Sheena

Female Serval
DOB 2/1/2003
Rescued 6/26/14

Funny Serval Sounds

Sheena's owner was unwilling to meet the standards required to keep her so she was surrendered to the state of Ohio. Will you help Sheena? http://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/collections/sponsor-a-cat

In 2003 John Babb of Berea, Kentucky shipped an 8 week old serval kitten to a woman in Ohio, who named her Sheena. (The breeder's website boasts that he is still selling serval kittens to pet owners in the U.S. for $6,000 and abroad for $9,000.)

Fast forward 11 years...

After Terry Thompson released 56 lions, tigers and bears in OH the state decided to ban the private possession of big cats, but grandfathered in the existing animals as long as the owners would build a safe cage, register the animal and provide insurance or a bond, in case their animal escaped and hurt someone.

Sheena's owner was willing to register her, and apparently kept her in a dog run, but was unwilling to provide insurance. She decided instead to turn Sheena over to the state of OH.

To our knowledge she is the first exotic cat to be surrendered to the Ohio authorities. The ban became law in 2012 and the exotic pet exploiters predicted that hundreds or thousands of big cats would be dumped on the state, but that hasn't happened.

People who really love their animals will do the minimal things asked of them by law to keep them. Sheena wasn't that lucky...

Or maybe she was even luckier because when the state of OH called and asked if we would provide a permanent home for her we knew that YOU would help us do that. Please let Sheena know that she is loved and welcome at Big Cat Rescue by donating to her care.

Sheena Serval arrives at the airport.

Sheena Serval arrives with attitude intact.  (Thanks for that observation Kiz)

She's late so it is the middle of the night, but Big Cat Rescuers won't leave until she is safely loaded and on her way to her forever home at Big Cat Rescue.

Since it is midnight, Sheena will spend the night in the Cat Hospital and be released as soon as it is daylight.

We weigh her in the carrier and then will weigh the carrier after her release into her new Cat-a-Tat to get a good weight on her.

Big Cat Rescuers, including the vet, are all happy to have Sheena Serval arrive.  Photos by Jamie Veronica.