Board to look at big cat issue again

By Brian Bridgeford

ROCK SPRINGS — The attorney for big cat rescue advocate Jeff Kozlowski said they hope to move his lions, tigers and leopards from rural Rock Springs to a new refuge site within a year.

Kozlowski and members of the Sauk County Public Health Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday to discuss whether he should have a permit for his cat refuge and a possible timeline for moving his 23 felines. The meeting will be held in basement room B24 of the Sauk County West Square Building, on the Courthouse Square in downtown Baraboo.

Board members were trying to decide how to deal with the Big Dad’s Big Cat Refuge and Educational Center on Highway 136 just east of the village. The refuge faces opposition from neighbors who say they dislike the noise and vehicle traffic it creates. Some question if the cats are kept securely.

Madison-based attorney Jeff Scott Olson said Monday they are gathering information on what is necessary to properly contain the cats. If the refuge’s fenced enclosure and chain-link cages are not strong enough, their engineer will know what to do to make them safe, he said.

Kozlowski said he is meeting with business owners who could help him create a large educational center in the Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells area where people could see the cats. He preferred to make no other comments about his plans on his attorney’s advice, he said.

Olson said he believes an alternative refuges will be created and the cats will be moved from Rock Springs. It "might" be within a year, he said.

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

an Educational Sanctuary home

to more than 100 big cats

12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625

813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/344896451?ltl=1140270431

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