My handsome Sabu is 26 years old today! God Bless Him with many more birthdays -- he is such a love bug and I am so proud of him!
I love and miss you, Sabu!
Later:
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| Sabu! May 18, 2013 |
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| Sa-boooo May 18, 2013 |
>^.".^<
Friday, May 17, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
New Jersey Tiger Tales
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| Sahib, one of the NJ Tigers Exotic Feline Rescue Center April 26, 2013 |
If you've been reading this blog from the beginning, then you know how I feel about people who lie about the WAO for their own personal or political agenda. The story was horrendous on it's own--it doesn't need to be fabricated to suit a person's agenda. Case in point. This article was sent to me for my opinion. Needless to say, I had quite a bit to say (see the highlighted portion)!
In New Jersey
Legislature, talk of sharks, tigers, and pigs
A spiny dogfish lies in a bin
aboard a fishing boat. A bill in the New Jersey Legislature would ban the sale
of fins from dogfish and other sharks. STEPHAN SAVOIA / Associated
Press
By Joelle Farrell, INQUIRER TRENTON BUREAU
Posted: May 19, 2012
TRENTON — Before they delved completely into the budget, lawmakers took some time this week to talk about sharks, tigers, and pigs.
The Legislature is considering bills to ban the sale of shark fins, require aggressive monitoring of captive tigers, and keep pregnant pigs out of restrictive crates.
The shark-fin bill generated the most controversy. It would force New Jersey fishermen to throw away shark fins rather than sell them.
Supporters of the bill hope it will help stifle the shark-fin market, which has led to a practice called “finning,” in which fishermen cut fins from live sharks and toss the animals back into the ocean to die. Fins are prized for shark-fin soup, a Chinese delicacy served at weddings and celebrations.
“Finning” has been banned in the United States for more than a decade, but the sale and trade of fins isn’t regulated: Shark fins are both exported from and imported into the United States. An estimated 73 million sharks are killed annually worldwide to meet the growing demand for shark-fin soup, said Kathleen Schatzmann, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Humane Society.
“The idea is to starve the beast that’s feeding the finning process,” said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union), a sponsor of the bill.
But New Jersey fishing industry representatives argue that they should not have to throw away part of their profit if they catch the sharks lawfully. They are particularly concerned about losing profits from the sale of the spiny dogfish, a small shark common in Atlantic coastal waters. Fins contribute up to 30 percent of the profit from the fish, said Scot Mackey, a lobbyist with the Garden State Seafood Association.
“We can all go to a pet store and buy a pig’s ear ... or a cow’s nose for our dog to chew on,” Wayne Reichle, vice president of Lund’s Fisheries in Cape May, said at the hearing. If a shark is caught legally and people want to use the fins in soup, he asked, “why shouldn’t people be able to enjoy that?”
Lesniak, who sits on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, which heard the bill Monday, held off on a vote. He said he wanted to gather more support for the bill, which is also sponsored by Sen. Christopher Bateman (R., Somerset).
Hawaii and West Coast states have banned sale and trade of shark fins, Schatzmann said. Illinois’ legislature passed a bill banning the practice this week, and Delaware and New York are considering bans. Pennsylvania does not ban the sale of shark fins.
Tigers would be more closely monitored under a bill headed for a vote in the Assembly. The aim of the bill, which already passed the Senate, is to prevent the big cats from being sold for slaughter.
Tiger parts can be sold for up to $100,000, more than the $15,000 estimated selling price of a live tiger, according to the Humane Society.
New Jersey, unlike Pennsylvania, already bans ownership of exotic wildlife as pets. And the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed a bill this year that would ban people from owning animals such as tigers as pets, said Jerry Feaser, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The bill is now in a Senate committee.
The bill in New Jersey would require all tigers to have microchips implanted under their skin for tracking. It would also require tiger owners to provide the state with extensive records on the animals, including pictures, weight, and fur samples. When a tiger dies, the owner would be required to deliver the whole body to a state-approved regulator.
There are 26 captive tigers in New Jersey, most of them at Six Flags Great Adventure, where they are carefully monitored and cared for, Schatzmann said. The bill won’t help tigers sold out of state, but it’s designed as a model that supporters hope other states will adopt.
“We’re trying to set an example here for the rest of the country and the rest of the world to stop the trade,” Lesniak said.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are just 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild worldwide.
The bill was inspired in part by the fate of two dozen
tigers at a sanctuary in Jackson. The Tigers Only Preservation Society came
under fire after one of the cats escaped in 1999. The state found that the
tigers were kept in crowded, inhumane conditions, and it shut down the facility
in 2003. The tigers were shipped to a sanctuary in Texas.
But the Texas sanctuary went belly-up in 2010, said Bill
Nimmo, a New Jerseyan who used to visit the tigers in Jackson and who testified
before the Assembly panel this week.
Nimmo, who could not be reached for comment Friday, went to
Texas in September and found only seven tigers remained. The others had been
sold or euthanized, he said.
“Most of them had been sold into the trade,” he testified
before the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “This is a
real problem that exists in this country and I was completely uaware of it.”
Nimmo, with help from a lawyer, obtained custody of the
remaining tigers and had them released to two sanctuaries in Florida and North
Carolina. He pays for their food and care, he testified.“They will live their lives out there; they can’t be killed or taken away,” he told the panel.
New Jersey pig owners would be barred from keeping pregnant sows in gestation crates under a bill heard in a Senate committee. Gestation crates typically measure two feet by seven feet; they’re too small to allow pigs to move or turn around, Schatzmann said. Sows are kept locked up for the entirety of their four-month pregnancies, then are quickly reinseminated and locked back up, she said. The crating, done to maximize the number of animals that can be held together, hurts the pigs physically and psychologically. Studies show pigs live longer when they’re permitted to roam during the bulk of their pregnancies, Schatzmann said.
Eight states have banned gestation crates. Pennsylvania allows the practice.
The New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee is expected to vote on the bill in June.
Contact Joelle Farrell at 856-779-3237, jfarrell@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter at @joellefarrell.
End.
The highlighted information is obviously what I find objectionable and it screams a bitter third party influence. First of all, I found no evidence what-so-ever proving that the WAO sold animals into the "trade" or anywhere else. Unless this Nimmo has undeniable documented proof this actually took place, then I have no problem saying this person made this story up (with a little help, no doubt) to make a political point with the Texas ANR Committee. Based on the records I've collected over the years, many of the NJ tigers were either euthanized (because they were too "dangerous") or died from various injuries/ailments. Many animals died at the WAO from lack of vet care and proper treatment, not just the NJ tigers.
On August 23, 2010, the WAO reported 12 NJ tiger survivors and they were transported to three sanctuaries located in Indiana, Florida and North Carolina. Sadly, not all of the cats that were transported are alive today--I attribute this to age and horrible animal care they received at the WAO for about seven years.
I have seen no animal records showing that Nimmo was granted "custody" of the NJ tigers by the USDA and WAO (and I did pull FOIA records). I am aware that all three sanctuaries were contacted to take the big cats by either the WAO, USDA, or a third party animal organization--Exotic Feline Rescue Center stepped up to the plate first, taking a large number of the NJ tigers; three cats went to BCR; and the remainder of the NJ tigers went to North Carolina.
I am aware of a donor who agreed to pay for the tigers' upkeep at North Carolina Tiger Sanctuary and Big Cat Rescue. As far as I know, the donor (if it is indeed Nimmo) is not providing funds for the tigers that were relocated to Indiana.
I am really sick of the people who lie about their role in the WAO case. Before anyone goes out spouting "stories" about the WAO animals, perhaps they should get their facts straight--it would save me a whole lot of typing time!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Farewell Sweet Mac - You Were Loved
I cannot believe this majestic handsome tiger is gone... I am so heartbroken right now... May God bless and protect Mac's soul in Heaven forever and ever...Amen.
The Silence is Deafening . . .
Sanctuary life isn’t easy, day to day challenges are faced every day, decisions are made to the best of our ability, but they aren’t made lightly, especially when it comes to our rescues. Most times it’s simple things, but then something devastating happens and we find we can’t breathe. Our world is turned upside down and we’re left heartbroken and helpless to change what’s happened. This past Saturday was one of those days. Our precious Mac has lost his battle with cancer.
We’re still trying to come to grips with it, but Mac told us he was done fighting and we made the difficult decision to give him the final gift of freedom, as heartbreaking as it was. I’m struggling to find the right words to describe how much he meant to us and all of the people who were touched by his story, it’s just too painful and fresh. But I wanted to share with you all and thank you for loving him as much as we did. He was such a special boy and we miss his gentle spirit. Safe travels Mac, our lives are forever changed. We’ll see you on the other side . . .
Jan Vales, WCH’s Development Director wrote this special tribute: “
Mac and his sister Shirley came to WildCat Haven in October 2010 – the Year of the Tiger. They had come from Wild Animal Orphanage when the USDA issued a decree that the facility had to be shutdown. WCH had prided itself on its care & expertise in small wildcats but here were two big cats that needed help – how could we say no. When Mac and Shirley came our fears over taking care of 450 lb cats were soon gone. Mac was the sweetest soul – always had a chuff hello for the staff and volunteers. Curious about the new toys to play with and trees to dismember he exhibited an amazing zest for life despite all the previous neglect he had endured. We did see that he had a cyst that was weeping on his shoulder but thought that with a better diet, antibiotics, and TLC it would heal up. The weeks rolled into months and we saw the cyst was growing despite our efforts. So a team of veterinarians came and did surgery on his shoulder. When the biopsy came back it was positive for Malignant Fibro-sarcoma – an aggressive form of cancer of the muscles. Cheryl and Mike were determined to do everything possible for Mac so he was driven from Oregon to Los Angeles for surgery to remove as much from the cyst area as possible. Everyone was happy when the pathology report came back saying no other cancer was found. As the days and months went on Mac charmed everyone who saw him either in person or via video on Youtube. A few months ago the staff noticed some more tumors that were growing very fast. We still hoped that Mac would make it until the move to the new property at Scotts Mills happened. Sadly, as often happens with cats, he started going downhill – losing his appetite and weight.
Sometimes he would only eat for Renee or not at all. Late last week we realized that we had to end his pain and let him go ahead. Cheryl, Mike, Renee, and Aaron were by his side as he left for a better place. Mac will be missed by many but most of all by his sister Shirley – who was totally bonded with him. Maybe on the other side Mac can be free in a way he never could here on earth – simply because he was born in captivity. Goodbye Mac – we love you.”
A Tribute to Mac
A very heartfelt tribute to Mac by Aaron Chapman, who along with his wife Renee, had the privilege of caring for Mac & Shirley from the day they first arrived from Texas. Everyone loved Mac, it was impossible not to . . .
Every so often in life we are afforded the opportunity to become part of something. It’s someone or something that allows us to look outside of ourselves. It gives us cause for compassion, understanding, joy, hardship, & un-compromised satisfaction. It forces us to become a better person. In this case “It” happened to be a tiger, and that tiger’s name was Mac.
After a rough start to life Mac along with his sister & life partner Shirley were able to come “Home.” They arrived at Wildcat Haven on 10/10/10, which not coincidentally was the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac.
To quote one of the rescuers that helped transport Mac from his former facility in Texas- “You are really lucky, you couldn’t have asked for better cats as your first tigers.” I’m not sure he knew how prophetic those words would become. I don’t think anyone of us could. It didn’t take long for us to realize how truly special Mac & Shirley were. Rescuing tigers was a huge step for Wildcat Haven, one that everyone hesitantly agreed to due to the dire situation Mac & Shirley were trying to leave behind. Coincidentally, it turned out much the same way Mac liked to do things…all in, full speed ahead.
His boisterous good morning “moo”, his continual chuffing, or the constant easy going way about him, Mac always made those around him, be it human or feline welcome & comfortable.
Mac’s enormous size was only rivaled by his gentle nature & unrelenting thirst for life. Some of his favorite things were soaking in his pool while dunking his head to grab one of his balls, chewing up cardboard boxes, bending & rubbing against trees, playing with Shirley, or just leisurely relaxing while getting misted with the hose. Mac embraced it all with a rejuvenated sense about him. He took advantage of every luxury afforded to him, like he somehow knew to embrace every moment for what it was.
When we discovered Mac had Fibrosarcoma, a very aggressive and severe form of cancer we were all devastated. Finally Mac found his forever home and now he had to overcome yet another obstacle,
one that was life threatening.
In true Mac fashion he was brave, strong, and trusting. He allowed for two surgeries, one that took him all the way to California to be worked on by some of the top Veterinarian specialty surgeons in the country. Though it was a long road to recovery Mac was thriving once again. We all knew that this condition had the possibility to return, but in taking a page from Mac’s book, we just relished in the fact that things were going great even if just for the time being.
If you were to only know Mac through the eyes of a camera or the pictures on a page, you might see a beautiful tiger, a top feline predator whose wild counterparts are facing extinction, or just another example of the current domestically bred, big cat problem the country faces. When I looked at Mac what I saw was a gentle giant, one whose personality was bigger than life. I saw a living, breathing example of forgiveness for all he had previously been put through. I saw a soul with determination not only to live, but to live with dignity, courage, pride and love.
I can’t begin to count all that Mac has taught so many of us. You can try and utilize all the
right adjectives; you can describe the many nuances, you can hope to evoke emotions, and convey the beauty… However the glimpse into his soul that he allowed will remain with us all forever. By understanding that his journey in this world had reached its limits, we were able to repay him the best way we could. We enabled him to embark on a new journey, a new freedom. One with no fences and more importantly no more pain.
Thanks for helping give me a direction in life Mackey. After 37 years of searching for “something” it took you to teach me that it’s not about money; it’s not about a title. Don’t sweat the little things, follow your passion. It’s what we do with our limited time in life that’s important.
“Once in awhile you get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right.” – R Hunter
Mark Hernandez I am greatly saddened by the loss of Mac as I've known him for about 9 years (WAO). How is Shirley doing? This loss must be doubly hard on the girl. Is she okay? May we have an update on Shirley, please? Thank you!
May 14, 2013
- WCH Sanctuary Shirley is doing well. She is chuffing and rubbing and greeting us as usual. We honestly believe she knew before we did that Mac was ready to go. Animals have such an incredible ability to see what we don't.May 14, 2013
Later:
Now sweet Shirley lives alone...
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