Arranged for a group of our volunteers to visit Lubee Bat Sanctuary Hi Carole, Thank you for your interest in Lubee Bat Conservancy. How about Thursday, April 12? We prefer tours in the afternoon @ 1:00, but can accommodate as early as 11:30. Tours typically last 1-2 hours. Guests will be engaged with an age appropriate powerpoint presentation, followed by a visit to our primary bat facility. We house over 200 bats representing 12 species, including the Malayan Flying Fox which can attain a wingspan of 6'. All of our bats are frugivorous, and guests have an opportunity to observe them interacting with numerous fruits and enrichment devices. We typically request a donation of $15/person for private tours, but I can reduce the cost to $10. Please let me know if you would like to schedule the tour. Best regards, Brian Pope, Director Lubee Bat Conservancy 1309 NW 192nd Ave. Gainesville, FL 32609 www.lubee.org

 

Spoke at Animal Day in Massachusetts Invited by Dean Diane Sullivan who arranges this every year at the college of law where she teaches. Stayed at the Wyndham in Andover. The talk was well received by about 50-60 students.

 

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.

Letter to Gina Miller and Diane Sullivan about being on Diane’s show

Dear Diane,  So that IFAW and I do not overlap, would you like me to talk about how we first met, via your interest in Tony the tiger, his back story, the endless lawsuits to free him, and then touch on some of the state and federal laws that we have been involved in, and the composition and progress of the International Tiger Coalition, so that it is something of a build up to Gina's presentation of the culmination of those efforts with the coalition?

 

I've copied Gina here, but for her benefit; it was because Dean Sullivan asked Rose Church to contact me about Tony that the coalition was formed.  When Dean Sullivan asked to put a bunch of big cat experts in a room I gave her my contacts on the International Tiger Coalition and Rose arranged for all of us to meet in DC at the IFAW office last July.

 

We came up with a 3 prong approach:  Rescind the generic tiger loophole with USFWS, End cub petting at USDA level and introduce a federal bill to ban the private possession of big cats.  So far, the USFWS took public comment on our request ending Oct 21, 2011 but still hasn't ruled on it.  USDA met with the coalition in January and still hasn't ruled on our request.  The bill HR 4122 was introduced by the House on 3/1/12 and Sen Kerry has proposed to launch a senate version soon.  All of this is because Dean Sullivan said, "let's get everyone in a room together..."  For the cats,  Carole Baskin

 

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.

Took 2 Truckloads of Volunteers to Elmira’s Sanctuary

Carole writes Robin Greenwood:  Thank you very much Robin.  How about Wed., June 13 at 11 am?  We just went to the Great Ape Center this month, are going to the Bat Sanctuary in Gainesville in April and have our quarterly Volunteer Appreciation Day in May, so June is the next field trip I am trying to set.

 

I am guessing there will be 10-20 people coming, but can give you a better head count closer to the time.  The good news about our people is that we are so strict about not reaching over barricades or touching animals, or wandering off around here, that we are pretty easy cats to herd.

 

Our people love to round up needed items, in addition to the $10 pp tour fee, so if you have some particular items that you need, just let us know.  Also, we are happy to reciprocate a group tour for you and your family / volunteers.  Just let us know what works for you. For the cats,  Carole Baskin

 

Tribute to Modnic Tiger

It's been five days since holding Modnic's head as she made her peaceful exit from this world in the loving arms of her vet and keepers, but I can barely see to type how sad it is to walk by her enclosure and not be greeted by her gentle eyes, soft chuff and magnificent spirit. I am happy that she will never have to spend another day in a cage, but miss her so very much.

 

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.

Two Blind Baby Bobcats

By now you have probably heard about the two blind baby bobcats at the sanctuary.  If not, Rufus came into the Carolina Wildlife Rescue in a coma and with a broken jaw.  Jamie has helped them with bobcat rehab before so they originally contacted us for advice in Dec 2011.  By Feb 14, 2012 it was clear that Rufus had become too imprinted for release and his eyesight had still not recovered.  Through a big Valentine's Day effort we were able to secure his release from South Carolina and his import into Florida through both wildlife agencies.

 

Then on Mar 5, 2012 we got a call from the Florida Wildlife Commission reporting a blind bobcat at a mine in Center Hill, FL.  You can read all about her rescue and see photos here:  http://bigcatrescue.org/2012/today-at-big-cat-rescue-mar-8-name-the-bobcat-kitten

 

If she regains her sight, we would love to be able to return her to her rightful place in the wild and the mine manager has agreed to let her come back to what he refers to as his "wildlife sanctuary."  The mine is many, many acres of natural bobcat habitat and is truly a sanctuary to many wild animals.  If she does not regain her sight, or if the intensive care she needs during this interim makes her too dependent for release, then she will hopefully be a playmate for Rufus.

 

We have had other cats who were blind, such as Will the bobcat.  Like Rufus, his eyes are just fine and quite beautiful, but what they see does not register in their brains.  If you have ever fed Will or watched him for any length of time, it is apparent that he does not process the information coming in through his senses like a normal cat.  He and Anasazie provide comfort to each other and have been great companions.

 

If you have been here a long time, you may remember Axel the tiger who grew deaf and blind as he aged.  His keepers would stomp the ground near his lockout at feeding time to wake him and let him know that dinner was served.  Others will recall Czar and Nakita the bobcats and lynx hybrid who grew old together here.  As Czar aged, he too became deaf and blind.  Nakita made a permanent impression on all of our hearts as she would lean up against him, shoulder to shoulder, to lead him into his lockout at feeding time.

 

There is probably no cat more self reliant, opportunistic or fierce than the bobcat, and yet the compassion shown by cats like Anasazie and Nakita are a great example to us.  We have enemies, but they are all outside our gates.  Nothing makes me more proud than to see all of our staff, volunteers and interns working together for a common cause.  We have made it through the worst of times for big cats and are poised to end the suffering once and for all by passing the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act.  If you haven't signed your name to this most important bill yet, please do so at www.BigCatsAct.com

 

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.

Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act  First Introduced

 

The Captive Wildlife Safety Act law began around 1998 and became law in Dec. 2003, and ever since we have been trying to close the loopholes that allow private ownership of big cats and cub handling.  Thanks to the work of the Big Cat Coalition and the weekly calls Howie has led since our first meeting 7/25/2011, Rep. McKeon and Rep. Loretta Sanchez introduced the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act in the House (HR 4122) and Sen. Kerry commits to introducing into the Senate, which he did just prior to the elections.

 

We had been trying to close the loopholes in the 2003 Captive Wildlife Safety Act on our own and others in the industry; specifically HSUS and IFAW had introduced both state and federal bills, but none could get the traction necessary to pass.  These bills went by several names including the Shambala Act, the Roar Act, Haley’s Act, and others.  Now that all of the big animal protection groups were working together we are all hopeful that this common sense bill will become law.  I wanted to just call it the Big Cat Act because the current name is a mouthful, but the group wanted to emphasize the public safety element of the bill. 

 

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.

Jumanji Leopard and Our Evolution of Thought

 

I suspect that our tour guides just don’t know what to say about Jumanji the black leopard because I often overhear people saying, or I read in some article that Jumanji came from the pet trade.  His story online and in the Safari Guide is below and does not say that, even though it is true in a sense.  Jumanji’s parents, Sabre and Lola were pets who were rescued by Big Cat Rescue but Jumanji was born here on 2/23/96.  Back then we didn’t know any better and the people who advised us were breeders who said these were endangered species (true) and that they should be bred for conservation purposes (false).  By 1997 we had figured out that none of the wild cats in private hands were part of the Species Survival Plans (SSP) and thus could never be used for any legitimate conservation breeding program.  That is why we stopped breeding cats in 1997.

 

We had a few accidents in the first couple of years after that as we were trying to get all of the cats separated, spayed and neutered.  Like TrickE and MrE the Amur Leopard Cats whose parents were in their late teens and thought too old to breed, Windstar Bobcat who was born to a hybrid father, who should have been sterile as the result of being a lynx hybrid, and the bearcats Mocha, Bean and Thing whose parents had been separated.  We later discovered that binturongs are delayed ovulators meaning they can get pregnant but not have the babies until conditions are optimal.  (Thank goodness, because we thought they might be the result of immaculate conception and that would have really messed with some of our religious beliefs.)

 

I use Jumanji’s stop as a way to introduce guests to our evolution of thought.  While people are captivated by his beauty I say, “Big Cat Rescue was not always what it is today.  Jumanji was born here in ‘96 because in the early years we were told that these were rare and endangered species that should be bred for future generations.  What we learned was that none of the wild cats in private hands will ever be bred for return to the wild.  In fact, the more we came to learn about these magnificent cats, the more we realized that they don’t belong in cages at all.  They were designed to roam hundreds of square miles and it is cruel to confine them to cages measured in square feet.  As a result, we stopped breeding in 1997 and began working on ways to end the abuses that cause so many beautiful cats like Jumanji to end up in cages.”

 

This helps you set the stage for later questions when people ask about cats on the tour path who were born here.  We don’t post on their signs or on the website that they were born here because if a person only lands on that page, or only notices that sign, they may come away with the belief that it is OK to breed cats for lives of confinement.  We need to be sure they get the whole answer.

 

I have also heard people say that he was Jamie's pet, but in 1996 when he was born, Jamie was 16 and was feverishly working to complete high school two years early because she was needed so badly at the sanctuary to help with all of the cats.  The kittens had to be fed every two hours for weeks, then every four hours, then every six.

 

Jumanji and Black Magic were litter mates and Magic was a stargazer and very ill and hard to feed.  Auroara the tiger was a cub (not born here) at that time as were some servals, caracals and bobcats.  Jamie was feeding all of them around the clock.

 

There were some high profile cases where Jamie walked Jumanji on a leash, including the People Magazine article, one in the Palm Beach Post and then at a fundraiser in Chicago for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.  We used to tell the story, which is pretty funny, about the latter, but don't any more because we don't want people to think that they too could walk a leopard on a leash.  It was a bad idea then and we know better now.

 

This was the story that we don’t share on tours but I kept in my diary:

 

It

Tribute to Hallelujah the Cougar Jamie giving Hallelujah a bath after a weaning session in 1993 Hallelujah was the first "big" cat to live on Easy Street. Back in 1993 cougars were not considered to be Class I cats, so people often had them as pets and they were the poster children for disposable wild pets. Easy to buy, at about $100.00 for a cute, blue eyed, spotted cub, they were not a protected species and thus were easy to transfer across state lines and easy to discard by just turning them loose when they got too big to be fun. Before Glory, Glory and Hallelujah came here the biggest of our cats were lynx. Thanks to our educational tours and the letters from our supporters we changed the law in FL in 2007 making it illegal to trade in cougars as pets and cougars were added to the list of "big" cats who could not be traded across state lines as pets in 2003. https://bigcatrescue.org/hallelujah/

 

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.

Howie and I flew to D.C. for coalition meeting on Big Cats & Public Safety Protection Act

 

 

1/26/2012 The Big Cat Coalition met w/ USDA to present all of the evidence that they can and should ban public contact under the Animal Welfare Act.

 

Flight Info from my emails:  Tampa, Florida  airline logo    US Airways 1172  Economy | Boeing 737  818 mi | 2hr 7min 11:55 AM    Tampa Airport (TPA)

 

Arrive  Washington DC, District of Columbia  2:02 PM Reagan Airport (DCA) | Terminal C

On-time performance: 80% | Seats: 20-C, 20-B | Seats are confirmed.

 

Return  Thu, Jan 26 2hr 29min Total time  Depart  Washington DC, District of Columbia airline logo    US Airways 1645  Economy | Airbus A319. 818 mi | 2hr 29min  7:25 PM Reagan Airport (DCA) | Terminal C  Arrive  Tampa, Florida. 9:54 PM Tampa Airport (TPA)

 

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.

Lobby Day in Tallahassee with Howie

 

Howie and Governor Crist

 

Dear Florida Humane Lobby Day participants,

 

Thank you for registering to attend the 2012 Florida Humane Lobby Day with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and GREY2K USA.  The day is going to be very exciting! We now have the opportunity to attend a press conference!  Registration has now closed. REMEMBER: If you cannot make it, please contact me as soon as possible. We’re working very hard to set up meetings with your elected officials. In some cases, we may need to cancel the meeting if you are not able to attend, so please do let us know.

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012  8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Challenger Learning Center – Classroom A/B 200 South Duval Street  Tallahassee, FL 32301

 

AGENDA:

• 8:30 am - Check In with coffee and snacks

• 9-9:30 am – Introductions. Briefing on Greyhound Racing Decoupling Bill

• 10 am - Press Conference

• 11 am-12 noon - Briefing on other Humane Lobby Day bills

• 12-1 pm - Working Lunch. Brief overview of the legislative process. Tips on successful lobbying and Q & A

• 1-2 pm - Tour of Capitol (optional)

• 2-4 pm - Legislative appointments

I hope you are making your plans. Here are few tips for planning your trip!

 

LUNCH – Due to the morning briefings and your all-important meetings with your member’s offices, we are budgeting 1 hour for lunch at 12 noon. We will be providing vegan pizza for lunch. We’re arranging for this to be a “working lunch” with us, as well as your fellow advocates, so there will be time for questions. You may bring snacks to keep yourself going, and there is also a cafeteria in the Capitol. Lunch is a quick hour (12-1 pm) and then you’re off on your tour of the Capitol. There may also be time during the afternoon between your appointments to hit the cafeteria, if you like.

 

ATTIRE - In order to be most effective and to fit in with the rest of the Capitol community, please dress in business attire (read: suits). If you don't have a suit, a nice collared shirt with a nice pair of slacks or a skirt and dress shoes will also work just fine. You may want to wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella, just in case it rains. Avoid loud prints or any clothing that makes too much of a statement, such as 'animal rights' or 'go vegan' type t-shirts. While it is a good idea to be clean and neat, please refrain from wearing strong perfumes or colognes.

 

PREPARATION - If you haven't already visited our Lobby Day FAQs page, you can do so by clicking here.  We’re working hard to ensure you have an enjoyable and meaningful experience at Humane Lobby Day. Thank you again for making the commitment to be here. Finally, if you do need to cancel, but we hope you don't, please let us know as soon as possible for scheduling purposes.

 

See you on Tuesday, the 17th!  Heather Carpenter  Director State Grassroots Campaigns State Affairs  The Humane Society of the United States  2100 L Street NW    Washington, DC 20037 humanesociety.org

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

2011 Annual Report

 

Big Cat Rescue is more than just a place that provides permanent care for big cats.  It is a movement;  a change in the tide of human perceptions and is the combined effort of more than 54,000 supporters.  If you are one of them, you are a Big Cat Rescuer and the following is the great work YOU did!  If you haven’t helped yet, you can do so now at the top right of the screen or here:  http://bigcatrescue.org/donate

 

Big Cat Rescue’s Mission Statement:  Big Cat Rescue’s dual mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care and educate the public about the plight of these majestic animals, both in captivity and in the wild, to end abuse and avoid extinction.  We are Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

 

Advances:  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 every other 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 15 big cats who came to our attention as being abandoned and we were able to take in 10. We offered to take all of the cats who were cougar size or smaller, if their owners would contract to never own another exotic cat, but the rest refused.  We just do not have enough Senior Keeper staff to take on more lions or tigers than the three we took this year.

 

Volgistics became our new time tracking service on Jan 1, 2012 and has replaced our use of Freshbooks.  Everyone seems to like the big buttons and easy check in and check out process.

 

Animal Care:   By the end of this year, 106 of our 119 animals are over the age of 12 and 89 are over the age of 15. 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.

 

Rescues:  With the help of some very special donors we were able to rescue Amanda, Arthur and Andre; 3 tigers who had been rescued in 2003 from NJ and sent to Wild Animal Orphanage in TX, which collapsed in 2010.  Max the baby bobcat came to us after the RI DNR seized him from an illegal owner.  5 servals, Zoul, Zouletta, Zimba, Santino and Doodles, who had been kept in a NY basement for 14 years were rescued.  Another serval named Kricket was also brought in from VA when her owner could no longer keep her.  We were also able to help with the placement of another serval, a bobcat and did a lot of rehab consultation work via phone and email.

 

One of those bobcats was Rufus who came in to a Rehabber on Dec 5 weighing 4 lbs, with a broken jaw, split canine and comatose.  They figured he had been hit by a car, but at 4 lbs couldn’t believe that he survived.  After he woke up from the coma he was pretty loopy, but they figured the impact had done brain damage.  They had to wire the jaw shut, tube feed him and removed the broken canine. He is now about 7 lbs, is eating solids on his own and doing much better but appears to be blind.  He was having bad and frequent seizures, but those have almost subsided.  They have asked if we can give him a forever home if his eyesight does not return and we stand ready to help.  On 12/21/11 we had another perfect USDA inspection.

 

Education:  Our website, BigCatRescue.org underwent a painful renovation from a static html site to a WordPress CMS site during 2010 and 2011.  All of the page names had to be changed to fit the new system which meant a huge drop in traffic and initially a huge drop in inbound links, although, by the end of the year we had gained more than a thousand more inbound links than we had before, so it is going to prove a worth while move.  The site was co