Gina the Bobcat Rehabber

 

This is me at about 19 years of age totally terrified to hold these parrots at Busch Gardens. 

 

Carole,  I want to thank you for the time you took to give us a tour of your rescue.  I was amazed, you have quite the system going there and should be really proud of it.  I feel relieved, knowing that if I die before my bobcats, that you will care for them.

 

Brian, my guy that was with me, is not an animal person.  His folks never let them have pets, so he never developed a bond with an animal.  He's been with me for over 7 years and is just starting to get a little bit attached to some of my animals, but he just doesn't have that strong emotional connection.  I honestly think he's got a wall put up, he doesn't want to care, because it hurts when you lose an animal.  I've tried to talk to him about it, but he just clams up and says it isn't worth the heartache.

 

Carole, when we left, he had tears in his eyes.  Something about seeing all of those beautiful animals, and knowing the story behind them, did something to him. I am glad that it did.  He even asked me to get your email for him because he wants to write and thank you himself for the time you spent with us at the rescue.  I am amazed at his reaction, he was really touched by the cats, and by the obviously fantastic care that they are getting.  You have a new fan in him.  I am really, really stumped by his reaction, but it's a good thing.

 

Anyway, I'm rambling and you are one busy lady, so I'll make it short and say again how thankful I am that you let us see your facility, the time you spent with us and allowing us to see those beautiful creatures.  God bless you for what you have accomplished for the animals.  Also, I'm glad you enlightened me about the "Tiger Ridge" situation.  The newspapers here just print his side of the story and make it look like the government is riding roughshod over him, I never see anything that explains what is really going on, and unfortunately, from what I hear, public opinion is on his side, they don't know the whole story, and why the Ohio DNR or Dept. of Ag. doesn't say more in their defense puzzles me.  I don't know the man, never met him, but I did talk to him on the phone over a year ago.

 

Mr. Grumbles had stopped eating, my vet checked him every way possible but couldn't find anything wrong with him.  Another rehabber gave me the phone number to Tiger Ridge and suggested that I talk with him (I don't even know his name) about it because he was a big cat expert.  He just told me what I already planned on doing.....I gave grumbles a live rooster that my neighbors needed to be rid of because he was so mean that he was dangerous around their young kids.  It worked, but it took Grumbles several hours to get around to pouncing and making a kill, he just sat on one of his high perches and watched it, which was odd, usually, anything live is dead within seconds of being in his pen.  He did start eating after that though.

 

Anyway, it seems the prevailing public opinion is this guy is a saint and the government is picking on him.  I'm glad that you informed me otherwise.  Carole, I think you are one in a million, I just can't get over what you've done, building up your rescue facility.  I want to win the lottery just so I can give you all the money you could possibly need for whatever you might need it for for the cats.

 

Thank you for what you have done and are doing, the world needs more people like you, and we all (animal rehabbers and other animal workers) need to try and stamp out the selling of wild animals, whether it's a big cat or a parrot.....I will try to do my part.  Indiana is the next closest state to me that still allows it, I'd like to shut them down.  If ever I can be of help in any way let me know.  Thank you so very, very much.............................Gina 

 

Carole Baskin [email protected] 7:53 AM (6 hours ago) wrote to Gina:

 

It was my great pleasure to meet a kindred sp