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Sunday, June 22, 2014

#Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge rescues three #bigcats


Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2014 
Several months ago, perhaps a year or more, it came to my attention about big cat rescues at Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge in Tyler that helped so many abused large cats
Recently I received information about three more of the large cats that had been rescued and taken to Tiger Creek. Here are the stories about these three incredible cats.

Pepe: Pepe was rescued with seven other lions from Mexico. He was malnourished and had a severe case of ringworms and mange and his stomach was bloated with intestinal worms. All eight lions had to compete for food and they were fed chicken bones and backs, not enough meat to keep them healthy. Pepe was one of the lucky ones, as he survived but his brother died shortly after being rescued due to kidney failure.

Amara: She had been purchased by an individual who thought it was fun to have the tiger cub fight his Rottweiler dog. When she was only a few days old, this person would force her to fight for her life, daily. One day, fearful for her life and safety, she nipped at the owner’s wife. The owner kicked her across her cage and continued to hit her every time he entered her care thereafter. Finally, the authorities took Amara away from this abusive owner and sent her to Tiger Creek as a rescue cat.

Tin Cup: This little cougar was picked up from the wild by some local dogs. When the dogs brought the little kitten back home with them, the owners didn’t know what to do. They searched for signs of the mother, but never could find her. Since there is no program to release cougars back into the wild, they were told to euthanize the kitten. Their hearts wouldn’t let them do that, so they called the refuge to take him. Tin Cup loves people and enjoys all the attention from the Tiger Creek staff.

Sadly, Pepe, Amara and Tin Cup are not the only great cats in need. There are so many others that need help. The organization receives several calls a month, begging them to take in an animal in need of a loving home. Most of the cats had been abused, neglected or simply thrown away by their owner.

In 1997, Brian Werner and Teri Werner established Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge on 25 acres of land purchased years before. They cleared the land and build habitats for the unwanted large wild cats. In 1999, the organization was opened to the public. The refuge receives animals that have been abused, neglected or displaced. For example, when a drive-through safari closed down, Tiger Creek took in eight big cats that didn’t have anywhere else to go. Other cats have come to them from circus acts, roadside attractions and owners who did not provide them with proper care.

At Tiger Creek, there is no breeding or selling. A top-quality home is provided for the cats for the rest of their lived.

The facility is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, weather permitting. It is located at 17552 FM 14 in Tyler. They can be reached at (903) 858-1008. Their website is tigercreek.org. Tax exempt donations can be sent to PO Box 4968, Tyler, Texas 75712.

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