ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

 

This is not a section I ever wanted on my website, but my hand has been forced.  If you are familiar with ARA’s you’ve heard the names PETA, HSUS, ELF, ALF and individuals such as Carol Baskin of Big Cat Rescue who becomes their spokesmen every opportunity she has.  The following is not a statement from angry animal owners, but from the FBI Deputy Assistant Director and top official in charge of domestic terrorism who stated “The number one domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism animal rights movement.  These groups have a history of disregarding personal and civil rights of citizens in attempts to further their own agenda..”  They do bizarre things such as let others big cats lose to report false sightings and scare the public, and claim we are irresponsible regarding safety issues.

 

I myself have been a great target, particularly of Ms. Baskin.  It seems to have begun when I was appointed to the FWC’s Captive Wildlife Technical Assistance Group, to review all of the rules for keeping captive wildlife to ensure safety and happiness to the animals.  She was not even considered although she was sure she would be appointed.

Next, at the capitol (I have 30 years experience as a lobbyist), she was asked to leave several offices for “bad-mouthing me” and using false information to Legislators, a golden rule never to be broken by a true lobbyist.  She made a website just about me full of lies when she had never met me and still has not ever seen my facility or have any idea what my educational classes include.  I have an attorney most anxious to go after her for free so she took it down.  Frankly, now if she puts it back up I don’t care.  Anyone who knows me reads it and realizes she is crazy.  My reputation speaks for itself.  The more lies she tells about me the worse she sounds.  She even admitted to sending spies in my house.  The funniest item is her latest complaint is websites about her, yet it all started when she decided to make a website about me!!  Additionally I was listed as an animal abuser in her ominous “Hall of Shame.”  It truly is laughable.

Their newest tactic is to call in multiple false complaints on the few like me who have the guts to stand up to them. The State and the Federal Officials know what is going on and are angry themselves. It not only wastes their time, but wastes taxpayer money. Of course it doesn't hurt me, because the complaints always are concluded as "No non-compliance." It is a childish form of harassment and will turn on them soon. 

She has constantly and for years badgered and harassed people like me and then when we defend ourselves she “innocently” asks “why are they trying to discredit me.”  These are good people who love their animals and give the top notch care, while she doesn’t even go to her facility unless its to make money.

 

 Ms. Baskin, it is because you are fraud and a liar that we have had enough.  We just want you to leave us alone and we won’t have to bother you.  But she and her cronies are relentless.  Therefore we dug up the truth about her.  Almost all of the animals she claims were “rescues” from horrendous circumstances were actually bred by her.  After being caught in these lies she wrote an “Evolution of Thought” on her website claiming to have “seen the way of her deeds” – interestingly though, she did not remove the rescue lies from her site, or return the money to people who donated to help them.  It is also worth mentioning that her 2^nd husband, whom she inherited millions from was never found and this mystery is still under investigation.

 

The other warning I would give you.  Never talk to the press without a signed agreement of editing rights before they print.  Andrea Fanta, no more than an immature 23 year old is trying to make it in the news business using National Enquirer style.  She wrote a story about me and everything I said about endangered species and educational classes was left out, portraying me as someone who just wants to have a “pet” tiger and then gave free reign to Carol Baskin to comment.  I wrote a Letter to the Editor of ever paper that printed the story.  The story can be read at the following link: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060605/NEWS/606050350/1004/NEWS

FORUM Should private pet owners in Florida be banned from keeping big cats, such as cougars and tigers?

HAVANA, Fla. -- Gloria Johnson's love for cats of all sizes has raised some eyebrows in North Florida.

The part-time lobbyist lives on 18 acres in a wooden house, where four house cats lounge inside on tiger-striped couches and rub their faces against leopard print curtains.

Outside, some larger cousins -- two cougars and a Siberian tiger -- have found a home in Johnson's backyard. And though some animal advocates want to outlaw her exotic pets, Johnson has vowed to battle, well, tooth and claw.

"I will fight it to the death," she said. When she's not at the Capitol in nearby Tallahassee, Johnson is in her backyard, feeding, playing and swimming with Ashukalee and Lakota, her 130-pound cougars, and Casanova, her 200-pound tiger.

Johnson is not the only Floridian with a taste for unusual pets. Florida's sunny climate makes it an attractive home for many exotic species, said Linda Harrison, a captain with the state's wildlife commission.

Florida's 150 big-animal owners, who sell and exhibit beasts like bears, lions and tigers, have to complete 1,000 hours of training. Another 400 are licensed for medium-sized animals, like cougars, bobcats and wolves, and 3,000 Floridians own exotic pets like chinchillas and ferrets.

Johnson said she trusts her big cats -- last month, friends and neighbors joined Johnson for Casanova's birthday party, complete with liver cake and ice cream. Johnson stayed in the tiger's balloon-covered cage, clapping and cheering him on as he ripped at wrapped gifts, tearing into a new blue football, puncturing it within minutes.

"I'm not worried at all," said Elizabeth Draper, a friend who brought her 9-year-old son, Chris, to the party. "I feel totally safe. As long as she knows what she's doing and she's licensed, as long as she takes care of them," it is no problem.

Chris spent the party a few feet away from the cage's outer wall. He said he might want a tiger of his own one day.

"He's kind of fun to watch," he said.

But not all big cat owners have been as lucky as Johnson: Two years ago, a 600-pound tiger named Bobo was shot and killed after he escaped from his South Florida owner, an actor who once played Tarzan. The same year, another 350-pounder injured his handler after being startled by a boy at a Jacksonville fair.

When these cats make news, they also make some Floridians wonder: Why own an animal that can eat you?

Johnson explained: "They give you something that people can't -- they give you unconditional love. The bonding with a wild animal is something you can't explain. It's like a religious experience."

But other animal advocates say Johnson's behavior -- for example, cuddling and sometimes sleeping with big cats in their cages -- sends the wrong message that wild animals make good pets.

"When people see an image of somebody stroking a big cat or walking a big cat on a leash, their immediate reaction is `I want to do that,' " said Carole Baskin, who runs the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in Tampa.

"They're not thinking about the fact that they could lose the arm or that the animal is living in captivity," Baskin said. "They're thinking about what they want, they're thinking about that connection."

Baskin tried during this year's legislative session to introduce a ban on keeping big cats as pets in Florida, but failed. Now, backed by the nonprofit U.S. Humane Society, she's promised to try again next year.

So far, 23 states -- including Maryland this year -- have banned private pet owners from keeping big cats.

"We're trying to stop the perpetuation of breeding cats for life in cages," she said.

She described a harmful cycle: Floridians buy big cats and abandon them when they grow too large or wild. When exhibitors and pet owners show those cats, others want a similar experience and encourage more breeding and selling.

In fact, Baskin, a former breeder herself, said she saw the light when her clients couldn't handle their cats and started abandoning them. Right now, 150 felines live in her sanctuary.

"It's very sad for the cats, because in almost every case they've been bottle-raised by a human, that's the only person they've bonded to," she said. "They're ripped out of that situation once that person can't handle them anymore and having to live in a cage for the next 20 years."

 

 

Here is my response to tell the truth about this irresponsible story:

 

 

The article printed by Associated Press writer Andrea Fanta was her attempt to show two sides to a controversial issue; however, I feel some information was missing for that to be fairly done. Here's what she didn't tell you. 

My 3 big cats are not licensed pets but I am a USDA and FWC Education Exhibitor.  Does that prevent me from loving them as pets?  Of course not!  If I didn't they would be the animals described as pacing and grooming their hair off.  Ms. Fanta was invited to a private 'family and friends' unique event - a birthday party for our tiger.  I should have invited her to one of our weekly educational programs for a true feel for what we are about. Almost every week schools, the disabled, and the elderly visit for an endangered species class.  They are given fact sheets ahead of time (the children even tests) and they are all told that the animals are wild to some degree and always remain dangerous.  They are not good for pets but some people with very special training must have a few as ambassadors to their species or they will become extinct. I do not go in cages in front of children. Until now, I have never charged a penny for my programs.  Unfortunately the time spent lobbying Animal Rights Activists will be causing me to cover minimal costs in the future.  (The ARA's includes HSUS who has been investigated for misuse of funds)

 

On the other hand the "sanctuary" owner, by her own admission bred her own animals until recently and another large population of the 150 cats there belongs to Ringling Brothers who pays for all of their care as a retirement home.  She speaks of "exploitation", yet she charges for photo ops; feed a cat; has a bed and breakfast; even holds "weddings and parties with the cats" for huge fees.  This is not exploitation?  I would call that a huge commercial enterprise!  Maybe that is why she has been asked to resign from the Hillsborough Animal Advisory Control Board and was shown in an expose by Tampa Bay News 9 as taking money from the animal lovers who believed her stories of "rescues" that were not rescues at all, but born there.  Yes she admits it - but did she take the web pages down or return their money - No!  She has now been removed from a list of 20 finalists of Non-Profit of the Year in Hillsborough County.

 

My great State of Florida's FWC ensures I am well educated before licensing me.  That may be why they appointed me to their Captive Wildlife Technical Advisory Board to review all of our FWC rules to update safety measures and ensure happiness to the animals. I hope the public will take comfort in knowing how hard we are working and have been for a year.

 

My sometimes "behavior of cuddling and sleeping with big cats and thereby sending the wrong message that wild animals make good pets" is given to the public over and over by Animal Rights Activists because it serves their purpose.  My private relationship with my animals and one I have the right to make as an educated adult is just that - private.  It is not a part of what is shown to children through my Non Profit Foundation Cougar Ridge Educational Center, www.cougar-ridge.org.

 

Ms. Baskin and I have made an agreement to disagree but stick to the facts and not point fingers at each other.  But here she has done it again.  I will correct her one more time and hope that it was a mistake and won't happen again: All owners of big cats who are not "sanctuaries" are not exploiting them or giving the wrong message.  I do not want to have to say this for the rest of my life.  Therefore I will not go into the many maulings which have occurred at her facility.

 

Why own an animal who can eat you?  It's never happened!  And remember Bobo the tiger was the one killed.  Fact: Your chance of heart disease is 1 in 5, attacked by a tiger 1 in 4,000,000 (sources available)..

 

Thank you,

sincerely,

Gloria Johnson

Member, Zoological Association of America

Feline Conservation Federation

National Animal Interest Alliance