Press Release for Announcement of Joe’s Arrest

Howie did a great job on this:

 

 

Media Contact:

Carole Baskin, CEO

813.493-4564

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Roadside Zoo Owner Charged with Effort to Murder Big Cat Rescue CEO

 

TAMPA, Fla. – September XX, 2018 – Today Joe Schreibvogel Maldonado Passage, aka “Joe Exotic,” was arrested on various federal charges including “murder for hire” for attempting, on a number of occasions, to hire an assassin to murder Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue (BCR).

 

“It is important to understand that this is not the isolated act of one crazy bad apple,” Baskin said. “The people who mistreat and exploit big cats at roadside zoos, particularly those who rip tiger cubs from their mothers at birth to charge the public to pet and take photos with them, are universally disreputable people who are dishonest and dangerous. Because BCR has been a leader in working to stop the abuse of big cats and been very effective in our work, I have received multiple death threats for years, including at one point a number of snakes placed in my mailbox.”

 

Until recently Maldonado ran one of the most notorious cub petting roadside zoos in the country in Wynnewood, OK. Years ago he also operated a traveling exhibit that would bring cubs to malls throughout the Midwest and Southwest. When BCR educated the malls about the miserable life this created for the cubs and the malls started cancelling Maldonado’s traveling exhibit, Maldonado retaliated by renaming his traveling show “Big Cat Rescue Entertainment” in order to confuse the public into thinking the show was operated by BCR. In 2011 BCR filed suit for violation of its intellectual property rights and in 2013 was granted a consent judgment for over $1 million. Litigation to collect on the judgment has been ongoing since then in Oklahoma.

 

Law enforcement officials in Oklahoma warned Baskin of the Maldonado threat months ago and advised on precautions to take. Both Baskin and her husband had obtained concealed weapons licenses years ago due to previous threats and have carried weapons in their vehicles since advised of this specific threat.

 

About Big Cat Rescue: Located in Tampa, Fla., Big Cat Rescue is one of the largest accredited sanctuaries dedicated to providing a permanent home for abused and abandoned big cats. The nonprofit organization is accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries, is certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity,” and has consistently received the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound and transparent non-profit management.  Home to more than 60 exotic big cats, the sanctuary’s mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care, end abuse of big cats in captivity and prevent extinction of big cats in the wild. For more information, visit www.bigcatrescue.org.

 

Hi, I’m Carole Baskin and I’ve been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views.  These are my views and opinions. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story.  The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

 

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story.  My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.  

 

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You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org

 

Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue

 

Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertai