2013-08-07 Carole Diary

Carole Baskins Diary

Big Cat Rescue in Spain

AAP Primadomus is located on more than 400 acres in Villena and currently houses a variety of primates that have been rescued from private ownership, circuses, and laboratories. They are now expanding their focus to also rescue countless lions and tigers that are in need across their country.

In an effort to prepare for this project nearly a dozen experts were invited to a symposium that focused on sharing information regarding the proper care of big cats in captivity, emergency protocol development, and enclosure design. Big Cat Rescue President Jamie Veronica and volunteer veterinarian Justin Boorstein travelled to Spain and joined experts from Italy, South Africa, France, Austria, the Netherlands and all across the United Kingdom.

Over the course of three days the team worked tirelessly to provide as much information as possible to the members of not only AAP Primadomus, but also its origin center Stitching AAP. Stitching AAP is a rescue center for apes, monkeys and small exotic animals in the Netherlands that was founded more than 35 years ago.

The symposium was a huge success. Big Cat Rescue will continue to work with AAP remotely throughout the development process. We are so pleased to provide assistance to organizations that are saving big cats across the globe!

Last month I told you about a gruesome situation that we were working on but now we have exhausted all governmental channels and are taking this story to the media to see if we can get this leopard some relief. This is what I have sent to ABC Dateline and CNN's Jane Velez-Mitchell:

"This leopard was, according to her owner, Carolyn Atchison of Animal House in Moulton, AL, injured a year ago and yet this image was taken June 10, 2013 by some animal protection folk who went there to rescue the domestic dogs and cats that they said she was feeding to her big cats. The animal protection group said that Atchison told them the leopard had been fed a doberman, who fought back, but lost.

I have gone to the state, the USDA and the USFWS and they say there is nothing they can or will do. I am told that the Attending Vet is the owner's boyfriend and he says the cat is fine. This cat is obviously NOT fine. Can you help?

As you probably know, the ALDF is still fighting for Tony the truck stop tiger; now before the Supreme Court. We have a federal bill pending right now that would end the private possession of big cats. It is HR 1998 and called the Big Cats and Public Protection Act." We will continue to try and get some help to this cat and have already obtained an import permit into FL if the cat is seized. We have offered USDA and the USFWS placement for the leopard and told them we can have a crew there within 20 hours of notification that they have seized the animal, but both agencies are saying that it isn't their problem.

The owner claims that this is her favorite cat and that's why she won't give her up. She says the leopard is 19 and can't undergo surgery and she believes that the cat is not in any pain, despite both her and her vet admitting that the cat continuously licks at the wound. Every day, when you are out there in the rain and the bugs and the heat, you are enabling cats like her to have our resources to try and save them. We will keep you posted. This was in the July newsletter to volunteers at Big Cat Rescue.

Jamie and Little Feather Bobcat at Dr. Wynn’s office after her seizures.

8/5/2013 The USDA posted a request for public comment on our petition to ban cub handling for 30 days. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/08/05/2013-18874/petition-to-amend-animal-welfare-act-regulations-to-prohibit-public-contact-with-big-cats-bears-and See the 21,552 comments and supporting documents here: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2012-0107

Hi, I’m Carole Baskin and I’ve been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.

You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile!

Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile

You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org

Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue

Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.