In Memory of an Unnecessary Surgery for T'Savo

When I first found this "In Memory of" posted the the Wildcat Sanctuary's Facebook page, I thought I would need a tranquilizer to get through the evening.

First, take a look at what was posted on the site, then I shall comment on posting:

In Memory of Tsavo 

Normally, I have no problem with people wanting to dedicate an enclosure or land in memory of a person or animal, but this, this is just over the top.  This sanctuary only knew T'Savo for such a short time (approximately 2 weeks according to the article).  That means she enjoyed life for one week and then spent the second week "recovering" (and dying) from an unnecessary surgery.  This sanctuary had no business placing T'Savo under the butcher knife so soon after she arrived at this sanctuary. 

According to the T'Savo In Memory article, the Wildcat Sanctuary spays and neuters its residents to prevent breeding, and to reduce the chances the cats will develop reproductive system cancers.

Aslan

If this place neuters their male lions, then why does Aslan, the male lion living with two lioness, still have his big beautiful mane?  Aslan's  biography on the sanctuary's web site displays two pictures of the male lion posing with his beautiful mane.  There is also a video showing the animals moving into their new enclosure, and of course, Aslan is sporting his his mane.  Wouldn't it have been more politically correct to show him without a mane, proving this sanctuary really neuters its males?

As to their claim spaying or neutering animals reduces the chances they will develop cancer, I read an article from a well known veterinarian school,  which reported that spaying or neutering an animal too soon or too late in life may cause some cats to develop cancer. There is no guarantee that spaying or neutering an animal will result in a cancer-free animal--a lot has to do with genetics, care, and environment. 

For example, Meme, one of the tigers that resided at the Wildcat Sanctuary, died from cancer in 2006.  While I do not know what type of cancer she died from, as the In Memory article does not provide this information, I can say that cancer and other types of illnesses can debilitate or even cause death for animals and humans alike.  It's just a fact of life that we must all live with as we go about our daily routine. 

If a sanctuary wants to prevent unwanted pregnancies, then I have a simple solution that will not place any animals at risk -- don't mix intact males and females together!  And if a sanctuary wants to place males and females together, then neuter the male and leave the females alone! 

Kira (tigress) and T'Savo (lioness) would have never reproduced any off-spring, and yet they were forced to under-go a dangerous and unnecessary surgery.  What a waste of resources and more importantly, what a waste of a life.

True sanctuaries places the health and well-being of its animals first and does not perform unnecessary surgeries just because AR groups says we must spay/neuter every animal.  Politics have no business dictating animal care.  Common sense should have prevailed in this case insteed. 

And now this blatant display of emotional crap on sanctuary's Facebook really burns me up.  These people barely knew T'Savo and yet the want us to believe that by "reremembering her [T'Savo] joyful personality will help our tears slow and our hearts grow stronger."  

Right.  Pass the tranquiler please.