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If the USDA plans on killing animals that live alone, happen to be a "senior", or appears to have no "joy" in his/her life, than I fear there will be a lot of animals destroyed. When I first arrived back at the WAO on December 17, 2009, the animals looked miserable--they too had no "joy" in their lives. By March 2010, the animals were active and excited with all the changes made to the WAO's animal program. They got enrichment toys and scents plus they received a lot of attention and treats from everyone who volunteered at the WAO. Boris was even happy towards the end of my time at the WAO (he was trying to hibernate during the first months of my return) because of the return of the juveniles volunteering at the WAO. I think he missed all the kids working around him. He used to get so excited when he saw them coming through the gates back in 2005. Now they are gone forever.
It appears the WAO is turning into a death camp for many of the WAO animals. I sure hope Kelsey Dyer, Mike Dereadt, Jenny Spellman, Michelle & Mary Reininger, Jenna Peters and all the other employees and board members who were responsible for the WAO's downfall, are very proud of their accomplishments. They thought they could run the place so much better with their wonderful "suggestions" for fundraisers ( like holding a BBQ on the premise), constantly whinning that no one listened to their bright ideas. Well, they had the run of the WAO from May - August 2010. So what do they have to show for the last four months? All their ideas apparently BOMBED resulting in the WAO being in worse shape than when Nicole left it. Oh, and let's not forget Mary and Michelle Reininger's participation in the WAO's downfall. They could have ended the WAO case against the Asvestas years ago, thereby avoiding this disaster today, but because they kept their mouths shut and went with the Asvestas and Cryers, animals died needlessly. I sure hope they are proud of their accomplishments now.
Later: I have received word that Royale and Maverick were euthanized. May God be with both of them.
To: Laurie.J.Gage@aphis.usda.gov
Sent: Thu, September 23, 2010 8:43:05 AM
Subject: Re: WAO
Dear Laurie:
I understand what you are trying to say, and I appreciate your honesty. As a person who has several older animals alive today, and recently accepted the loss of two animals this year, one which, with the consultation of my long-time vets, was gracefully put to sleep in January 2010 and another who died in my arms a few months back, I understand how hard it is to make the determination as to when it is appropriate to end the suffering of an animal.
Since I am not there, I cannot see for myself what has happened to Maverick and Lance. All I can say is when I last saw Maverick and Lance in April 2010, they were doing well. Then five months later, their health declined to such levels as now they must be euthanized. I'm having a hard time putting these two mental pictures together, simply because I cannot see them and will have to accept that I will never see them again to say goodbye.
As you can imagine, I am having a hard time trying to come to grips as to what happened to the WAO animals for the last several months.
As to euthanizing a lion because he cannot live in the same enclosure with another lion, I must strongly disagree. Sabu was born in captivity and raised by another owner who did not have any other lions on the property. For many years he has lived by himself and I do not think it is appropriate to euthanize him just because Atti does not get along with him. He may not be able to live with another big cat, but he certainly can live next to one.
When Sabu lived at Leslie Road for about a year, I had the opportunity to care for him. I always told the workers that Sabu could never be placed with other WAO lions based on his temperament and physical condition. At that time, he was living in an enclosure (at the rear of the Talley Road property where I believe Kira and T'Salvo live today) in the front cage, and the juvenile lions (at that time) were living in the rear enclosure. He could see and communicate with the other lions, but showed very little interest in wanting to join them. According to the attending vets at the time (2005), Carol Asvestas made an appointment to have him euthanized because he could not be integrated with other lions.
I was shocked to learn he was moved to Talley Road and placed with Atti, knowing her disposition was more aggressive than Sabu's. This was a disaster waiting to happen. I recommended at that time (January 2010) that he be separated from Atti as I saw a wound on his hide quarters, inflicted apparently, by Atti.
Sabu loves "people" attention as he was raised and cared for by humans. Therefore, I strongly disagree that Sabu should be euthanized because he cannot be housed with another lion. He can be housed next to other big cats--just not live with one.
What you may not know is that Carol Asvestas euthanized tigers, lions, cougars, and other animals simply because they could not be integrated with other animals. Those animals deserved to live back then and Sabu deserves to live today.
So what will happen to the other animals Royale (female tiger at Talley), Kira (female tiger at Leslie), T'Savo (female lion at Leslie--she lives with Kira) and the cougars? Are they going to be euthanized as well? These animals have health issues as well.
The WAO animals have gone through so much in the last several years. No enrichment were ever provided until November 2009 - April 2010 for any of the animals. During that period, the animals' mental and physical state changed as they were challenged to find treats, given enrichment "toys" so they would have something to play with and treated to new smells as we introduced spices and perfume to their enclosures.
I believe the animals can come out of their "depression" once again, if they are given the attention and enrichment items they so richly deserve. The workers simply did not have time to give the animals attention as they were move focused on cleaning and feeding the animals. That is why I spent so many hours with all the animals -- and they responded to the this TLC.
At this point I feel helpless, because their is nothing I can do to save these animals. I spent 4 1/2 years trying to remove the original and the latest board of directors from the WAO in an attempt to save the organization and turn the facility around. You have no idea how frustrating it is to have really good, hard working professionals in their field, ready to step in and use their connections and talents to turn the financial state of the organization around -- and then not even been given a chance to make a difference. So instead of the directors leaving, the animals are leaving and that was not supposed to happen.
All I can do now is pray for the big cats and the primates for they are the true victims of the story and I so wish someone listened to me back in 2006 when I predicted this was going to happen to them. I just kept hoping that there would be a "happy ending" to this story...
Thank you, for listening, Laurie -
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From: "Laurie.J.Gage@aphis.usda.gov"
Sent: Wed, September 22, 2010 10:25:05 PM
Subject: Re: WAO
Hi
I do not know if anybody will come forward and purchase Talley Road so the chimps and macaques can continue to live there. That would be great if it were true! I've hear the same rumor but frankly I have not heard that is going to happen for sure. I hope it will because I would feel so badly if those chimps had to move or if family groups had to be disrupted. But frankly there is nobody out there that to date, has offered an appropriate place for the chimps. I think some of the chimp sanctuaries could maybe take the three chimp families if they had enough money coming with them to build them new quarters and cover the cost of their care.
As far as the big cats go, there are a few cats there that in my opinion have a poor quality of life and in my opinion (which I am sure won't be popular) need to be euthanized because their quality of life is poor right now because of age-related problems. They do not have a medical problem that can be solved.
Here is what I wrote earlier today to Mr. Webb about Mavrick the leopard.
As far as Maverick the black leopard goes, I would NEVER want to euthanize an animal just because it is old. I thought Maverick was 17 years old and I've know leopards to live into their 20's and do very well. The problem with Maverick is that his front carpal joint is badly deformed (this apparently has just gotten worse in the past 2 - 3 months ) and then when we looked at him last week, he did not ever get up and walk around, but WAO's vet was out there for another reason, and she saw him walking the day after we saw him, and had not seen him in about 2 weeks and said he was MUCH WORSE, and I thought she meant his front leg but she said no, it was his rear end. She said he was so wobbly he had trouble walking. .
As a veterinarian I am happy to do whatever it takes to help animals especially old animals (you should see my old dog) but once they start to fail and can't walk properly and can't have a good quality of life, it seems inhumane to me to make them suffer along like that until the humans think they look bad enough to euthanize. I think their last days should be good ones, not ones where they are so crippled and have so many problems that WE feel good they should be euthanized.
We have MANY homes for Maverick. Amarillo Zoo will take him, Oregon Tiger Sanctuary will take him, and other places too! And I was the vet at OTS for many years and I KNOW he would have a wonderful home there. I did not see him when he was up and trying to walk, but if Dr. Finkelstine is correct, I feel it would be inhumane to load Maverick into a crate and ship him to a new place in his present condition and then have him die in a strange place. I think that is being inconsiderate of HIS needs. So I think euthanasia is the most humane thing to do for Maverick, especially considering his mate recently died of problems related to old age, and that he has had a rapidly progressive problem with both hind legs, and his front carpus is also badly deformed. Euthanasia, defined, means "good death". I would hate to see Maverick have to suffer, crippled and with little quality of life, and then die when we could help him to have a "good death".
But I don't make these sorts of decisions for these animals. I can only offer my opinion.
I have to be honest with you, Kristina, but I think Lance is in this same category. I see no joy in Lance's life. But I'm not sure I can convince anybody at WAO besides their vet, who agrees with me, to euthanize, especially when there is some pressure not to. Please look into your heart and understand that for a few of these animals, the greatest gift we could give them now is a peaceful death. This is NOT because it is convenient. I would say the exact same thing if the animals didn't need new homes. But I don't make these decisions, I can only state what I believe to be true and the right thing to do. And the very ataxic lion out at Talley has to live alone because of his progressive neurologic condition, what kind of life is that?
I know I am telling you things you may disagree with, and I am very encouraged we will find homes for everyone. I just don't think it is fair to a few animals to keep them going until we all feel they look so bad they need to be euthanized. We need to be compassionate and come to that decision BEFORE they get to that point. .
Sincerely,
Laurie J. Gage, D.V.M., Dipl. ACZM
USDA APHIS Large Cat Specialist
09/22/2010 04:53 PM
To laurie.j.gage@aphis.usda.gov
cc
Subject WAO
Dear Laurie:
There is a rumor circulating that the primates at Talley Road when remain on property under a new sanctuary name/organization.
While I am pleased that the chimps, baboons and the macques will probably remain at Talley Road, I am greatly concerned the big cats (like Maverick - black spotted leopard) unable to find a new home due to age or health issues will be euthanized.
The other big cats I am concerned about are:
Sabu (male lion at Talley)
Royale (female tiger at Talley)
Kira (female tiger at Leslie)
T'Savo (female lion at Leslie--she lives with Kira)
Lance and Leyla (male and female tigers)
All the cougars
Will these animals be euthanized if they cannot be placed? I was with these animals for many years and since I will never be able to see them again, I'd like to know that the will be taken care. It would mean a lot to know these animals will always have a safe and secure home.
Thank you so much -
What the vets didn't know was that many of the large cats suffered from extreme vitamin deficiency due to a very poor diet while in the hands of the Cryers and the Reiningers.
Sabu could barely walk when he left the WAO to live at In-Sync Exotics. Thanks to a strong vitamin program, Sabu was not only walking within a few weeks, he was running!
Without taking the time to conduct proper tests, the vets made snap diagnosis that may or may have not been correct. In Sabu's case, they were wrong. So what about the other cats? I guess we'll never know.
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