Tiger Rescue Efforts in Colton, California Continue
You may have heard about the situation in Colton, CA where John Weinhart was arrested for illegally breeding and neglecting tigers and leopards. Investigators who raided the property of the noted animal rescuer discovered more than 90 dead tigers, including 58 cubs stuffed into freezers, as well as other exotic animals suffering from malnutrition.
July, 2003 -- You may have heard about the situation in Colton, CA where John Weinhart was arrested for illegally breeding and neglecting tigers and leopards. Investigators who raided the property of the noted animal rescuer discovered more than 90 dead tigers, including 58 cubs stuffed into freezers, as well as other exotic animals suffering from malnutrition.
Officials who carried out the raid in Riverside County said they found tiger and leopard cubs crawling around the home's attic, two small alligators in the bathtub and two hungry tigers roaming around the porch. Behind a gate in the front yard, authorities said they came across 30 dead adult tigers, some with their legs tied together.
(Read related news articles here: http://www.savethetigers.com/info/press.php)
Chuck Traisi of The Fund for Animals is in great need of volunteers to assist with the maintenance and care of dozens of big cats: Tigers, lions and leopards, as well as many other exotic and domestic animals at Tiger Rescue in Colton, CA (located approximately 100 miles north east of San Diego in Riverside County.)
Chuck, a highly respected expert in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, has temporarily taken over the care of the animals at Tiger Rescue, which had been horribly neglected. They were seriously malnourished and housed in filthy and unsafe enclosures. The horrendous conditions that Chuck first encountered are much improved since his arrival, however, there is still an enormous amount of maintenance to be done as well as daily animal care.
In addition to the big cats, there are also dozens of domestic animals in need of care, including dogs, pigs, a cow, ostriches and emus, and a fallow deer.
Volunteers are needed daily. It is hard work in extremely hot conditions, but it is an experience volunteers will never forget. If you are interested in helping, please bear in mind that you will get dirty. The work is often very physical and always filthy. Every effort is made to ensure safety, however, be advised you will be in very close proximity of potentially dangerous animals.
We cannot stress enough the urgency and need for responsible, concerned volunteers. If you are unable to go to Tiger Rescue, please consider sending a donation t the Fund for Animals. Chuck purchases over 500 pounds of chicken daily to feed the big cats, which doesn't even include the expense of feeding the other animals or the costs of any of the non-food supplies needed.
To volunteer, email Cindy Traisi of the Fund for Animals at ctraisi@aol.com.
Even if you are unable to contribute or volunteer, please consider using our online form to send Chuck Traisi your supportive words and thoughts. In high-profile animal cases such as this, it is often easy to forget about the sacrifices made by the people involved. We must all remember that without the dedication and efforts made by the people behind the scenes, this wouldn't be possible.
Chuck Traisi of the Fund for Animals has been living in a hotel near Colton, California since May 22, 2003 while he oversees the care of the 54 big cats at Tiger Rescue. In addition to having seen his wife only once since the end of May, he has endured the heat, the frustration, and the emotional roller-coaster that encompasses this case.
At age 61, Traisi has made incredible sacrifices in his personal and professional life in order to take full responsibility for the welfare of both the cats and the volunteers involved. Chuck celebrated his birthday this year in the company of tigers and volunteers instead of family.
While in Colton, Chuck is somewhat closed-off from normal methods of communication, limited to only his cellular phone. Although he has an email address, he is unable to read or send email presently. As such, we invite you to submit your comments and support for the work he is doing at the Tiger Rescue using the form below. The comments submitted will be printed out and handed to Chuck for him to read. It is so important that we all take a moment to reach out and let him know how much we care and support what he's doing.
Click here to send your support to Chuck: http://www.savethetigers.com/action/comments.php
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