• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Exotic pet refuge moving due to overcrowding

BCR by BCR
November 12, 2016
in News World
0
0
SHARES
44
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Marengo Sanctuary Home To Bobcats, Cougars, Other Big Cats

Katie McCall
Reporting
Aug 31, 2006 4:48 pm US/Central

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

(CBS) CHICAGO – Cougars, foxes and bobcats may seem like great pets when they are cute, cuddly babies. But when they grow up they can be too much to handle.

CBS 2’s North Suburban Bureau Chief Katie McCall reports that an animal sanctuary has taken on so many of these wild pets that it has to move into a bigger space.

At the Safe Haven Wildlife Refuge in Marengo, a bobcat named Phoenix is thriving. She now receives proper food and vet care, but two years ago, Phoenix arrived thin and malnourished.

She had spent most of her life locked in a Crystal Lake apartment. Her owners de-clawed her and fed her canned cat food.

Safe Haven Director Lynda Sugasa says the illegal sale of so-called “exotic pets” like Phoenix is growing.

“It’s become epidemic in this country,” she said. “Everybody wants that cute arctic fox or bobcat, or that cougar until it’s too big to handle.”

Demand for animals like Sydney, a silver fox rescued from a local roadside zoo, and an arctic fox named Juno, taken from a McHenry County home, is so high that Sugasa no longer has room for more.

“We’ve had to turn away 50 big cats this year for lack of space,” she said.

The humane society says the illegal exotic pet trade is a $15 billion industry, with much of it conducted through online auctions and brochures.

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 big cats, like another one at Safe Haven named Savannah, are living in back yards and houses.

Mountain lions are among the most popular in the illegal pet trade. But they are not easy to care for. Every day they eat 3 percent of their body weight in meat.

When law enforcement removes the animals, they place them at accredited sanctuaries like Save Haven.

But with a full house, Sugasa is now moving the refuge to 160 acres in Nevada.

The new location will allow her to take in more animals that should never have been called pets.


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Government sting nabs ocelot traders

Next Post

PA wildlife center’s new lynx ambassador shows why wild animals make bad pets

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
2.4k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
196
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
746
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
112
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
342
Next Post

PA wildlife center's new lynx ambassador shows why wild animals make bad pets

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist