AdvoCat 2015 10
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Happy Halloween from Big Cat Rescue
Big Cat Rescuers Have Rescued a 13-Year-Old Tiger Named Teisha from Ohio
DONATE HERE TO HELP US CONTINUE TO RESCUE CATS LIKE TEISHA
On Monday, October 5, 2015, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office took possession of 5 tigers from Mike Stapleton, owner of Paws & Claws Animal Sanctuary near Columbus.
Stapleton has been battling state officials to keep his tigers ever since Ohio legislators enacted an exotic animal law that went into effect almost two years ago. Authorities arrived prepared to seize Stapleton’s cats after he had vowed to never give up his cats, but in the end Stapleton peacefully surrendered his cats. All 5 cats will be placed in approved sanctuaries outside of Ohio.
When we learned that Teisha – a 13-year-old tiger, in such bad shape that she was unable to walk, and didn’t move even during the chaos and darting when authorities took possession of her two weeks ago – we immediately offered to bring Teisha to Big Cat Rescue where we can provide her with the best possible medical and dental care and nutrition.
It is our understanding that Stapleton told people on the scene Teisha had been injured by the other tigers in the cage, who constantly picked on her. It’s doubtful that a vet ever examined Teisha before ODA rescued her.
Four Big Cat Rescuers left Tampa on Wednesday, October 21, for the 15-hour drive up to Ohio with our transport carrier. They drove straight through and met with Ohio authorities and took possession of Teisha.
For the first week after Teisha was rescued by ODA, she did not stand and just peed and defecated while laying down. The ODA vets put her on pain medication and she has begun getting up and walking a little bit. It’s heartbreaking to speculate how long Teisha has been in pain but not receiving any medication while owned by Stapleton.
Although Teisha had a hard time standing when she first arrived, she is doing better every day. Walking more, chuffing more and coming to enjoy life more, thanks to you, and proper vet care.
We will post updates about Teisha and her prognosis as we can. It is only because of our amazing donors like YOU that Big Cat Rescue can save these cats!
THANK YOU for your continuing support of our work and our sanctuary!
Rescue Photos as They Roll In
See all of the photos of Teisha the tiger as we get them here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153390842851919.1073741904.595786918&type=1&l=33a4b86167
Video of Teisha’s Rescue
Coming soon!
Video update on Teisha
WHY Change Name from Keisha to Teisha?
We always try to keep a cat’s name, but at Big Cat Rescue we have protocols that demand every Keeper post observations to a database that shares the info with the CEO, President, Ops Mgr, maintenance crew and the Vets if it is a medical related post. Each cat has to have a unique name in the database.
We have had cats with the same name before, like Cleo Cougar, Cleo Serval and Cleo Bobcat, but we already had a Keisha Tiger. Calling the new cat Teisha Tiger makes sure that her observations records are unique to her and sounds similar enough to her that we hope she will just pass it off as a regional accent.
Cats are masters at hiding symptoms when they are ill. Daily observations are crucially important to managing health. That observations database is vital part of the daily care so a unique name is a must.
Teisha is an Arabic name that means Alive and Well, which is our goal for her.
October 25, 2015 Teisha got her first perfume tube and she certainly enjoyed sinking her claws and teeth into it.
Top Shocking Incidents of Big Cat Exploitation
We hope by sharing a new list with you each month that you will join us in speaking out for the big cats and cubs that are exploited across this country every day. We encourage you to take one small action today and contact one or more of the offenders below to politely express your concern. Together we can be the voice for the voiceless…together we can make a difference. If you learn of exotic cats or cubs being exploited in your area, please contact Susan Bass at Susan.Bass@BigCatRescue.org.
No. 1 The Tatiana Restaurant and Nightclub in Hallandale, Florida
has featured live tigers in their nightclub shows. This photo from Tatiana’s Facebook page shows a woman performing last month with an adult tiger that does not appear to even be restrained. This is a public safety issue as well as animal exploitation.
Other photos taken by guests show a tiger in a tiny transport cage on stage at the nightclub. Imagine the noise the tiger must endure and the fear he must be experiencing! A loud nightclub is no place for a magnificent wild cat. Please ask Tatiana to STOP exploiting tigers and ask USDA to inspect the facility.
Ask USDA to inspect this nightclub: aceast@aphis.usda.gov
Contact Tatiana Nightclub at Tatiana_restaurant@yahoo.com and at 954-454-1222.
Comment on posts on Tatiana’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TatianaLounge?fref=ts
Sign a petition here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/489/824/799/?z00m=27029688&redirectID=1847553235
No. 2 The Alachua County Fair in Gainesville, Florida
this week features the notorious Amazing Rainforest Experience circus show with big cats. You may recall seeing photos of emaciated tigers in August at the Missouri State Fair (one photo at right).
Those cats are also owned by Amazing Rainforest Experience, so it is very likely these same cats are now being forced to perform at the Alachua County Fair. Please email the fair and let them know animal lovers do NOT want to see big cats exploited as entertainment. Also ask the FWC to inspect the cats at the fair.
Contact the fair at alachuafair@gmail.com
Ask the Florida Wildlife Commission to inspect the Amazing Rainforest Experience cats at the fair: https://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/
No. 3 Ustad, a wild tiger in India, needs your voice!
Please add your ROAR to the global effort to return Ustad (T24) to the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve where he belongs!
Big Cat Rescue was contacted by a group of big cat advocates requesting our help to increase international awareness regarding the false accusation that a tiger named Ustad killed a local forest guide in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in May 2015.
Witnesses said it was a different tiger that attacked the forest guide, yet Ustad was subsequently seized and illegally moved to a zoo more than 250 miles away from the only home he has ever known. Secretly capturing a wild tiger and moving him to a glorified zoo is against all of India’s standard operating procedures. Locals believe the move was orchestrated for purely political reasons.
Even more concerning is that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is responsible for wild animal conservation in India, was not informed of the capture and move, against all of the country’s normal protocols. NTCA sent a team to the tiger reserve following the death of the forest guide and determined that Ustad was not guilty, acted as a normal tiger, and should be returned to the wild instead of locked up and exhibited at a glorified zoo for the rest of his life.
Please let India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NTCA know that the world is watching and wants Ustad to be returned to the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve where he belongs.
Suggested Wording for your Email:
I wish to add my voice to the global ROAR that T24 Ustad be freed from captivity and immediately returned to the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve where he belongs!
NTCA has already determined that Ustad is not guilty of the attack and death of the forest guide in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in May 2015. NTCA found that Ustad acted as a normal tiger and should be returned to the wild. Please do not sentence Ustad to a life locked up and on exhibit for the rest of his life. He is a wild tiger and should be allowed the dignity to live out the rest of his life in the wild. The world is watching.
Please send your email to each of these email addresses. THANK YOU FOR ROARING FOR USTAD!!
October’s Featured FREE Treats
It’s no trick!
Featured Cat’s Story (Alex Tiger)
Short video of Alex playing with his Spice bag
Keeper Comments about Alex
How to Sponsor Alex Tiger
Tiger Fun Facts
NEW Magazine Style format unveiled for the Big Cat Times Fall Edition
World Animal Day Screensaver featuring 32 close-up photos of various cats at Big Cat Rescue
Big Cats and Pumpkins screensaver featuring 19 photos of big cats playing with pumpkins
Big Cat Wallpaper for your computer, tablet and phone
World Animal Day Video
FREE Big Cat Books
Halloween Jokes
Social Media Fun Shares
Get them all here: https://chatbigcats.com/newsletter-gifts-october-2015/
Videos Since the Last AdvoCat Mews-letter
SpookTacular Savings!
Take advantage of this hauntingly good deal in our online gift shop www.bigcatrescue.biz All purr-chases help the cats like Andre and Arthur here!
Small Cat Fun Area Gets a Roof
Our Small Cat Fun area has been under construction for about a year now. It has been complicated by the fact that it is so huge and yet will require a roof. Vernon Stairs and his son, Vern Stairs (his sister calls him Chuck) and Scott Haller have been working, in between record rain storms, to get this play area done. More than 50 of the 5 x 15 foot roof panels are in place now…just 100’s to go. This turned out to be a much more expensive and difficult project than we had planned, but the cats are going to love it!
Halloween Haunted House
Murder House will be offering terrifying experiences for those who love the thrill of haunted houses, and they are doing it to benefit Big Cat Rescue!
Right now they are having a contest here: https://www.murderhousetampa.com/contests/
Big Cat Rescue will NOT be hosting a haunted trail this year, but instead is asking all of our supporters to go to the Murder House in Tampa to get your chills and thrills, as they will be donating proceeds to our cats.
Be sure to sign up for our mews-letter so that you get all the latest details about this scary event.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween and be sure to keep your pets safe too. Bring them inside!
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