Charlie Sammut is her good buddy or so it appeared at the meeting where he hugged her and she greeted him with a wide smile, she no longer sees the need to protect circus animals from abuse or the public from harm.   Everyone in Monterey County has a price and Mr. Sammut knows just how to figure out what that price is.
    
           The entire board suddenly found numerous, terrible faults with the ordinance that last time we met with them, none of them seemed to have, except Darlene Drain, former Clerk to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors (so she has very close ties to every Supervisor).  This political manipulation is nothing new to Charlie Sammut, he is the President of IAWA (www.iawa.info), whose sole purpose is to fight animal welfare laws at a local, state and federal level.  He knows how to buy people off (perhaps legally), wine and dine people, and arrange protections for himself and his millions.
    
           At the meeting today he brought up the idea that the county could be sued if they enact this ordinance at least twice and our little committee was told that Sammut met with the subcommittee and that they received "materials" from Carson and Barnes Circus.  It should be noted that the terrible elephant abuse video on the www.circuses.com site "Training and Tragedy", stars as the main abuser, Carson and Barnes' head elephant trainer.  So, you can see how Carson and Barnes trains there animals.  However, our committee was never made aware that all of there arguments were being made and had no chance to rebut them.  In fact, many Animal Control Advisory members were sarcastic and said extremely sarcastically that the film we showed them at the first meeting were "heart wrenching".  This was video of animals being kicked, hit, whipped and beaten.
    
           When I started this months ago, mom and I were told outright by Simon Salinas' Chief of Staff that "Charlie Sammut isn't going to like this, he comes in here all the time, we go out there for events.  He has a lot of powerful friends around here".  That was our first sign of how this county really works.
    
           Dave Potter's office would not even return my calls or emails or take the packet I had put together on the ordinance.  His Chief of Staff told me, after I called her over and over and over and she finally took the call, that Dave's first question was "How is Charlie Sammut going to feel about this?"  And she went on to say that Sammut "will come out and say he is regulated enough and the circus will come and fight it".  I asked in writing how she would know that unless she went to the opposition right away, even though I am the proponent and they would not return my calls or emails, and she denied saying those things.  But that is a lie.
    
           I asked her if Wild Things Animal Rentals was in Dave's district and she acted like she didn't know.  Of course it is in his district and he was opposed to this from the very beginning.  She said they had been out to Vision Quest Ranch (Wild Things) "on projects".  Not sure what that means, does it mean construction projects for Dave Potter's Cnstruction firm or Board of Supervisor projects?  Or parties?
    
           Mom and I met with Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue early on and the first thing he said was "Well, how is Wild Things going to feel about this?  You know, I am connected to the Sammut family in many different ways".
    
           At the Animal Control level we were welcomed and met with such warmth and support for our ordinance the first time, then Sammut and Supervisor's Potter and Salinas, as well as former Board of Supervisor Clerk, Darlene Drain, who made it clear at the first meeting (she was the only one except Tom Collier, who didn't show up today, to come out against the ordinance) was sent in to sabotage the ordinance, Sammut, et el got to work with their courting the director, Kathy Prew, wining and dining and threatening lawsuits and calling on all of their friends in Monterey County politics like Potter, Salinas and Dennis Donohue...and what do you know, now they are all not just against it, they are passionately and personally against it.  Tom Collier, who didn't vote today, did not disclose his financial conflict of interest at the first meeting-he sells tons of elephant, monkey, kangaroo and other exotic food, as well as horse and domestic supplies and Charlie Sammut and the circus are the only ones who would buy all that from them.  Everyone is for sale, if it's not money then it is inclusion to their little "club", invitations to his exciting ranch and parties.  Quid Pro Quo.
    
           Charlie Sammut has a father with a huge trust, he is a trust fund recipient, not a poor fella like he acts.  His father is a huge shopping mall developer, Tony Sammut.  Tony Sammut has contributed money to the campaigns of most of the Monterey County Supervisors.  Supervisors are routinely lobbied and wined and dined by Charlie Sammut and his very rich, well connected family.  His brother is co-owner of the Black Bear Diner chain and their family has numerous real estate holdings, including Laurel Inn in Salinas.
    
           As many of you know, Charlie Sammut fights many animal welfare laws with his team of lobbyists and lawyers, as President of IAWA.  They fought against the Spay/Neuter law that our SPCA supported, they are fighting Haley's Act, which is co-sponsored by Congressman Sam Farr, they fought the Horsemeat law, dog coursing laws and many others.
    
           So, it was a lovefest for Mr. Sammut at today's Animal Control Advisory Committee meeting.  He has all the political connections, power and money to just make something he doesn't like in Monterey County simply "go away".
    
           To note, they seemed so concerned about county finances, then why don't Dave Potter, et el, forego their yearly increase in salary this year?  Why don't they listen to their own planning department instead of being sued, right now by so many groups...no other county is sued as often as Monterey County is.  In recent years, Monterey County settled a lawsuit for 11 million dollars.  How can they afford to keep making illegal land use decisions in this county, but they cannot protect circus animals and the public?
    
           The meeting was a sham.  Everyone in the room was clearly in Charlie Sammut's pocket.  Mom and I met with another Supervisor back in those early days, who was very kind to us, very nice and he seemed open minded.  When we got to talking about lobbyists in Monterey County, he actually said to my mom and I, "The other supervisors take money from lobbyists", he shook his head and shrugged,  "They take money".  It's so blatant, a Supervisor just says it outright to private citizens.  There is no need for us to keep our peace about all of this backroom dealing, political influence peddling and corruption any longer.  The Advisory Committee gave the Supervisors a perfect reason to kill this now.
    
           Since I have written legal, certified letters to the Monterey County Fairgrounds Board and the Mayor and Attorney of the City of Monterey about the hazards of exotic animal circuses and animal abuse records of many circuses and asked them to meet with me or review their policies and have given our packet about these issues and dangers to the Mayor of Salinas, Dennis Donohue, and they have ignored me, the city of Monterey and the City of Salinas are truly liable morally and financially if an exotic animal attack occurs in either city as well.  Any deaths will be on their hands, plain and simple.  We made it clear at the meeting today that we were more than willing to work on this, even with Mr. Sammut, if he had valid concerns and to rework it and make it better. But nothing we said mattered, because the Board of Supervisors wanted this killed from day one and they now have the perfect reason to kill it.
    
           "One exotic attack in this county, that's it.  I have emailed and informed every Monterey County Police Chief, Mayor, the Sheriff, the Director of Monterey County Animal Services and every Monterey County Board Supervisor, of the common and deadly risk that exotic animals pose to the public and I have asked the Mayor of Monterey and the Monterey County Fairgrounds to meet with me and review their utter lack of research on circuses past histories of animal abuse and public health concerns.  Those were certified letters.
           
           At the Animal Control Advisory Committee meeting today, Charlie Sammut brought up a case at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in recent years, where a tiger was being permitted to pose for photos with people from the public and that at that time the tiger's trainer was bitten by that same tiger. This happened at the Monterey Fairgounds and it could easily, like it has so many other times, been a child or another person who was bitten and furthermore, one bite to the neck by a large cat can kill a person.
    
           Mr. Sammut himself said that he called and complained to the state about this incident, so there is a clear record of it.
    
           If a child is killed or if a person is attacked and loses their life because of an exotic animal attack here, then in my estimation, these entities that failed to act, including Animal Services and the Monterey County Health Department, are responsible and liable for that exotic animal attack and any deaths or damages that occur.  And all for political or personal gain from what Charlie Sammut or the Board of Supervisors has to offer that we, as a very small, moneyless committee and that the circus animals, do not have to offer these politicians and their loyal pages at Animal Control.  Their suggestion that we go to the City of Salinas to propose this is a bust, since we have already been told by Mayor Donohue that he 'is connected to the Sammut family in many different ways' and let us know that he was automatically against the ordinance.
    
           All we wanted was a fair shake for the animals' welfare and public protections, but instead we never even had a chance, because too many people were already in Sammut's pocket.  It's business as usual in Monterey County", said Tyke Ordinance Committee Co-Chair, Rhonda Somerton.

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• Tiger Escapes Black Pine Anima Tiger Escapes Black Pine Animal Park

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Tiger returns after escaping from animal sanctuary
    
    Associated Press
    3:43 AM CST, December 10, 2008
    
    ALBION, Ind. - A tiger that escaped from an animal sanctuary in northeast Indiana returned to its home several hours later.
    
    Noble County 911 Director Mitch Fiandt said the 18-year-old female Bengal tiger escaped from the Black Pine Animal Park in Albion about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
    
    Park officials say the tiger returned to the property around 11 p.m. and was back in its enclosure about an hour later.
    
    An Albion firefighter alerted authorities after spotting the tiger on his property.
    
    Authorities shot the tiger with a tranquilizer, but were not immediately able to capture it.
    
    Black Pine personnel felt the tiger would come back to the park due in part to the inclement weather.
    
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-tigerescape,0,6215660.story

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• Liger Kills Volunteer Peter Ge Liger Kills Volunteer Peter Getz

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    October 29, 2008 Broken Arrow, OK: Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary is home to 27 big cats. Former keepers have warned for years that the practices there of allowing contact with adult tigers would lead to injuries, escapes and death. SIAS' website is covered in the typically ignorant photos of the President, Lori Ensign bottle feeding tigers and walking them on leashes. That kind of irresponsible behavior can only lead to tragedy for humans as well as the animals when they pay the ultimate price. Now the liger named Rocky may be killed for mauling to death a volunteer named Peter Getz who walked in the cage while feeding the cat a deer carcass. The mauling happened in the presence of more than 40 pre schoolers who were ushered away from the scene.
    
    Liger Attacks and Kills Handler
    
    Animal Handler Dies After Attack
    
    
    The reported attack happened just before noon on Wednesday.
    
    Safari's Animal Sanctuary
    
    BROKEN ARROW, OK -- A volunteer who was attacked by a large cat at an animal sanctuary east of Broken Arrow has died.
    
    St. John Medical Center in Tulsa confirmed Friday morning, Peter Getz passed away from his injuries overnight.
    
    Getz suffered wounds to his neck and upper torso after he was reportedly attacked by a liger during feeding time at Safari's Animal Sanctuary at 26881 East 58th Street in Wagoner County.
    
    The reported attack happened just before noon on Wednesday.
    
    Safari's says it is still trying to piece together what caused a large cat to turn on Getz.
    
    Sanctuary officials say it appears Getz opened the animal's pen during feeding which is a violation of the sanctuaries rules.
    
    Federal wildlife officials are investigating.
    
    Getz had worked for the Tulsa Zoo and had volunteered at Safari's Animal Sanctuary for the past year and half.
    
    http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=9271468

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• Liger Mauling Lori Ensign Liger Mauling Lori Ensign

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary
    
    Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary is home to 27 big cats. Former keepers have warned for years that the practices there would lead to injuries, escapes and death. SIAS' website is covered in the typically ignorant photos of the President, Lori Ensign bottle feeding tigers and walking them on leashes. That kind of irresponsible behavior can only lead to tragedy for humans as well as the animals when they pay the ultimate price.
    
    Liger Attacks Handler
    
    Posted: Oct 29, 2008 01:46 PM
    
    Updated: Oct 30, 2008 07:39 AM
    FEATURED VIDEO
    
    The incident happened as the children were walking by the cage. The incident happened as the children were walking by the cage. The attack occurred at Safaris Animal Sanctuary at 26881 East 58th Street in Wagoner County.
    The attack occurred at Safaris Animal Sanctuary at 26881 East 58th Street in Wagoner County. NewsOn6.com
    
    BROKEN ARROW, OK -- A handler at a wild animal sanctuary east of Broken Arrow has been attacked by a large cat.
    
    The attack occurred before noon Wednesday at Safari's Animal Sanctuary at 26881 East 58th Street in Wagoner County.
    
    A sheriff's deputy at the sanctuary tells The News On 6, the handler was bitten in the upper torso and neck area.
    
    The handler, identified as Peter Getz, was flown by medical helicopter to a Tulsa hospital and is currently listed in critical condition.
    
    The sheriff's deputy says a group of 40 Pre-K elementary Haskell school children were at the sanctuary at the time of the incident, but did not witness the attack. An adult sponsor saw the incident and pushed the children away from the scene.
    
    The incident happened as the children were walking by the cage.
    
    http://www.newson6.com/global/category.asp?C=112039
    
    Liger injures worker at animal sanctuary in Broken Arrow
    
    
    
    BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
    Published: October 29, 2008
    
    BROKEN ARROW — A liger at a Wagoner County animal sanctuary attacked a volunteer late this morning, officials said.
    
    Peter Getz, whose hometown and age were not immediately available, was airlifted to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition, a Broken Arrow Fire Department spokesman said.
    
    A hospital spokeswoman said Getz was admitted to the emergency room, but an updated status was not available this afternoon.
    
    The attack occurred just before noon at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E 58, east of Broken Arrow, Wagoner County sheriff's deputy Eugene Smith said.
    
    Getz was trying to feed the liger when it attacked him, leaving wounds on his chest and neck, Smith said.
    
    A liger is a cross between a lion and a tiger. According to the sanctuary's Web site, the liger is named Rocky.
    
    Calls to the animal sanctuary went to voicemail without ringing. The voicemail message says "a volunteer had an injury. Due to the emotional strain of the situation, Safari's will be closed until further notice."
    
    http://newsok.com/worker-attacked-by-tiger-at-animal-sanctuary-in-broken-arrow/article/3316910?custom_click=headlines_widget
    
    
    
    Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary is not a sanctuary, but rather, a part of the problem. Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary at 26881 E 58, east of Broken Arrow, Wagoner County, OK is home to 27 big cats. Former keepers have warned for years that the practices there would lead to injuries, escapes and death. SIAS' website is covered in the typically ignorant photos of the President, Lori Ensign bottle feeding tigers and walking them on leashes. That kind of irresponsible behavior can only lead to tragedy for humans as well as the animals when they pay the ultimate price. See SanctuaryStandards.com to see that this is no sanctuary.
    
    Mauling puzzles BA wildlife refuge owner
    
    
    By TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer
    10/30/2008 10:25 AM
    
    BROKEN ARROW — Officials with a Broken Arrow wildlife refuge are at a loss to understand why an experienced animal handler who was mauled Wednesday by a big cat violated rules by opening a cage during feeding time.
    
    Peter Getz, 32, a volunteer at Safari's Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E. 58th St., was attacked shortly before noon Wednesday while attempting to feed a liger.
    
    Getz, who suffered wounds to his neck, remained hospitalized Thursday morning at Saint John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition.
    
    Lori Ensign, sanctuary owner and operator, said she's trying to piece together what happened, but she knows the sanctuary's strict policy against opening the animal pens during feedings was not followed.
    
    "We try to have all the procedures in place, but for some reason, they weren't followed this time. In all my years we've stressed that whatever you do you don't open that gate," said Ensign, who was away buying feed when the attack occurred.
    
    Ensign said Getz, who is experienced and loves working with animals, has volunteered at the sanctuary for about a year and a half and worked previously at the Tulsa Zoo.
    
    "This is just horrid," Ensign said. "Peter is like a brother. He loves doing this, loves the carnivores — the bears, big cats
    
    and snakes. We were thinking about turning the place over to him some day."
    
    She said she and others are working to set up a fund to help with Getz's medical expenses, with more information to follow.
    
    Other volunteers were with Getz during the feeding, per sanctuary rules.
    
    "We always have three people for feedings as back-up," Ensign said. "They were there and were able to help get him out. But they are still in shock right now and we don't want to push them to find out why procedures were broken. We want to give them time."
    
    The liger, named Rocky, is a hybrid cross between a male lion and a female tiger.
    
    Rocky's fate will ultimately be determined by state wildlife officials, who will investigate the incident and decide whether the cat will be euthanized, Ensign said.
    
    Ensign said the facility has a good safety record.
    
    In 2000, two handlers at the sanctuary were bitten by a black bear, according to reports. The bear was later euthanized.
    
    The sanctuary, a nonprofit wildlife refuge, houses about 200 animals, most of which were donated by private owners, according to the facility's Web site. All staff members are volunteers.
    
    The facility is licensed and regulated through the Oklahoma Wildlife Department and United States Department of Agriculture and is subject to the same rules as public zoos.
    
    Handler attacked while feeding large cat
    
    BROKEN ARROW - Peter Getz, 32, an employee of Safari's Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, remains in critical condition at a Tulsa hospital after being mauled by a liger, a hybrid of a lion and a tigress.
    
    
    Authorities say Getz was feeding the big cat Wednesday when he was attacked and bitten on the neck.
    
    After escaping the cage, Getz collapsed. Paramedics performed CPR on him and he was flown by helicopter to St. John Medical Center for treatment.
    
    The refuge was immediately evacuated and locked down.
    
    A group of students from Haskell was inside the sanctuary at the time of the attack but apparently did not see or hear anything that was going on.
    
    A Ledger call to Safari's owner Lori Ensign was answered automatically: "Due to the emotional strain from this injury, Safari's will be closed until further notice. We will only be able to answer emergency calls at this time, so please keep us in your prayers."
    
    http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20182445&BRD=2754&PAG=461&dept_id=574063&rfi=6
    
    Liger Critically Injures Oklahoma Zoo Worker
    
    Broken Arrow, OK (AHN) - A worker at an Oklahoma zoo was seriously injured after a liger, a cross between a lion and a tiger, attacked him Wednesday while feeding the animal.
    
    Peter Getz of Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow was taken to the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa and remains in critical condition for injuries in the neck and chest, according to authorities.
    
    Zoo officials have no comment but a recorded message from its telephone answering machine said a worker was injured and the safari is closed until further notice.
    http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012846430
    
    Worker attacked by tiger at animal sanctuary
    
    
    By Don Bishop @ October 30, 2008 3:29 AM
    
    BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say a handler at a Wagoner County wild animal sanctuary suffered a puncture wound to the neck after a big cat attacked him during a feeding.
    
    Thirty-two-year-old Peter Getz was bitten in the upper torso and the neck area at Safari's Animal Sanctuary yesterday around noon. Getz was flown by medical helicopter to Saint John Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.
    
    Sheriff's Deputy James Suddath says Getz was able to escape the cage following the attack, then collapsed.
    
    Initial reports said Getz was attacked by a tiger. KRMG reported that a lion-tiger mix (a "liger") named Rocky attacked the handler.
    
    Officials say a Haskell Public Schools class on a field trip at the sanctuary didn't witness the attack and that the facility was evacuated and locked down after the incident.
    
    
    http://krmg.com/blogging/cxr-search.cgi?tag=puncture%20wound&blog_id=51&IncludeBlogs=51
    
    Handler is mauled by big cat
    
    
    Rocky the liger is shown at Safari's Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow. Tulsa World file
    
    
    
    By TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer
    10/30/2008
    Last Modified: 10/30/2008 2:38 AM
    
    The handler suffers a neck wound and is hospitalized in critical condition.
    
    
    BROKEN ARROW — An animal handler at a wildlife refuge was mauled by a big cat during a feeding Wednesday.
    
    The attack occurred shortly before noon at Safari's Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E. 58th St., emergency responders said.
    
    The handler, identified as Peter Getz, 32, was attacked by a liger, a hybrid of a lion and a tigress.
    
    Getz, who suffered a puncture wound to his neck, was flown by helicopter to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Fire Department officials said.
    
    He was listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.
    
    Deputy Fire Chief James Suddath said: "He was bitten on the neck during a feeding, but he was able to escape the cage. He collapsed after he got out."
    
    Paramedics performed CPR on Getz, Suddath said.
    
    Wagoner County sheriff's deputies also responded.
    
    A deputy said a Haskell Public Schools class was on a field trip at the sanctuary but did not witness the attack.
    
    The refuge was immediately evacuated and locked down, with the liger, named Rocky, and other animals remaining in their pens, officials said.
    
    Sanctuary officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
    
    The sanctuary, a nonprofit wildlife refuge, houses about 200 animals, most of which were donated by private owners, according to its Web site.
    
    All of its staff members are volunteers.
    
    The refuge is licensed and regulated through the Oklahoma Wildlife Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is subject to the same rules as public zoos.
    
    Officials said regulatory officials had been notified about the incident.
    
    In 2000, two handlers at the sanctuary were bitten by a black bear.
    
    http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081030_12_A5_Rockyt778685
    
    Liger Attacks Handler At Safari's
    
    Broken Arrow - A handler at Safari's wildlife sanctuary in Broken Arrow is in critical condition after being attacked by a liger.
    
    Owner Lori Ensign says they aren't sure why the cat attacked handler Peter Getz. The liger which is half tiger and half lion has been at the park for over 10 years.
    
    Ensign says Gets was feeding the liger when he opened the cage door, something ensign says they never do for safety. Getz is in ICU at St. John Medical Center.
    
    Ensign says they plan to set up a fund for Getz at Arvest Bank to help with medical expenses.
    
    http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1008/565586.html
    
    Volunteer critically injured by large cat at Broken Arrow sanctuary
    
    
    A large cat mauled a volunteer at the Safari's Sanctuary in Broken Arrow Wednesday morning.
    
    The attack occurred at approximately 11:45 at the sanctuary, located at 26881 East 58th Street in the Wagoner County portion of Broken Arrow.
    
    Lori Ensign, operator of the sanctuary, told 2NEWS HD that the incident involved one of the sanctuary's most well-known and popular animals, "Rocky."
    
    "Rocky" is a cross between a lion and a tiger, a hybrid referred to as a "liger."
    
    Ensign said that the accident occurred during a feeding.
    
    A LifeFlight helicopter transported the volunteer, a 32-year-old man, to St. John Medical Center.
    
    This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apRpFg2F2NM Video of Rocky the liger being fed by guests
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIG2iAYtoxQ Video of Rocky the liger being fed by guests w/ owner's narration
    
    Liger injures worker at animal sanctuary in Broken Arrow
    
    
    Comments Comment on this article5
    BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
    Published: October 29, 2008
    
    BROKEN ARROW — A liger at a Wagoner County animal sanctuary attacked a volunteer late this morning, officials said.
    
    Rocky the liger, shown in this undated file photo, attacked a volunteer at a Wagoner County wildlife sanctuary Wednesday, officials said. Photo provided by The Tulsa World
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    Peter Getz, whose hometown and age were not immediately available, was airlifted to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition, a Broken Arrow Fire Department spokesman said.
    
    A hospital spokeswoman said Getz was admitted to the emergency room, but an updated status was not available this afternoon.
    
    The attack occurred just before noon at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E 58, east of Broken Arrow, Wagoner County sheriff's deputy Eugene Smith said.
    
    Getz was trying to feed the liger when it attacked him, leaving wounds on his chest and neck, Smith said.
    
    A liger is a cross between a lion and a tiger. According to the sanctuary's Web site, the liger is named Rocky.
    Calls to the animal sanctuary went to voicemail without ringing. The voicemail message says "a volunteer had an injury. Due to the emotional strain of the situation, Safari's will be closed until further notice."
    
    http://newsok.com/liger-injures-worker-at-animal-sanctuary-in-broken-arrow/article/3316910
    
    
    Worker attacked by tiger at animal sanctuary
    
    
    Associated Press - October 29, 2008 9:05 PM ET
    
    BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say a handler at a Wagoner County wild animal sanctuary suffered a puncture wound to the neck after a big cat attacked him during a feeding today.
    
    Thirty-2-year-old Peter Getz was bitten in the upper torso and the neck area at Safari's Animal Sanctuary and flown by medical helicopter to St. John Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.
    
    Sheriff's Deputy James Suddath says Getz was able to escape the cage following the attack, then collapsed.
    
    Initial reports said Getz was attacked by a tiger. The Tulsa World reported that a lion-tiger mix named Rocky attacked the handler.
    
    Officials say a Haskell Public Schools class on a field trip at the sanctuary didn't witness the attack and that the facility was evacuated and locked down after the incident.
    
    Information from: The Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com and KOTV-TV, http://www.newson6.com
    
    http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=9260770&nav=menu410_3
    
    
    Big cat injures Wagoner sanctuary volunteer
    
    
    BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
    Published: October 30, 2008
    
    BROKEN ARROW — A 1,000-pound cat attacked a volunteer Wednesday at a Wagoner County animal sanctuary, officials said. The cat was identified as a liger, which is a cross between a male lion and a female tiger.
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    Peter Getz, 32, of Stillwater was airlifted to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition with wounds to his chest and neck, a Broken Arrow Fire Department spokesman said. A hospital spokeswoman would not release his condition.
    
    The attack occurred just before noon at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E 58, east of Broken Arrow, Wagoner County sheriff's Deputy Eugene Smith said. Getz was trying to feed the liger when it attacked.
    
    Calls to the animal sanctuary went to voicemail Wednesday. The message says "a volunteer had an injury. Due to the emotional strain of the situation, Safari's will be closed until further notice." The sanctuary did not return a call seeking comment.
    
    The liger, named Rocky, weighed an estimated 1,000 pounds, according to an undated video from Tulsa television station KOTV-6 posted on the sanctuary's Web site.
    
    In 2003, a bear cub attacked a handler's arms and legs at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary.
    http://newsok.com/big-cat-injures-sanctuary-volunteer/article/3317094

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• Liger Mauls Keeper at Safari's Liger Mauls Keeper at Safari's Interactive Animals

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:
    Liger injures worker at animal sanctuary in Broken Arrow
     
    BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
    Published: October 29, 2008
     
    BROKEN ARROW — A liger at a Wagoner County animal sanctuary attacked a volunteer late this morning, officials said.
     
    Peter Getz, whose hometown and age were not immediately available, was airlifted to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition, a Broken Arrow Fire Department spokesman said.
     
    A hospital spokeswoman said Getz was admitted to the emergency room, but an updated status was not available this afternoon.
     
    The attack occurred just before noon at Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E 58, east of Broken Arrow, Wagoner County sheriff's deputy Eugene Smith said.
     
    Getz was trying to feed the liger when it attacked him, leaving wounds on his chest and neck, Smith said.
     
    A liger is a cross between a lion and a tiger. According to the sanctuary's Web site, the liger is named Rocky.
     
    Calls to the animal sanctuary went to voicemail without ringing. The voicemail message says "a volunteer had an injury. Due to the emotional strain of the situation, Safari's will be closed until further notice."
     
    http://newsok.com/worker-attacked-by-tiger-at-animal-sanctuary-in-broken-arrow/article/3316910?custom_click=headlines_widget
    
    
    Safari's Interactive Animal Sanctuary is home to 27 big cats. Former keepers have warned for years that the practices there would lead to injuries, escapes and death. SIAS' website is covered in the typically ignorant photos of the President, Lori Ensign bottle feeding tigers and walking them on leashes. That kind of irresponsible behavior can only lead to tragedy for humans as well as the animals when they pay the ultimate price.
    
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• Tiger Escapes & Kills at Zoo Tiger Escapes & Kills at Zoo

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    Tiger Escapes & Kills at Zoo
  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 606

• Hold That Tiger Hold That Tiger

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Hold That Tiger: The recent big cat attacks in Missouri have residents and state officials calling for tougher exotic animal laws
    
    By Keegan Hamilton
    published: August 20, 2008
    
    Earlier this month an 800-pound tiger managed to scale a twelve-foot chainlink fence and maul a 26-year-old volunteer at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya animal refuge near Warrenton. The beast, shot to death by the farm's owners moments after the attack, knocked Jacob Barr down and chewed his leg to the point that it had to be amputated below the knee.
    
    
    The well publicized incident on August 3 came nearly five years after inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture paid a visit to the refuge to make sure that the 44 tigers, eleven lions and seven Arctic wolves housed there were being treated humanely and kept in secure cages.
    
    On October 30, 2003, USDA inspectors cited the refuge for a number of violations, including a lack of cover for many animal cages and gaps in the chainlink fences of the tiger pens. When inspectors returned for a follow-up review in December 2003, owners Ken and Sandra Smith abruptly chose to surrender their USDA exhibitor's license rather than let them enter the facility.
    
    Forfeiting the license meant Wesa-A-Geh-Ya (which means "cat lady" in Sandra Smith's native Cherokee language) could no longer charge admission to view the animals, but it also ensured that the federal inspectors would not return.
    
    "After losing or surrendering a license, the animals became private collections, which we have no control over," says USDA spokeswoman Karen Eggert. "The USDA does not have oversight of animals, including big cats kept as personal pets. It is up to the state to impose restrictions."
    
    The attack at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya was the second tiger mauling in the state in as many days. On August 4, a sixteen-year-old employee at Predator World near Branson was attacked by three tigers when he entered their pen to take a picture. Both episodes this month have drawn scrutiny to the lack of oversight and regulation that govern private ownership of exotic animals.
    
    "Any way you look at it, from ensuring the well-being of animals to public safety, all agencies involved are failing miserably," says Lisa Wathne, a Seattle-based captive exotic animal specialist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
    
    Missouri is one of 23 states that permit individuals to keep tigers and other big cats as pets. State law says only that owners must register their animals with a local law enforcement agency and that failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
    
    "We just keep list of caged predators and wild animals in the county. As far as regulating, we don't do that," says Quirt Page, chief deputy sheriff in Stone County, where Predator World is located. "We're not prepared for private citizens owning tigers. I've never understood what we'd do if we had a major escape. Our officers aren't going to get out there and use a Taser to deal with a 400-pound tiger. That'll just make him mad."
    
    The Missouri Department of Conservation annually inspects sites that house native big cat species such as cougars, but has no jurisdiction over tigers and other non-indigenous creatures. Meanwhile, the USDA only oversees places like zoos, roadside attractions and circuses, which allow public access to the animals.
    
    While the USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulate the import and sale of tigers and other wild animals, a study published last month by the World Wildlife Fund found that "these federal agencies do not know at any given time how many tigers actually exist in the United States."
    
    According to the Animal Protection Institute, from 1990 to 2006, there were 157 documented escapes, attacks and other disruptive incidents involving captive big cats throughout the country.
    
    The violations at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya that were meted out by USDA inspectors in 2003 was not the only time the facility and its owners ran afoul of authorities.
    
    Court records show that in June 2007, the refuge's co-owner Ken Smith was arrested in Warren County and sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to failing to register some of his animals with the sheriff's department. Records also show that on May 5 of this year, Smith was fined $100 for improperly killing and disposing of an animal.
    
    The Smiths, who've been collecting exotic animals for more than 30 years, did not return calls seeking comment. Since the August 3 attack, they've stated publicly that they plan to close the refuge and give their animals away to sanctuaries across the country.
    
    Dan Zarlenga, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says inspectors from his agency checked up on Wesa-A-Geh-Ya at least once a year to check on their menagerie of animals native to Missouri.
    
    Zarlenga says he was surprised to learn that the USDA had not been inspecting the lions and tigers housed at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya.
    
    "I was not aware that [the USDA] only inspected places if they had an exhibitor's license; that's interesting. No one had been regulating the tigers? That is a concern, but those particular species don't fall within in our realm of responsibility. We have no jurisdiction."
    
    In St. Louis County, owners of exotic pets including tigers, bears and snakes more than ten feet long must purchase an insurance policy with a payout of $100,000 to ensure that the pet's owner can pay for damages should their animal injure someone.
    
    John Shelton, spokesman for the St. Louis County Health Department, says no exotic animals are currently registered in the county.
    
    In the City of St. Louis, meanwhile, owning big cats, bears, venomous snakes and other wild animals has been prohibited since 1982.
    
    The Missouri legislature has considered several laws that would restrict big cat ownership. Most recently, in January State Senator Tom Dempsey, a St. Charles Republican, sponsored a bill that would have banned private individuals from owning exotic species, including big cats, as pets. The bill died in committee.
    
    "It seemed reasonable to me that we shouldn't allow just anybody to raise and care for these animals," says Dempsey. "With more oversight I believe [the attack in Warren County] could have been prevented. Unfortunately, that's sometimes how things get done. The legislature will be reactive rather than proactive."
    
    Mike Sutherland, a state representative from Warrenton, says he's been trying in vain to secure legislation to restrict ownership of large carnivores since his first term in office in 2003. He says he initially heard about the issue at a town meeting in Warrenton where area residents expressed outrage about the unsupervised wildlife at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya.
    
    "I'm not for regulation; I think less government is better," Sutherland says. "But if there's one thing we ought to keep an eye on, it's large cats that can eat you."
    
    http://www.riverfronttimes.com/200 8-08-20/news/hold-that-tiger-the-recent-big-cat-at tacks-in-missouri-have-residents-and-state-officia ls-calling-for-tougher-exotic-animal-laws

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  • 2 years ago
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• Predator World 911 call Predator World 911 call

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    Calls to 911 reveal panic at animal park; staff says tigers didn't attack
    
    by Abby Wuellner, KY3 News
    Story Published: Aug 5, 2008 at 3:43 PM CDT
    
    Story Updated: Aug 5, 2008 at 7:02 PM CDT
    
    By Gene Hartley
    
    Video
    
    
    To read a statement from the park on Tuesday, click here.
    
    
    To hear the 911 tape, click here.
    
    BRANSON WEST, Mo. -- Investigators from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture were at the Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium on Tuesday. They’re investigating what the Stone County sheriff says was a tiger attack on a teenager on Monday afternoon.
    
    The victim, Dakoda Ramel, 16, remained in critical condition on Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in Springfield. Employees at the animal park, which used to be called Predator World, spoke out about the case and said they’ve learned more about what happened from witnesses.
    
    A Stone County 911 emergency center tape reveals the sense of panic at the park in the moments after the accident took place.
    
    "What's going on?” a call-taker asked.
    
    “We have a tiger attack and a bad one!" said a caller.
    
    In the hectic moments after a tiger bit Dakoda’s leg, neck and face, no one could tell exactly what happened.
    
    “He’s not bleeding. He’s just, just deep, deep lacerations,” said the caller. “He is not conscious that we can tell.”
    
    Later, someone at the park said he was breathing.
    
    “Yeah, he’s breathing lightly, yeah, shallow breathing,” the caller said.
    
    The owner of Branson interactive Zoo and Aquarium, Breck Wakefield, hasn't consented to an interview. He said in a news release on Tuesday that an eyewitness account is helping the staff put the pieces together.
    
    "He entered the enclosure on his own to take pictures for a customer,” Sharon Sargent, a biologist at the animal park, said in an interview outside the park office on Tuesday. "The only people who saw it stated he fell and the cats had not attacked."
    
    That's the point at which the tiger approached, Wakefield’s news release says, after the fall knocked the teen unconscious. After that, the news release says, “a female tiger approached, grabbed him by the neck and dragged him to what she would have felt was safety . . . Contrary to reports, she was not holding him in water but was rather holding his head above water by his neck. Dakoda never moved or made a sound.
    
    "While there is no doubt being dragged by a 300-pound animal with 2-inch canines contributed to his injuries greatly, thee is also no doubt he would have not survived an aggressive attack involving his neck. Also, only one cat was ever involved."
    
    Shortly thereafter, staff members used carbon dioxide canisters to ward off the animals and remove the boy.
    
    "We have two puncture wounds on the neck, one big one on the leg, a big gash on the leg. It’s not bleeding from the leg. His neck is bleeding,” a caller says on the 911 tape.
    
    That's the condition in which he was airlifted to Springfield, where he remains in critical condition.
    
    "At this time, we believe this to have been a tragic accident,” said Sargent.
    
    What exactly led up to the accident remains unclear. In a news release on Tuesday, the park said Dakoda was violating the park’s policy by being in the tiger cage.
    
    Those who saw it say Dakoda went into the pen to take a picture for a tourist. Why he did it will remain the unknown until Dakoda can speak for himself.
    
    "Once he can talk to us, if he was doing something wrong, he'll admit it,” said Sargent.
    
    The other detail that remains unclear to some is whether this tiger actually "attacked." Wakefield’s news release says Dakoda was an intern at the park. Sargent said he’s been around these animals since they were a couple days old.
    
    Wakefield’s news release says the people at the park don't think the tiger was trying to attack; if that had been the case, the tiger would have killed him. That contradicts the person who called 911 and told the call-taker that the tigers were attacking Dakoda.
    
    The staff isn’t doing anything to isolate the tigers from visitors. They say this was an incident that happened in a tiger pen, and they don't believe anyone is at risk, provided protocol is being followed.
    
    Wakefield’s news release says the park closed immediately after the attack and the staff asked visitors to leave before going to the hospital in Springfield. That contradicts interviews that a reporter did with visitors on Monday who said they weren’t asked to leave. Sheriff Richard Hill also said the park remained open except for the tiger exhibit.
    
    The news release praised other staff members for moving quickly to help Dakoda and keep the tigers away from him by "acting bravely and without regard for themselves, not being sure if this was a full attack or not."
    
    The park says it was a "tragic accident and we are not considering at this time to put down the cats as Dakoda's family has made it clear this is not what he would have wanted."
    
    Also Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to ask for an investigation of the incident and the revocation of Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium's license to keep wild animals. The letter to the USDA came from PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Va.
    
    PETA said the park, formerly known as Predator World, has a history of "dangerous incidents." It said a black leopard bit an 18-year-old volunteer on the arm on Nov. 20, 2004; two wolves escaped on Feb. 15, 2007, with after which one was shot and killed after being free for two months and the other was never found; and escapes of a fox and a grizzly bear. PETA said Predator World was fined $2,000 in 2003.
    
    http://www.ky3.com/news/local/2629 2324.html

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• Man Mauled at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya Man Mauled at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    KSDK -- Authorities in Warren County, Missouri are investigating an animal attack at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya Animal Facility.

    Shortly before noon, police were called to the facility located on Highway A after a report of a man being mauled by a tiger.

    The victim suffered serious injuries to his leg and was airlifted to Barnes Hospital by Arch Air Medical.

    The condition of the victim is not being released. Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the incident remains under investigation.

    http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/sto ry.aspx?storyid=151346
    
    Carole's letter to reporter newstips@ksdk.com
    
    Wesa-A-Geh-Ya is no sanctuary. The US Fish & Wildlife service specifically states that accredited sanctuaries do NOT breed. As someone who has been involved with saving big cats for the past twenty years, I can assure you that there are no legitimate breeding and release programs for big cats and never will be because there isn't habitat for them to survive and raising and releasing captive born cats isn't possible without tremendous danger to the public.
    
    Wasn't this facility part of Operation Snow low? Tim Santel, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's law enforcement office in Springfield, Ill., was named Officer of the Year in 2004 for his lengthy undercover investigation of the illegal killing of endangered species, specifically tigers, leopards, snow leopards and the commercialization of their meat, hides and other body parts. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Snow Plow," lasted more than six years, covered more than six states and resulted in the conviction of all 17 defendants (16 individuals and one business) charged with violating several federal wildlife protection laws. Combined, the defendants' sentences have resulted in 80 months in federal prison, 52 months home detention, 2,200 hours of community service, $75,000 in fines and $226,000 in restitution to the Fish and Wildlife Federation's Save the Tiger Fund. One of the convictions was that of a well-known "sanctuary" in MO that was selling their "rescued" lions to be served in restaurants.
    
    
    The questions I would really like to see exposed are the following:
    
    Why is is that "sanctuaries" and those who profess to "love" the big cats are so violently opposed to legislation that would end the private trade in them as pets and collectibles? My goal is that places like Big Cat Rescue no longer need to exist and my path to that goal is by asking for legislation that bans the breeding, sale, trade and collecting of these great cats. As a result, I may be the most hated person in the big cat "industry" and yet most of the people who spend so much time trying to discredit me with their lies and insinuations claim to be in the rescue and sanctuary business. Why isn't ending the abuse the most important goal of those who claim to be saving big cats from abuse?
    
    Why are big cats being born in sanctuaries when there isn't enough sanctuary space for all of the unwanted big cats?
    
    Why is contact with big cats allowed when a bill in Congress has died last year and stalled this year that would prevent it? (HR 1947 Haley's Act)
    
    Where do all of the babies from last year go? When you look around at all of the places who advertise baby lions and tigers, where do they all go for the next 20 years?
    
    More here:
    
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/2008ManEatingLions.htm
    
    
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm
    
    It costs Big Cat Rescue between $5,000 and $7,500 per year to provide proper care for a big cat. Multiply that by the number of big cats in these pseudo sanctuaries and roadside zoos and then compare it to their annual budgets.
    
    Lack of accountability. Most of these places hide behind their USDA licenses as if it were a badge of honor, but if you visit the abusers page on www.911AnimalAbuse.com you will see a repeating pattern of facilities having USDA violations reported year after year, for six years in some cases, before the USDA takes action. Meanwhile the USDA keeps renewing their licenses. Why does USDA renew licenses each year of facilities that have failed to meet even the more minimal of standards? To give you an idea of how low the standards are, the size of cage for a tiger only has to be big enough for the cat to stand up and turn around.
    
    What does it cost the tax payer? When less than 1/10th of one percent of the public owns exotic animals, why do tax dollars fund entire governmental departments to regulate an industry that is unneeded and inhumane? What are the actual costs to tax payers for all of the reporting, licensing, enforcement and the clean up costs after these places allow escapes or they go belly up?
    
    62% of the people polled say that seeing big cats in cages has done nothing to cause them to donate to conservation in the wild. Almost all of the places that use big cats for income will cite that noble cause as their excuse, and yet how much of the money they raise is actually put to work in saving the habitats?
    
    The tiger is the best example of how this doesn't ring true. No big cat is more commonly kept in zoos and back yard menageries and yet with less than 4,000 left in the wild and one being poached per day, it is obvious that this great cat will disappear in the next few years. All of the cats who were born in cages for the last hundred years did nothing to stop the onslaught. I believe that the practice of keeping cats in cages has actually led to their demise in the wild. If you can have the convenience of driving a few miles to see a tiger in a cage, then why protect them half a world away where you may never see them?
    --
    For the cats,
    
    Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
    an Educational Sanctuary home
    to more than 100 big cats
    12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
    813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
    
    http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.

    org
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  • 2 years ago
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• Ellijay Wildlife Craig Cylke Ellijay Wildlife Craig Cylke

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    ELLIJAY, Ga. -- Most people know Criag Cylke simply as "Grizzly". He's raised abandoned bears and nursed injured predators. Now, he's scared the animals he loves could soon be euthanized.

    "We're down to the point now, this will probably be our last week, this coming week," Cycle said.

    The Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is the largest in Georgia, and one of just a handful that can handle large animals. The wildlife sanctuary lost its federal funding. Now, private donations have slowed to a trickle. The animals go through two tons of dog food and two tons of meet every month. The non-profit organization is $300,000 in debt.

    "If we go down, there's not going to be many places for these animals," he said. "In fact, the bears that you see here today, the state will probably have to put down because there's no home for them."

    It's devastating news to Chris Enfinger. He came for summer camp one year and kept on coming. He's now a volunteer. "Just to see them, after all the time I've spent with them, just to get put down because they can't go anywhere, that would be really sad for me."

    Dr. Lyn Lewis is a vet at the Appalachian Animal Hospital. They donate about $40,000 in care every year. He says the sanctuary is a safety net for all of Georgia. "The wildlife would suffer," he said. "We already have endangered species in this area. I firmly believe that this sanctuary keeps many of those animals from going extinct in this region."

    Cykle and his wife haven't taken salaries in three years. They've sold off personal assets to keep these animals fed and keep their doors open.

    Now, the money is gone. Some of the animals have no where to go. The center is days away from closing. And still, the man called "Grizzly" tenaciously holds on to hope.

    "We have a hope. And that hope is our Georgia people and our lovely neighbors in the surrounding states. If they just hear the message of what's happening here, then they can make a difference."

    Click here to help the Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary.

    View Julie's Photo Gallery of the Sanctuary.

    http://www.11alive.com/news/loc al/story.aspx?storyid=119350&provider=email

    Carole's letter to the reporter:

    Dear Julie,
    
    I don't know Craig Cylke, but would be wary of any sanctuary that is breeding animals. The US Fish & Wildlife service specifically states that accredited sanctuaries do NOT breed. As someone who has been involved with saving big cats for the past twenty years, I can assure you that there are no legitimate breeding and release programs for big cats and never will be because there isn't habitat for them to survive and raising and releasing captive born cats isn't possible without tremendous danger to the public.
    
    I found this on Cylke's website after reading your article:

    We at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary are working to reestablish the eastern puma in the wild through our captive breeding and release program. At this time, we are working on strengthening the bloodlines of our four eastern pumas and 13 western cougars through selective breeding as deemed necessary. However, our goal of releasing puma offspring to the wild cannot be achieved until funding is raised to create a 5-acre natural habitat in which puma mothers will raise their cubs for two-year periods without direct human contact prior to release. Thanks to a generous donation from the Howard Buffet Foundation, we now have the land needed. The remaining cost for habitat preparation and maintenance is $235,000
    

    
    I emailed him and told him that if he has to close we may be able to house some of his cats, but none of his cougars could be Eastern panthers, so none of his cats should be bred. There is no good reason to breed cats for lives of confinement and deprivation. The images of the enclosures from your report was heartbreaking.
    
    Time and time again I have seen "sanctuaries" plead to the public to send money or they will have to kill the animals. Looking at their 990s online at Guidestar it looks like they have gotten a lot of money in the past (although I have never heard of federal funding for what they do and knowing the particulars on that would be interesting). Unfortunately, it is usually just bad management and the inability to plan properly that causes so many animals to end up in such deplorable situations.
    
    The questions I would really like to see exposed are the following:
    
    Why is is that "sanctuaries" and those who profess to "love" the big cats are so violently opposed to legislation that would end the private trade in them as pets and collectibles? My goal is that places like Big Cat Rescue no longer need to exist and my path to that goal is by asking for legislation that bans the breeding, sale, trade and collecting of these great cats. As a result, I may be the most hated person in the big cat "industry" and yet most of the people who spend so much time trying to discredit me with their lies and insinuations claim to be in the rescue and sanctuary business. Why isn't ending the abuse the most important goal of those who claim to be saving big cats from abuse?
    
    Why are big cats being born in sanctuaries when there isn't enough sanctuary space for all of the unwanted big cats?
    
    Why would a sanctuary take a cat from a breeder who isn't going to stop breeding? I don't know if this is the case at Ellijay, but it seems to be prevalent in the industry.
    
    Online polls show that 92% of the public are opposed to inbreeding an animal just to get a unusual coat color, but they clamor to see a white tiger?
    
    More here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/w ild/white_tigers.htm
    
    Where do all of the babies from last year go? When you look around at all of the places who advertise baby lions and tigers, where do they all go for the next 20 years?
    
    More here:
    
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/2008ManEatingLions.htm

    
    
    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm
    
    

    It costs Big Cat Rescue between $5,000 and $7,500 per year to provide proper care for a big cat. Multiply that by the number of big cats in these pseudo sanctuaries and roadside zoos and then compare it to their annual budgets.
    
    Lack of accountability. Most of these places hide behind their USDA licenses as if it were a badge of honor, but if you visit the abusers page on www.911AnimalAbuse.com you will see a repeating pattern of facilities having USDA violations reported year after year, for six years in some cases, before the USDA takes action. Meanwhile the USDA keeps renewing their licenses. Why does USDA renew licenses each year of facilities that have failed to meet even the more minimal of standards? To give you an idea of how low the standards are, the size of cage for a tiger only has to be big enough for the cat to stand up and turn around.
    
    What does it cost the tax payer? When less than 1/10th of one percent of the public owns exotic animals, why do tax dollars fund entire governmental departments to regulate an industry that is unneeded and inhumane? What are the actual costs to tax payers for all of the reporting, licensing, enforcement and the clean up costs after these places allow escapes or they go belly up?
    
    62% of the people polled say that seeing big cats in cages has done nothing to cause them to donate to conservation in the wild. Almost all of the places that use big cats for income will cite that noble cause as their excuse, and yet how much of the money they raise is actually put to work in saving the habitats?
    
    The tiger is the best example of how this doesn't ring true. No big cat is more commonly kept in zoos and back yard menageries and yet with less than 4,000 left in the wild and one being poached per day, it is obvious that this great cat will disappear in the next few years. All of the cats who were born in cages for the last hundred years did nothing to stop the onslaught. I believe that the practice of keeping cats in cages has actually led to their demise in the wild. If you can have the convenience of driving a few miles to see a tiger in a cage, then why protect them half a world away where you may never see them?
    
    

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  • 2 years ago
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• Kay Rosaire & Clay Rosaire Kay Rosaire & Clay Rosaire

  • From: PatCuvie
  • Description:

    Kay Rosaire and her son Clay Rosaire do not rescue cats, but rather are a part of the problem rather than the solution. They do not walk the talk and these pages will tell you more about them:
    
    http://reporter.911animalabuse.com /kickapps/service/searchEverything.kickAction?keyw ords= rosaire &includeVideo=on& amp;includeAudio=on&includePhoto=on&includ eBlog=on&includeUser=on&includeGroups=on&a mp;includeMessages=on&as=23072
    
    
    This is nothing more than an antiquated "carnie" circus.

    Thankfully, in this more enlightened age of animal compassion, the market for these animal abusive displays is dwindling. Most people realize that there is nothing "educational" about seeing infant or adult wild animals caged, transported from venue to venue, "tamed" using abusive methods, existing solely as a profit center for a business. They watch Animal Planet, they visit truly accredited rescue sanctuaries, they are more aware of the reality of life for these imprisoned animals. In short, they are more educated and will look at anyone promoting them as irresponsible. (please note below the negative publicity that fairs have received as a result of displaying captive wildlife from leased organizations and the truth behind these displays)

    Kay Rosaire 's organization is not accredited and has been cited by the government for the abusive conditions in which their animals are kept. At a USDA Big Cat Symposium in Fort Worth, Texas on March 26, 2003, Kay Rosaire made this statement on stage: "To keep a tiger off you, you just poke 'em real hard with a pitchfork a time or two and show 'em who's boss. Then they'll get the message."

    These two articles will give you background on what the Rosaire 's are really about.

    
    

    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm

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

    http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000new s/0articlesbybcr/claws_and_effect.htm
    

    The animals have no voice, but you do, and you can still do so much to put an end to their abuse.

    MONTGOMERY COUNTY NOT FAIR TO LIONS AND TIGERS

    Fund for Animals Condemns Agricultural Fair for Hosting Big Cat Encounter

    SILVER SPRING, MD (August 14, 2003)

    The Fund for Animals is condemning the organizers of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair for allowing the exhibit of lions and tigers by Rosaires Big Cat Encounter. Five lions and three tigers confined to small cages are on display at the fair this week.

    The fair is taking a huge risk by promoting captive wild animal shows such as this, said Andi Bernat, Program Coordinator for The Fund for Animals. People unfortunately trust that these exotic animals can be domesticated when in fact, the animals often retain their wild instincts. According to the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition, captive wild cats exhibited to the public have been responsible for 8 deaths and over 60 injuries. Bernat also pointed out that people who are in the business of displaying captive wild animals often end up selling or trading their animals to circuses, roadside petting zoos, and trophy hunting ranches.

    In fact, Kay Rosaire , one of the Big Cat Encounter owners, was an exhibitor for UniverSoul Circus, which has been cited for a number of infractions including Animal Welfare Act violations, said Bernat. In 1999, the Big Cat Encounter was cited by the USDA for failure to provide proper veterinary care and for cages that did not meet minimal size requirements.

    Captive wild animals deserve to be treated as animals, not as stage props, said Bernat. Having lions and tigers at a county fair is not only inhumane to the animals, but also poses a danger to citizens and could make the county and the fair organizers liable for injuries or deaths.

    FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ALLOWING WILD ANIMAL DISPLAYS

    In an attempt to clean up the sleazy image long associated with roadside zoos, operators of these facilities now declare themselves "conservationists." They in fact do nothing to protect wildlife or preserve habitat, and they breed animals indiscriminately, without regard for genetic diversity and with nowhere suitable for them to go. What people learn from these exhibitors is how animals act in captivity and that it is acceptable to cause wild animals to be bored, cramped, lonely, and kept far from their natural homes.

    Profit-hungry operators perpetually breed animals so that they will have an endless supply of "cute babies" in order to draw crowds. The older, unmanageable animals are left to languish in small cages or disposed of when they have exhausted their "usefulness." Exotic animal auctions, frequented by unscrupulous dealers, are a popular method of discarding unwanted "display" animals, who ultimately end up in the pet trade, on breeding farms, killed for their skins and other organs, or used for canned hunts. Some animals, such as tigers, lions, and bears—both cubs and adults—are worth more dead than alive. Hides alone can fetch $2,000 to $20,000 or more. Entire families are slaughtered and stuffed for mounts that sell for $10,000. To avoid damaging pelts, animals are killed by the most gruesome methods imaginable, such as shoving ice picks through their ears and into their brains, suffocating them by wrapping plastic bags around their heads, and drowning.

    Wildlife exhibitors mislead the public with impressive-sounding but meaningless credentials, such as "federally licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of the Interior." Federal permits to exhibit, breed, or sell regulated animals are required and issued to nearly anyone who fills out an application and sends in a fee. The USDA exhibitor application is a 3/4-page-long form that asks for a person's name, address, and animal inventory but nothing that pertains to qualifications. The Animal Welfare Act, which the USDA enforces, sets only minimum standards of care and rarely addresses an animal's psychological needs. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the branch of the Department of the Interior that issues permits to buy and sell threatened and endangered species, considers non-native wildlife a low priority. Breeding mills have so saturated the market with "generic tigers" of unknown lineage that USFWS exempts these animals from full regulation. Some exhibitors even retain their licenses despite incidents of deadly animal attacks, dangerous animal escapes, serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and illegal wildlife trafficking.

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• Lions Served Up in FL Restaura Lions Served Up in FL Restaurants

  • From: CaroleBaskin
  • Description:

    Big Cat Rules

    This page is devoted primarily to pending changes in Florida's captive wild animal rules, but even if you are not from Florida, this could make a big difference where you live because Florida currently produces more big cats than any other state. These cats are hauled all over the country, and sometimes even to foreign countries where people are not as concerned with protecting animals. When the cats cats can no longer be used to support their owners they are often dumped along the way; sometimes into the hands of unwitting exotic pet owners, sometimes they are served up in restaurants and sometimes they are dumped into the wild with no survival skills. Ending the trafficking of exotic cats in Florida will greatly reduce the number of these cats who end up suffering in all parts of the world.

    The comment period on these proposed rules closes 5PM on July 4, 2008 , so be sure to mail or email your comments before then if you want to be a part of the cure. Send them to RuleChanges@MyFWC.com and put "Captive Wildlife" in the subject line or mail them to Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission c/o Captain Linda Harrison at 620 S. Meridian treet Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600.

    Below is the summary of the rules proposed by the FWC and Big Cat Rescue's comments are in bold .

    Summary of Proposed Rule Changes - 2008
    Chapter 68A-6, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)

    68A-6.002 Categories of Captive Wildlife

    * Clarify that categories of wildlife includes taxonomic successors and subspecies thereof.
    * Classification changes:

    * Class I:
    o Gaur (family Bovidae)
    o Hyena and Aardwolf (family Hyaenidae)
    o Cougars, panthers (Puma concolor)
    o Cheetahs (Acinonyx jabatus) typo: jubatus
    * Class II:
    o Patas monkeys (genus Erythrocebus)
    o Vervet, Grivet or Green monkeys (genus Chlorocebus)
    o Change Bearded sakis to include all sakis (genus Chiropotes and Pithecea)
    o Change reference of specific jackal species to all jackal species (family Canidae).
    o Change reference of Gray wolves and Red wolves to all wolves (family Canidae); and delete reference to wolf x domestic hybrid percentage.
    o Include American alligator (family Alligatoridae)
    o Giraffe and Okapi (family Giraffidae)
    o Tapirs (family Tapiridae)
    o Wild cattle, forest, woodland, and arid land antelope and similar species of nonnative hoof stock of the family Bovidae.
    
    Examples include: Forest buffalo, Banteng, Anoa, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Eland, Kudu, Nilgai, Bongo, lechwe, Roan and Sable antelope, Sitatunga, Bontebok, Blesbok, Topi, Kob, Addax, Oryx, Gemsbok, and other species of the family Bovidae which are of similar size, habits and nature.

    * Delete percentage language associated with wolf x domestic hybrids.
    o Include language to address the regulation of hybrids resulting from wild x domestic animal crosses which are substantially similar in size, characteristics, and behavior so as to be essentially indistinguishable from wild animals. This should apply to hybrid cats as well as they are being released into the wild and creating a Super Feral.
    o Such hybrids to be regulated as wildlife at the highest Class if the wild parentage. as the wild parentage
    * Provide that fox, skunks, bats, raccoons or white tail deer taken from the wild may not be possessed as personal use wildlife. add bobcats and cougars because of the rabies issue and the inability to distinguish between a native bobcat or cougar and a non native bobcat or cougar. Most other states already protect their native wildlife this way and with the FL Panther in such peril, it only makes sense.

    68A-6.004 Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife

    * Include proposals to use open air habitats, except as provided, must be approved in writing by the Commission prior to use before housing wildlife.
    * Add the requirement for providing devices that allow for temperature regulation in Red Panda enclosures, as is necessary to ensure the well being of this species. Add: snow leopards, Amur tigers & Amur leopards.

    68A-6.0011 Possession of Wildlife in Captivity; Permit Requirements

    * Require USDA registered research facilities currently exempt from meeting the requirements of 68A-6, F.A.C., to maintain a detailed research proposal, annual record of progress toward research objectives and to meet cage strength requirements in 68A-6.003, F.A.C.
    * Provide that the provisions of 68A-6, F.A.C., do not apply to Bison possessed exclusively for the purpose of production of meat, skins or hides, or progeny thereof.

    68A-6.0022 Possession of Class I, II, or III Wildlife in Captivity: Permit Requirements

    * Remove brushtailed possums from the list of wildlife that may be possessed for personal use without a permit. (Currently listed federally as an injurious species).
    * Require experience for Class I and Class II to be with the species or other species in the same genus that are substantially similar in size, characteristics, care and nutritional requirements to the species for which the permit is sought . typo of a space before the period
    * Require applicants for Class I and II to provide times experience was obtained. should include times, places and activities performed
    * Increase the hours of experience requirement with test option, as provided for Class II applicants to 500 hours. (Same as VR)
    * Modify reference requirements to allow for one of the references to be provided from a representative of a professional or governmental institution such as a University, Public Service agency, Zoological association or herpetological society. Associations and Societies should be defined as accredited or nationally recognized and not just a little band of exotic pet owners calling themselves an association or society.
    * Provide that the experience requirements do not apply for alligators when possessed in accordance with 372.6673, F.S.
    * Provide that the experience requirements do not apply to Bovidae when possessed in accordance with 372.16 or 372.661, F.S.
    * Require corporations to have qualified personnel responsible for the care of Class I or II wildlife.
    o Personnel must meet the experience requirements provided for Class I or II wildlife.
    o Documentation of experience for such personnel must be submitted upon initial application and any change in personnel.
    * Require a USDA license to be obtained within 180 days after initial application and maintained when Class I wildlife is possessed for exhibition or sale.
    * Clarify language for Critical Incident/Disaster Plan requirement (372.921, 372.922, and 68A-6), modify form and form date.

    68A-6.005 Transportation Requirements for Wildlife; Caging Requirements for Performing and Non-Performing Animals

    * Include language in (1) (g) that all wildlife shall be transported in a cage or enclosure appropriate for the species. This really needs to be stated in concrete terms when transporting exotic cats. A circus wagon may contain a tiger, but in the back of a pick up truck there is no barricade to prevent public contact. You can eliminate some of the most abusive practices by restricting the transportation of big cats, except to and from the vet, to and from their final destination, such as in a transfer of ownership or under a previously filed circus itinerary which is open to public scrutiny in considerable advance of the event.
    * Include language that all transport cages which contain wildlife shall be labeled "Caution or Danger – Wild Animal"

    68A-6.007 Possession, Transportation, Exhibition and Caging Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern

    * Clean up language for reptiles of concern to include their "taxonomic successors."
    * Address taxonomic split of the amthistina complex in the genus Morelia to better reflect the intent of the listing of Amethystine or scrub pythons as reptiles of concern.
    o Includes all subspecies of the genus Morelia that exceed 12' in length upon maturity.
    * Modify reference requirements to allow for one of the references to be provided from a representative of a professional or governmental institution such as a University, Public Service agency, Zoological association or herpetological society.
    * Require corporations to have qualified personnel responsible for the care of venomous reptiles.
    o Personnel must meet the experience requirements provided for venomous reptiles.
    o Documentation of experience for such personnel must be submitted upon initial application and any change in personnel.
    o Consistent with requirements for Class I and II wildlife.
    * Insert new form date for the Critical Incident/Disaster Plan form due to form modifications.

    68A-6.0041 Exceptions to Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife

    * Include Bison (when possessed for propagation purposes only) as exempt from standard caging requirements, except fencing requirements, of 68A-6.004.
    * Corrected rule reference in paragraph (4), as necessary due to previous rule changes.

    68A-6.003 Facility and Structural Caging Requirement for Class I, II and III Wildlife

    * Require cages or enclosures that use the ground as flooring to have buried concrete footers or bottom apron to further prevent escape from digging or erosion. In 15 years we have never had a cat dig out because it just isn’t their nature. In the 700+ dangerous incidents involving exotic cats since 1990 not one of the 150+ escapes was attributed to a cat digging out. Records from 1919 to 1989 are not as plentiful, but none of them ever mentioned a cat escaping by digging out either. Escapes are almost always due to humans acting negligently and occasionally a big cat goes over the top or through a wall, but not underneath. This would be a punitive measure to require concrete floors, which are broadly known to cause debilitating injury to captive cats, or to require a concrete footer or apron with no benefit occurring for the cat or the public. This may be applicable to bears and wolves, who are known to dig, but should not apply to cages housing exotic cats of any kind. See the list of killings, maulings and escapes here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_ca t_news.htm
    * Insert new form date for the Critical Incident/Disaster Plan form due to form modifications.
    * Make changes to (2)(c)5. as necessary for newly proposed changes to Class I and Class II:
    o The following proposed Class I wildlife may not be possessed on property within an area zoned solely for residential use: I have been in the real estate business for 25+ years and to my knowledge, and that of my colleagues, there is no zoning that is “solely for residential use” so that only plays to the uninformed and doesn’t really restrict anything. The most logical answer to where these animals should be housed, is the simplest: If a Class I animal cannot be kept for personal use and must be a business or sanctuary (a non profit business), then the business or non profit business must be located on land that is either commercially zoned, or a Planned Development specifically created for such a purpose. Grandfathering in existing cats would be acceptable as long as the cats were not replaced.
    + Gaur (family Bovidae)
    + Hyena and Aardwolf (family Hyaenidae)
    + Cougars, panthers (Puma concolor)
    + Cheetahs (Acinonyx jabatus)
    * Make changes to (2)(d) as necessary for newly proposed changes to Class II non-human primates:
    o Include all sakis as exempt from facility requirements as specified in (2)(c)1.-4.
    o Exclude Patas monkeys as exempt facility requirements as specified in (2)(c)1.-4., due to size0 range upon maturity.
    * Clarify in (2)(e) which facility requirements are being referenced when referring to the facility requirements that Class I or II are exempt from meeting.
    

    68A-6.0021 Possession or Transfer of Class I Wildlife as Personal Use Wildlife; Transfer of Wildlife and Record Keeping Requirements

    * Make change to rule title to include "Record Keeping Requirements"
    * Provides a "grandfather" clause for any Class II wildlife possessed for personal use that is up listed to Class I.
    o Any Class II wildlife that is up listed to Class I wildlife upon the effective date of Rule 68A-6.002, F.A.C., is eligible for a permit in accordance with the provisions for Class II wildlife.
    * Provide in paragraph (1) that no other class I wildlife may be "transferred" or kept for personal use. The intent is to prevent continued acquisition of Class I for personal use by grandfathered entities.
    * Require all Class I wildlife possessed for personal use to be permanently identified by means of tattoo, brand, passive integrated transponder (PIT tag), photographic id or other method that identifies the specimen from others of the same species.
    o Specifies requirements in instances where photographic identification is used.
    o Requires owners to maintain records of identification and submit same to FWC.
    o Permanent identification requirements effective July 1, 2009.
    * Change the length of time records of sale/transfer are required to be maintained to 3 years. Add: requirement that these transfers be submitted within 30 days to FWC where they are to be maintained and available to the public. The FWC is never going to have the resources to research these transfers to look for trends and animals who are falling through the cracks. It is only through public access via a transparent system that the abuses will be discovered and rectified.
    * Specify that sale/transfer records are to include: date, quantity and species, name and complete address of recipient; and license identification number where applicable.
    * Provide that record of sale/transfer are not required for that wildlife that may be possessed for personal use without a permit as specified in 68A-6.0022 (2) (a) – (v), except as otherwise required.

    68A-6.0023 General Regulations Governing Possession of Captive Wildlife; Record Keeping Requirements

    * In paragraph (2)(a) include "68A-6.007" as it pertains to requiring wildlife to be maintained in cages or enclosures constructed in compliance with the specified rules.
    * Include language that requires out door enclosures for non-native venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern to be covered as provided in rule 68A-6.007.
    * Require structural safety barriers to be present to prevent public contact with unconfined Class I or II wildlife by the public. These barriers should be constructed of similar construction materials and/or strength as the main enclosure, because a rope is sufficient…until one day it is not.
    * Requires possessors to maintain an accurate record of all changes in inventory to include: births, deaths, acquisition and sales or transfers.
    o Records are to be kept on the licensed premises and open to inspection. Add: requirement that these records be submitted within 30 days to FWC where they are to be maintained and available to the public. The FWC is never going to have the resources to research these transfers to look for trends and animals who are falling through the cracks. It is only through public access via a transparent system that the abuses will be discovered and rectified.

    o Describes the information required for records of birth, death, and acquisition.
    o Requires that records of sale/transfer are to be maintained as provided in 68A-6.0021, F.A.C. Add: requirement that these records be submitted within 30 days to FWC where they are to be maintained and available to the public. The FWC is never going to have the resources to research these transfers to look for trends and animals who are falling through the cracks. It is only through public access via a transparent system that the abuses will be discovered and rectified.

    68A-6.0024 Commercialization of Wildlife; Public Contact; Bonding or Financial Responsibility Guarantee

    * Delete reference to "public contact" in rule title. Language pertaining to public contact will remain in 68A-6.0023.
    * Require persons permitted in accordance with 372.921, F.S., to demonstrate consistent and sustained commercial activity as characterized by:
    o A regular media advertising campaign, or Internet Web site;
    o Signs, billboards or flyers advertising commercial wildlife services or operations;
    Regular "Open for business" hours;
    o Written business is conducted on printed letterhead, indicating the name of the company or business;
    o Documented exhibition of wildlife to the public, with or without a charge, of no less that 12 times per year; typo: than 12 times
    o Sale of wildlife including any lesser acts thereof as defined in Rule 68A-1.004, F.A.C.
    * Paragraph (1) is renumbered as (2); and paragraph (2) is renumbered as (3).

    68A-9.006 Wildlife Rehabilitation ermit

    * Delete reference to "joint" permit and update language to accurately reflect federal permit requirement when rehabilitating migratory birds.
    * Reflect correct application title and delete "incorporated by reference" to allow for standardization of agency permit applications without necessitating a rule change.
    * Update the reference of no rehabilitation permit required for rehabilitation on non-native species, to include Class III, venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern.
    * Provide that exotic or non-native wildlife may not be comingled with native wildlife possessed for rehabilitation purposes.
    * Provide that wildlife may be held no longer than 180 days before it must be released, transferred or euthanized.
    * Allow that the 180-day requirement may be extended in instances where a licensed veterinarian has certified that a longer holding period is necessary in the interest of the health and welfare of the wildlife. In all instances where the text says licensed veterinarian, it should read “a veterinarian licensed in Florida.”
    o Require medical records in these instances to be maintained at the facility and made available for inspection upon request.
    * Require evaluation by an independent rehabilitator or veterinarian before physically impaired wildlife is diagnosed as unreleasable.

    68A-6.0025 Sanctuaries; Retired Performing Wildlife and Identification (New proposed rule) As long as sanctuaries are still required to carry the USDA permit and the $10,000 bond, this would be a nice way for the public to easily discern a true sanctuary from a profit making or self serving entity. The permanent identification*, record keeping and submission of such records should apply to all entities in possession of regulated wildlife. *other than those animals being returned to the wild.

    * Defines captive wildlife sanctuaries as a facility established solely for the purpose of providing lifetime care for unwanted or infirmed wildlife.
    * Requires sanctuaries to be licensed per 372.921 and not for profit corporation status as described in 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
    * Prohibits acts which perpetuate the commercial trade in captive wildlife including the trade, sale, offering for trade or sale, breeding, or buying of captive wildlife or parts thereof. One way that pseudo sanctuaries perpetuate the commercial trade in captive wildlife is by providing a dumping ground for those who breed, use and discard. In many cases pseudo sanctuaries are opposing regulation that ends the trade in exotic animals because if there were no animals to rescue, there would be no need for them to exist. Legitimate sanctuaries will contract with those disposing of wildlife to have them surrender their licenses and/or agree to stop breeding, selling, buying and trading. Big Cat Rescue’s goal is that one day soon there will no longer be a trade in exotic cats and thus no need of rescue facilities.
    * Prohibits full or incidental contact as defined in Rule 68A-6.0023 (3)(a)2.- 3., F.A.C., between the public and such wildlife.
    * Requires permanent identification, recordkeeping of such identification and submission of such identification records to FWC.
    * Allows persons licensed per 372.921, F.S., to maintain performing wildlife which due to age or physical condition may no longer perform, for the purposes of providing lifetime care.
    o Requires permanent identification, recordkeeping and submission of such records as required for wildlife maintained by a captive wildlife sanctuary.

    68A-6.0071 Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements.

    * The Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form, FWCDLE_620IV-R (12-06), will be reviewed to determine if modifications are necessary. Should modifications be made the date (12-06) will be changed to reflect the modified date.
    * No additional changes are anticipated for this rule.

    See the entire language of the proposed rules here: http://myfwc.com/captive/CaptiveCh anges_08.htm

    The public comment workshops were June 9-13 with only a dozen or so attendees at each meeting.

    These are issues that Big Cat Rescue believes should be included in this rule making period but are not in bold so that it is easier to read online:

    Contact was addressed, but not sufficiently. It goes without saying that the public should not be allowed contact with Class I animals, but allowing contact with Class I cats under 25 pounds just creates a tremendous demand for babies that are being discarded or killed when they exceed the weight limit. There is absolutely no reason to encourage this unconscionable practice and ending it would largely end the trafficking in big cats. A federal bill, Haley’s Act HR 1947 is expected to pass this year that bans public contact with big cats and their babies and Florida shouldn’t be drafting rules that will conflict with federal law. Florida’s Congresswoman, Kathy Castor and Congressman Vern Buchanan are co-sponsors of Haley’s Act and when similar bills have passed in Congress they have been unanimous. This is the most important rule change that the FWC can implement to stop the abuse that is the subject of so many of the complaints by both Floridians and visitors. Find out more about big cats bred in Florida who are used, abused and discarded at Dying To Be Held.

    All exotic cats should be re-classified as Class I due to their ability to inflict severe injury and the potential for environmental damage should they be released into US eco systems, where only bobcats, cougars and the occasional jaguar are known to live.

    Definition of “the public.” Too many places charge a fee for people to be a volunteer for a day so that they can circumvent the prohibitions on coming into close contact with Class I wildlife. The way we deal with that at Big Cat Rescue is to require minimum hours per week, to be logged into a computerized data system. A person has to consistently log 8 hours volunteer time per week and have been a volunteer for 18 months (and a whole lot of classes, training, etc.) before they are allowed to be anywhere near a Class I cat and even then are not allowed any direct contact.

    One of the issues that came out in public workshops on the Sanctuary issue was that it is ridiculous to allow an entity to call themselves both a sanctuary and a breeder/dealer by holding one of each license, regardless of the closeness of proximity between one operation and the other. You are either a sanctuary, which is a place that rescues animals from exploitation or you are exploiting them. It’s that simple. Having the FWC bless an operation with their interpretation of the term “sanctuary” when the underlying entities in charge are, at the same time adding to the problem serves only to help mislead the public. Using the requirements set out at www.SanctuaryStandards.com would truly set sanctuaries apart from zoos, breeders, dealers, circuses and such.

    Last, but again one of the most important rule changes the FWC can make is to allow cities, counties and municipalities to enact their own, MORE RESTRICTIVE measures to protect their citizens and to improve their image in the public eye as being forward thinking when it comes to protecting animals from the abuses associated with breeding and keeping wild animals in cages.

    I applaud the FWC for their efforts and look forward to the successful implementation and enforcement of better rules to protect the animals and the public.

    For the cats,

    Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

    12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 813.920.4130 Info@BigCatRescue.org

    ************************************* ************************************************** *****

    Legislation cannot change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless.

    The pages behind the banner below make it easy for you to see what bills are currently being considered at both the Federal and State level. Then, by entering your zip code, the software allows you to easily send an email either to the legislators from your district or to those on the Committee considering the bill.

    

    Take Action

    Please note that when you click the Legislation tab the Federal bills appear. There is a toggle link at the top right that will take you to the State bills.

    The power here is in numbers. By having many people email their legislators we can tremendously improve the chances of legislation coming out of Committee and passing. The site is updated automatically as the status of bills changes, so you can be most effective by checking back from time to time. And most important, please tell others about this easy way to be heard and help pass these bills!

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    Animal Abusers

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    Slideshow of what captivity means to the animal

    Inadequate laws

    The American Bar Association has an Animal Law Committee. Visit it HERE.

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• Judy Berens Mauled by Cheetah Judy Berens Mauled by Cheetah Wellington, FL

  • From: TheirVoice
  • Description:

    The Heart of the Cheetah Matter

    By JANE MUSGRAVE

    Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

    Saturday, April 05, 2008

    Bitten and bruised and stitched back together, Judy Berens was
    welcomed home last week by what she described as her "close-knit family."

    The family, however, isn't your typical mom, pop and couple of kids.

    What are these?

    The welcoming party for Berens featured about 20 yowling, howling
    leopards, jaguars, cougars and other big cats - an ever-growing
    menagerie that existed in relative obscurity until March 29, when two
    cheetahs attacked her while she was entertaining visitors as part of a
    fund-raiser for her wildlife sanctuary.

    "All of the animals missed me," the 58-year-old said of their reaction
    to her 11/2-day hospital stay.

    Likewise, few outside the cat's enclosures in Wellington's horse
    country missed news of the attack.

    It catapulted Berens into the national limelight, including an
    appearance on NBC's Today show. It also put her in the cross hairs of
    a long-running debate among animal welfare enthusiasts about who
    should own wild animals and what they should be allowed to do with them.

    One flash point was that she paid $40,000 for the cheetahs, which came
    to her Panther Ridge Conservation Center from South Africa about three
    months ago. Another was that she entered their enclosure.

    "Interacting with the animal as if it's a pet is just wrong," said
    Carole Baskin, one of the founders of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary for
    146 wild cats in Tampa.

    Ron Magill, a cheetah expert at Miami's Metrozoo, agreed.

    It's not that cheetahs are killers. "They're probably the least
    dangerous of the big cats. Your average German shepherd is more
    powerful and dangerous," he said.

    But they are wild animals that act on instinct and can't be trained,
    he said.

    Beth Preiss of The Humane Society of the United States said her group
    takes an even stricter view. Wildlife sanctuaries shouldn't even be
    open to the public, she said.

    "You should give them a nice space to live out their lives," said
    Preiss, who is director of the organization's exotic pets campaign.

    However, others are equally insistent that such a stance ignores the
    economic reality sanctuaries face and the effect of letting the public
    see, learn and care about animals that are being massacred half a
    world away.

    "I guarantee that, if you ever go and see a cheetah and watch it run,
    you will care about cheetahs for the rest of your life," said
    Christine Janks, who operates a wildlife sanctuary in Gainesville and
    is on the board of a well-known cheetah rescue organization in Africa.

    Berens said that's what she envisions her two cheetahs will do for
    children and others who come to her 10-acre sanctuary off Palm Beach
    Pointe Boulevard not far from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife
    Refuge, where thousands of wild cats used to run free.

    "It's one thing to see things on National Geographic and another thing
    to see it up close," she said. "It's a way of getting people involved
    at the grass-roots level with conservation efforts."

    In fact, that was her pitch to federal authorities to let her bring
    the 2-year-old male cheetahs into the country.

    Baskin said no one should be buying wild animals. "If you pay for the
    animals, no matter how good your intentions, you're feeding the market
    for them," she said.

    Janks, who is on the board of the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust
    and helped Berens get her two cheetahs, said she understands Baskin's
    view. However, she said, organizations such as De Wildt, which has
    sold cheetahs to zoos around the country, including Metrozoo, use the
    money from selling captive-bred cheetahs to fund their real mission:
    stopping South African farmers from killing the endangered spotted
    cats and buying land to create habitat for them.

    "We do breed cheetahs, and a lot go to wealthy people in Dubai and
    other private collectors," she said. "It's a way to defray expenses
    for all the other work that De Wildt does."

    Baskin counters that the need for cash to do good doesn't excuse
    turning wild cats into a commodity. "If an orphanage were to suggest
    that a small percentage of their children be prostituted to provide
    for the rest, the orphanage would be shut down in a heartbeat," she said.

    Florida is a hot spot for abandoned wild animals, Magill said. "I call
    it the Ellis Island of exotic animals," he said, adding that scores
    are ultimately destroyed when people tire of them and there's no place
    to send them.

    The state leads the country in the number of breeders and dealers of
    exotic animals and also leads the nation in the number of killings,
    maulings and escapes by big cats, Baskin said.

    People adopt kittens, not fully understanding that they will grow
    quickly into large, strong, uncontrollable cats. Then they want to get
    rid of them. Sometimes people start sanctuaries and then become
    overwhelmed.

    And feeding cats that can eat as much as 10 to 15 pounds of meat a day
    is expensive.

    Two weeks ago, the owner of a 25-year-old sanctuary near Tampa shut
    his doors, acknowledging he was likely to lose his permit after being
    cited 40 times since 1993. He is searching for homes for 35 big cats.

    Berens started with an ocelot in the mid-1990s. Then she added a cougar.

    Court records show she married and divorced twice. She was getting
    $15,000 a month from her first spouse while she was married to a
    Tennessee investment banker. When she and second husband, James
    Greene, split in 1999, she received $1 million in alimony, plus
    property, including the Wellington land where she lives and operates
    the sanctuary.

    But even with her wealth, she needs public support.

    In 2005, the last year for which records are available, she raised
    $213,918 from the public, according to the sanctuary's tax returns. Of
    that, $50,000, or 38 percent, went to fund-raising - a hefty amount,
    according to charity watchdog groups. Big Cat Rescue, by comparison,
    spent 5 percent of its $646,887 budget in 2006 on fund-raising.

    Those who know Berens say she is passionate about her animals and
    dedicated to spreading the word about the threat they face in the
    wild. Her cougar, Charlie, is the mascot for Panther Run Elementary
    School in Lake Worth. Children at the school raised money last week to
    feed Charlie, said Principal Pierre D'Aoust. A mural of Charlie adorns
    a wall in the cafeteria.

    Wildlife officials said Berens' facility meets all requirements. They
    were called to the sanctuary in 2005 when a 500-pound Bengal tiger
    escaped from an unlatched cage. The animal never left the fenced-in
    compound.

    State and federal wildlife officials found her facility in order last
    week during inspections after the cheetah attack. The Florida Fish and
    Wildlife Conservation Commission recommended that she no longer enter
    the enclosures alone.

    Berens said she is reviewing her operations. Investigators blamed a
    child with a ball outside the enclosure for distracting the cheetahs.
    In their rush to get the ball, they knocked down Berens and then
    attacked her.

    Janks said children aren't allowed on tours at De Wildt. Because of
    their size, cheetahs view them as prey. Berens said she typically
    requires that children on tours be carried or that an adult hold their
    hands. But, she said, there were so many people at the fund-raiser
    that the rules weren't followed.

    Still, she's not sorry for bringing the cheetahs here or showing them
    off to the public in hopes they will care about the cats' fate.

    "It's better than extinction," she said.

    http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local news/content/west/epaper/2008/04/05/m1a_cheetah_04 06.html

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