Carole Baskins Diary

I Think Jeff Lowe Threatens BJWT Will Kill Me

Jeff Lowe had sent Howie a friend request on Facebook.  When Jeff refers to the Mexican drug cartel, I believe he’s referencing Eddie Serio of Black Jaguar White Tiger. 

 

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.  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.  

 

You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile!

Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile

 

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 entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.

FWC Witch Hunt

Public Records Request :: W031112-092915. Lt Loren Lowers called me just now and said the reason the cost is so high ($10,153.35) is that there are 1,142 emails and over 12,000 trackers with my search terms in it during that year and a half span.

 

Trackers are what they call each interaction on a subject.

 

He said they have to redact everything that is sensitive information, so that's why the fee is so high.  He says they can only charge based upon the hourly rate of the lowest paid person in the agency, which is 10.00 an hour.

 

I'm inclined to make them do it, just so they think twice before discussing us again.

 

Clearly, they don't want us to have the information.

 

I asked him how the bad guys managed to get their hands on the "wrong" version of their witch hunt (I didn't call it that) and he said that it was on their sharepoint as both the original and the corrected version so when someone asked for that report specifically, they got both.  He further explained that because they got it by email, there are now 4 copies of it that would come up in a search.  2 copies of the original and 2 copies of the corrected one.

 

Future Note:  12/16/2021 

 

It occurs to me as I’m reading this that I never wrote about what it was the bad guys got their hands on from 11/7/2014.  This was our rebuttal to the FWC and they corrected their report to accurately report that we were NOT in violation despite them having characterized us as being so in their first report.  I would also like to point out that the FWC has figured out who the bad guys really are and has stopped harassing us on their behalf. 

 

“The exotic animal exploiters who attack Big Cat Rescue online due to our efforts to end the mistreatment of exotic animals in private hands have posted an inspection by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conducted on November 7, 2014.  This was a very unusual inspection in which three officials went in different directions and spent 6 hours each examining the sanctuary in extraordinary detail.

 

The version of the report the attackers have reported was the initial report which erroneously characterized their observations as violations.  The final report, which the attackers also have but of course chose not to publish, clearly stated that none of the findings were violations.  They were recommendations for maintenance which, if they were not attended to, at some point could become violations.  See the final language below:

 

 

 

The recommendations were primarily items that are dealt with in our normal ongoing maintenance of the sanctuary.  All were addressed in a timely fashion. A USDA inspection, as usual, no violations, and the next FWC inspection, as usual, found no violations.  Big Cat Rescue has a near perfect inspection record over the years and never had any comment by any official that related to care of the animals.

 

The report noted some areas that showed signs of rust.  We live in humid Florida, and some rust is a fact of life.  We deter rust using brown Rustoleum paint and we repaint cages on an ongoing regular maintenance program.

 

The attackers, who have no regard at all for the truth, falsely post repeatedly that the brown color of the Rustoleum on the cage wire is all rust. One refers to BCR as a “jungle of rust.” If all the cages were totally rust like the lies of the attackers claim, don’t you think FWC would have noted that?

 

Rust is, in fact, not a violation of any rule.  The relevant rule is that the cages must meet certain strength requirements.  This makes perfect sense – the cages have to be strong enough to contain powerful animals.  The concern with rust is that if you use the minimum gauge wire and it rusts, the strength could diminish below the minimum requirement.  That is why Big Cat Rescue uses cage wire that is FAR in excess of the minimum.  Even with minimal amount of rust that may appear before the next painting cycle, our cages far exceed the requir

Bobcat Hit By Car on Sheldon Road in Citrus Park

 

 

It’s not even 2 days into the new year and I got another bobcat call.  I was on my way in to work when I got a call from our Gift Shop that a man had walked in and asked if we were missing a bobcat.  I’m always surprised at how many Floridians don’t know that bobcats are native to our state.  What had started out as a beautiful morning, quickly turned dark and dreadful.

 

As I approached the location it was clear, from the beautiful spotted underbelly facing the sky, that the animal who was being hit time and time again by motorists, was indeed a bobcat.  I waited for a break in traffic to run out and retrieve her broken body.  Usually bobcats seem to make it out of the roadway, or at least to the shoulder of the road, but she had been crushed so many times, that it felt like my heart would break into as many shards, when I felt her in my trembling hands. I thought about the male bobcat who had lost his life at this same crossing just a little over a month ago.  On both sides of Sheldon Road there is massive development underway to add more stores, homes and a recent emergency clinic.  Ironic…

 

I vowed to create a document to track all of these calls.  We have done a good job of documenting the bobcats we have rescued, but what about all of the times when we didn’t get there in time?  We have gotten 12 bobcat calls in the last year; four of them were dead on arrival and we never did find the fifth bobcat, although we did find blood on the pavement.  Right now we have 6 bobcat kittens in rehab and hope to release all of them this year.  While it brings great joy to return them to their rightful place, it is just barely enough to make up for the pain of finding the broken bodies of those we can’t help.

 

So many campaigns suggest that you should give wildlife a “brake” and it’s a lovely sentiment, but it you have ever seen a bobcat run, then you know there is no way a person could avoid hitting one if the cat darted out in front of them.  The only real solution is to build under and over passes that connect major green ways for the animals and high fences with a cantilever at the top to keep wildlife from scaling them.  The straight, 8 foot fences that are used currently are totally inadequate.  These are pricey projects, but without them we will lose our wildlife and all that is beautiful and pure in this world.

 

We are working hard to end the private possession of exotic cats and doing so would put us out of business.  We really look forward to that day, but I know that won’t be an end to the long days and sleepless nights.  We will always provide rehab and release for native bobcats and that need seems to be increasing.  It’s hard to know if the number of bobcat calls are escalating, or if it is just that people know to call us now, because we are so well known for our premiere rehab facilities.  12 calls were an all time high in 2015 and were three times higher than any year, dating back to 1994.  Even other rehabbers will often call us for the time consuming and costly process of getting a bobcat ready for release back to the wild.

 

Thanks to explore.org we have a webcam on one of our Rehab Bobcat enclosures where viewers can watch the current residents as they recover from injuries, or learn how to be bobcats when they grow up.  http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-bobcat-rehab-and-release

 

We have a major project underway at the sanctuary for a Small Cat Fun area, similar to our Vacation Rotation, but as soon as it is done we need to begin fundraising for a complete overhaul of our Bobcat Rehab enclosures.  We have had to temporarily outfit cages for bobcat rehab that were not designed for that purpose and while it works, and is better than any other options out there for rehab, it isn’t optimal.  We want to start from scratch to build rehab enclosures that are bigger, allow for more muscle toning, and that are further away from human encro

2015 Annual Report

 

This is a playlist of our most recent videos and an easy way to see what we have been doing at Big Cat Rescue.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKQ3naQyag&list=PLsmHBgbkKIERsX0faHHQWq9UdQskxJnVJ

 

With your help we are winning in the battle for compassion! Up until 2003 the number of requests for rescues we had to turn down due to lack of space or funds had roughly doubled each year, to 312 that year. We feared it would double again to over 500 in 2004. Instead, it has steadily declined since then thanks to the passage of a federal bill and several state bills that restrict the ownership of exotic cats. This year there were “only” 19 big cats who came to our attention as being abandoned. We were able to take in  4 tigers, 1 leopard and 7 rehab bobcats.

 

We offered to take 3 more of the cats if their owners would contract to never own another exotic cat.  The cats we did not take were those whose owners refused or another sanctuary offered space first.  There is no point to our taking in cats just so an owner can go buy another cute cub to use and discard.

 

Another great result of more bans on private ownership is that the number of killings, maulings and escapes are on the decline in the U.S. as well.  In 2015 there was one mauling in NE, 6 escapes (CA, IN, MI, NC, OK & WA) and 13 confiscations (OH).  These events involved 14 tigers, 1 lion, 1 liger, 1 leopard, 1 cougar, 1 cheetah, & 1 serval.

 

Animal Care

 

Abandoned Big Cats 2015

 

2015 was the second best year for big cats.  “Only” 19 calls for rescues came to our attention and the only year with fewer was 2011.  As more states pass bans and partial bans, fewer and fewer big cats end up in peril.

 

Rescues

 

Rescued 12 exotic cats, including Tigers: Emily, Jessica, Lily and Teisha, a Leopard named Shadow and Rehab Bobcats: Journey, Phoenix, Captiva, Rain, Dancer, and Mr and Mrs. Claws.  Emily, Jessica, Lily and Shadow (NKA Sapphire, Duchess, Jasmine and Jinx)are still part of a lawsuit, so they are just boarded here until it is resolved.  We were called out on a total of 12 bobcat calls this year, which is three times higher than any previous year.

 

Newborn kittens who are brought to Animal Control are routinely killed because with their immature immune systems they do not survive in the shelter environment.  So we began a foster kitten program with our interns as the fosters in 2013  We have saved 275 kittens from being killed.  We raise them until they are 2 pounds and healthy, then bring them to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to be fixed and adopted out.  You can watch our foster kittens in their play room live every day at http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-kitten-cabana

 

By the end of this year,  we have 88 exotic cats and 66 of them are over the age of 12.  56 of those are over the age of 15; and 20 of those are over the age of 20. This is well beyond how long they are designed to live in the wild and much older than most zoo cats. This is a testament to the excellent animal care we provide, but we are dealing with many more age related illnesses and are losing more of our big cat friends every year.

 

Windsong Memorial Hospital

 

Thanks to the generous donation of an X-ray machine, followed by many donors chipping in to fund a proper building for it, the Windsong Memorial Hospital broke ground in 2014 and had its first big patient by January 2015.  We have had over 90 veterinary procedures since then, further validating the need for this wonderful hospital.  Thank you to everyone who helped build and outfit it so that our cats don’t have the stress and danger of travel to an off site clinic.  We still need a sonogram machine to be fully self contained, but that requires specialists to operate them, so it was last on our list.

Award Winning Sanctuary

 

Top Rated Non Profit at Great Non Profits

 

We have received this award every year since they started awarding it in 2010 due to the many great reviews we get from

Irma Toplansky, Howie’s Other Mother, Dies On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 8:46 AM, Marshall T wrote: Hi guys, Irma went peacefully in her sleep this morning. I am in NY and am headed to Poughkeepsie with Lynnie. Marshall Howie copied me and responded: Tearing, but glad her suffering is over. Let me know the plans when you can. - Howard Baskin I responded to Howie: Yesterday evening, I felt her brush by while I was at my desk. Apparently she was testing her wings in the final hours. She felt like full-on-Irma. It was a great feeling of satisfaction and love. I almost mentioned it last night, but figured I'd wait and see. Guess it wasn't just my imagination. 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. 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. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue

Today we met w/ State Attorney RE: FWC Constitutionality We have been working on this since March 2005 when we first learned that the FWC’s authority over captive, non native wildlife, did not come from the FL constitution (as they claim) but rather came from the statutes. The reason that is important is that the FWC has managed to avoid a ban on the private possession (and pimping) of tiger and lion cubs by saying the citizens of the state have no right to petition the legislature for a ban. On March 18, 2005 I spoke with Curt Kiser (former State Senator) by phone and these were the pertinent details from that conversation: 1. Curt was the first person to draft legislation for ANY regulation of exotic animals in the state of Florida and was involved in the process that elevated FWC from being a state agency called the Game and Freshwater Fish Commission to having constitutional authority under their new name of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 2. He says that they have had Constitutional authority over the native animals since long before that, but that even today their power over non native species (the ones I am concerned about) is not constitutionally given, but is rather legislatively given. 372.921 and 372.922 seem to bear that out in that the Florida Statutes state that for a person to own or exhibit and exotic animal they must meet the standards set by FWC. That gives FWC the authority to determine who may or may not own or display them and how that should be done and seems to leave in their hands the ability to define which animals fall into which classes (I, II or III). 3. Because the FWC has the power to do what I want (re class all exotic cats to Class I and require commercial zoning for acceptance of applications to exhibit) he suggested that I meet with David Meehan, one of the FWC Commissioners who lives nearby. The meeting should be at Big Cat Rescue so he can see the enormity of the problem first hand and so that he can see that I am not just some rabid, crazy cat lady. 4. Curt suggested that I use his name to effect this meeting and that I could do the same with the FWC’s general council for the past 20 years, Jim Artista. He suggested that I let them know that I am trying to work within their framework first because they are protective of their constitutional power, and even more so of the perception of that being all-encompassing, and may be willing to work out something that suits my requests so that they are not in the position of having that ability to be in charge taken away from them by the legislators. Curt said he would call Jim and let him know that I would be calling soon. 5. He warned me that David Meehan is an avid hunter (as are all of the FWC Commissioners) and they don’t want to assist any proposal that could be a foot in the door for us bunny hugging types to stop them from hunting. To tell them that the reason this legislation is important is because canned hunts are the only place that unwanted lions, cougars and tigers can go is likely to fall on deaf ears even if they wouldn’t personally participate in shooting an animal in a transport cage. He said another reason that it would be hard to over turn any of FWC’s constitutional authority would be because of the powerful groups, such as NRA, who want the rules of hunting to be controlled by those of like mind and not the majority of the population who could influence changes with their voting power. 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. 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 hav

Sent a letter to President Obama re: Generic Tigers

The Humane Society of the United States asked me to collaborate on a letter to the POTUS.

 

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear President Obama:

 

On behalf of Big Cat Rescue, one of the largest accredited sanctuaries in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned tigers and other exotic cats, I write in strong support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to remove mixed lineage, or “generic”, tigers from the list of animals that are exempt from registration under the Endangered Species Act Captive-Bred Wildlife (“CBW”) regulations. 76 Fed. Reg. 52297 (Aug. 22, 2011); 50 C.F.R. § 17.21(g). The generic tiger exemption has led to a proliferation of tigers in unqualified facilities, undermining animal welfare, public safety and conservation efforts. Additionally, the sanctuary community has been left to take in and care for numerous abandoned tigers that are often cast aside once they grow too large to be used for direct contact with the public and are therefore no longer considered profitable. As this rule would provide the requisite federal oversight needed for thousands of generic tigers who are bred and housed in substandard conditions, Big Cat Rescue urges the Administration to take swift action to finalize the rule.

 

Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit educational sanctuary devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats. As part of its mission, Big Cat Rescue works to educate the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity. Big Cat Rescue is home to the most diverse population of exotic cats in the world, with 10 of the 35 species of wild cats represented. Currently, Big Cat Rescue is housing 90 residents.  These include tigers, lions, leopards, cougars, bobcats, lynx, ocelots, servals, caracals and others, many of whom are threatened, or endangered.

 

By best estimates there are more tigers living in the U.S. today than exist in the wild, though the total number of captive tigers is unknown (in part because of the CBW exemption for generic tigers, which has facilitated rampant breeding by unqualified entities and eliminated necessary oversight). Nearly all of these generic tigers are held at unaccredited breeding facilities, roadside zoos, traveling zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, circuses and private menageries. Many roadside zoos and traveling menageries in the U.S. profit from a constant supply of infant tiger cubs used for public contact exhibition (petting, play sessions, bottle feeding, photo ops, and swim with tiger cub programs).  At just a few months of age, the tigers can no longer be used for these types of ventures, whereupon they are often discarded and sanctuaries, like Big Cat Rescue, are called upon to provide care for these generic tigers.

 

The breeders and dealers do not contact Big Cat Rescue for placement directly, because they know it is our policy to require that anyone giving up a big cat never own one again, so it is the hapless private owner who ends up calling us.  After cubs are no longer profitable they are often given away to people as pets.  By the time the cats are a year old and twice the size of their owners, is when we get the call to rescue them.

 

Big Cat Rescue is currently home to 13 tigers and has been the final home for 17 more tigers over the years.  Proper care for one big cat at Big Cat Rescue requires a financial commitment of approximately $10,000 per year, with tigers in captivity living for approximately 20 years. This places a large financial burden on sanctuaries that care for these animals.  Just these 30 tigers have meant a commitment of resources exceeding five million dollars.  We have been asked to rescue an additional 42 tigers during the same time frame (1999-2015) but

5 Generations

 

 

L-R Goldie, Momma Jacquie, Mom, Me & Jamie in my Grandmother’s condo on Golf Lane which is a golfing community in the Carrollwood area.  Jamie has big and pretty enough eyes for both of us, since mine are closed in this shot. Oh, the days before digital film!

 

Same order down the stairs of the 4911 W. Liberty Street, Tampa house when Jamie was a toddler.  My parents and Chuck lived there from 7/24/78 - 4/25/85.  They sold it a couple of times.  The last time to my cousin, Scott Smith and they held the financing.  

 

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.  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.  

 

You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile!

Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile

 

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 entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.

Today I presented the Big Cat Public Safety Act at a Congressional Briefing

My name is Carole Baskin, and I am the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue. I've been working with wild cats since 1978 (more than 35 years).  There is estimated to be between 10 and 20,000 big cats in back yards and basement across America, but no one knows for sure because no government agency keeps track.

 

Since 1990, there have been over 740 dangerous incidents involving big cats – tigers, lions, cougars, and other species. Five children and 16 adults have been killed, and another 50 children, and scores of adults have been mauled. Big cats pose a serious threat to public safety as well as to law enforcement officers and other first responders, who must risk their lives, when these animals escape or attack. You will find these stats on the handout, but I'd like to share a story that explains why this is happening.

 

On March 4, 1996 two of the worst cases of physical abuse, I have ever seen, came from a breeder in Pahrump, Nevada named Karl Mitchell. We rescued a black leopard, named Shaquille and a cougar named Darla from him. When they arrived their faces were bloodied beyond recognition.

 

When my late husband called Karl to ask what had happened to them, I overheard him responding in horror, when Karl told him that he had to take a baseball bat to the cats and that's why he didn't want them any more.

 

Darla, the cougar, had a fungal infection in her brain, because it had been exposed from the crashing blows to her head, and she wasn’t long for this world after that. Shaq’s face was the consistency of ground hamburger and his eye sockets had been crushed so that, even years later, when he had fully recovered, his eyes teared constantly. His involuntary trail of tears were a solemn reminder of the abuse he had endured.

 

When Karl Mitchell went to jail for a non animal related crime, his animals were dispersed and I hoped it was the end of the abuse, but I was wrong.

 

Five years later, in 2001, USDA permanently revoked his license, and to date there are unpaid fines of more than $100,000.00 for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and exhibiting without a license, and yet, as of today, he is still advertising pay to play schemes with big cats under the name Big Cat Encounters.

 

According to investigative reporter George Knapp, “He’s been arrested at least a dozen times in Nevada and California, including a bust in California for trying to flatten two Fish and Game officers who suspected he was dealing in black-market exotic animals.”

 

California officials described Mitchell as a “threat to both animals and humans.” Karl Mitchell has been charged with burglary, carrying loaded guns in public, assault, felony stalking, auto theft, witness tampering and evading arrest.

 

“In 2002, Mitchell shot and killed one of his tigers because it got out. In 2004, his then girlfriend had one of her fingers bitten off by one of Mitchell’s cats. Although he has no permits of any kind for exhibiting his animals, Mitchell has continued to charge $500 an hour for close contact with his cats.”

 

Mitchell was convicted in the theft of a truck and for allegedly stealing $40,000 while operating the county animal control program. He served over two years in prison from 2004 to 2006. As soon as he was out of jail he was right back in the tiger pimping business.

 

A year ago he was ordered by a local court to remove the 10 tigers from the property for violations of the federal law and local zoning. This summer, District Court Judge Kim Wanker, ordered that the tigers be removed by September 1, or face contempt of court charges, punishable by up to 25 days in jail and a fine.

 

That didn’t happen either, due to further stalling by Karl and his wife Kayla Mitchell by appealing to the zoning department.

 

Opponents of our bill will say that states should regulate this sort of thing, but this case is a perfect example of how ineffective it is, to try and regulat

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