Big Cat Made Certain Florida Man Got Money’s Worth

Why would anyone pay for the opportunity to get up close and personal with an apex predator like a leopard? This is pure stupidity on the part of the customer and the “sanctuary” owner.

A Florida man paid for a “full contact” experience with a black leopard – and ended up severely injured, according to reports.

The animal kept in a backyard zoo in Davie, Fla., reportedly attacked the visitor the moment he entered an enclosure, the Sun-Sentinel of South Florida reported.

The customer, identified as Dwight Turner, 50, had paid $150 for a close-up encounter with the animal, to “play with it, rub its belly and take pictures,” according to Miami’s WPLG-TV.

After the big cat finished with him, Turner’s scalp was “hanging from his head and his right ear was torn in half,” investigators said, according to FOX 30 of Jacksonville.

. . .

The Davie sanctuary owner, identified as Michael Poggi, was licensed to run the attraction, WPLG reported. Authorities said he was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal and maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition, the report said.

Tiger Rescue Operators Charged With 17 Felonies

The operators of a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing performing tigers were recently charged with 17 felonies after an April 22 raid of their home and tiger sanctuary allegedly turned up numerous health and safety violations as well as numerous dead tigers in various states of decay.

On a web site for Tiger Rescue, John Weinhart and Marla Smith claimed they had been rescuing movie and other performing tigers for over 30 years. But when police raided their property they found the carcasses of 88 dead tigers as well as numerous leopard and tiger cubs living in unhealthy conditions.

Prosecutors said that Weinhart and Smith had two full-grown tigers in their yard and, for good measure, two alligators living in their bathtub. The couple were charged with child endangerment due to the presence of their 8-year-old son who was removed from their custody.

If convicted, both Weinhart and Smith could receive up to 16 years in jail.

Sources:

Couple who ran animal sanctuary charged. Associated Press, May 22, 2003.

Many Dead Tigers Are Found at Big Cat ‘Retirement Home’. New York Time, April 2003.

Neglected Tiger, Leopard Cubs On Mend. CBS News, April 24, 2003.

90 Tigers Found Dead At Calif. Home. CBS News, April 25, 2003.

Animal Liberation Front Sets Fire to Chicago Food Store

The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for setting a fire at a Chicago-area food store that had been used in an illegal exotic animal ring.

Czimer’s Game and Seafood in Lockport, Illinois, had been used by a ring of individuals illegally trading in endangered animals. The store sold the tiger and leopard meat killed by William Kapp. Kapp was indicted for his part in the scheme and convicted on 17 counts of trading in and selling endangered animals. Fifteen other people, including the owner of Czimer’s, were convicted of violating federal laws forbidding trade in endangered species.

The Animal Liberation Front issued a communique that read,

Under the cover of darkness, Animal Liberation Front operatives infiltrated the roof of Czimer’s Game and Seafood, setting it on fire. This action further extended the sentence handed down by federal courts on April 3, 2003 for William Knapp and Kevin Ramsey killing innocent tigers and illegally selling the meat at this store. Your crimes have not gone unnoticed and you are not innocent. These helpless animals were shot (murdered) in cages at point blank. Be careful, because we know who you are and where you live. Pray for extended jail time and enjoy your stay you sick fucking bastards.

Until the innocent can live in peace,

Animal liberation front

Of course — the people responsible for this illegal animal ring are going to prison, so why not go the extra mile and endanger the lives of a few firefighters by torching the Czimer’s building as well? Makes perfect sense.

Sources:

Animal rights group claims credit for torching Chicago Store. Mike Robinson, The Associated Press, April 5, 2003.

Animal rights group claims it set store fire. Annie Sweeney, Chicago-Sun Times, April 6, 2003.