Must Stop the Madness

You might be thinking I am going to be talking about the dog poisonings...well, in a way, I am. This place we went to yesterday, the D.E.W. Animal Kingdom, is all about taking care of animals that are either being abused, have nowhere else to go, or people owned them who couldn't continue to care for them, for some reason or another. Bob, his wife and their family have dedicated their lives to this huge undertaking and the results move and change lives every day. Bob, who served in Vietnam, has had more than his share of physically debilitating moments, from 'friendly fire' in Vietnam to being bitten, severely by one of the lions (he didn't securely latch the gate during a feeding time and was between the lion and his food...Bob BIT the lion while the lion was biting his face - ripping his teeth out, by the way - and got away. Bleeding from his head, back and arm, he got to his wife, who came and shot the lion while Bob got the backhoe - I think this is how the story goes - loads up the lion, and THEN his wife drives him to the hospital where he went into surgery. Why not call 911, a rather intrusively inquisitive lady asked. Because, explained Bob, then it would have been public knowledge and they probably would have shut him down (because of the fear factor: Bob is totally licensed to keep and take in exotics, they come to him from zoos, shelters, etc.). Once in the hospital, he was covered by the privacy factor and there was nothing anyone could do about how he handled a situation that happened on his own property. Getting a bit of an idea about Bob? And his wife? Good.

Each of the animals are profiled by history and name on the website, if you are interested.

I wasn't there whenever my second favorite creature in the world turned around, 

at least for the camera, but hopefully you can feel it a little bit

Fallow deer - this elegant creature kept posing like a rock star

Oh please! I'm in love

I tried to get a shot of when Bob was feeding this hyena, but 

the hyena was way too fast - no chewing, just...gone. Pretty scary, really

The lemurs are way too cute. There is a baby one and 

it was hanging out in a baby swing...beyond adorable, terrible photo

Bob has such huge respect for allowing these animals to be what they are within the circumstances...no tricks, no condescending, no assuming they adore him...although he believes the lion that mauled him could have easily killed him, he says the lion 'just wanted him out of the way...don't come between any male animal and his woman or his food.' Sounds right to me.

Another one of the panthers...yes CWIM, my heart, 

since I can't have this one, I'll stick with you

Laurie and Amy (who have been here before) think this is

the youngest roo...it certainly was the smallest. Awwwww...

Animals die. But it shouldn't be by poisoning.

Tigers. Big tigers. Really big tigers.

Young male lion

Stripes! (I took a lot of zebra shots; I'm sparing you)

A fine stretch following a huge yawn that I missed...

naptime for bobcat soon come

Forgive the pig slobber smear - this was right after - 

but I can't resist sharing this camel with you...talk about SLOBBER!

 

There is truly something very wrong in the world when the only way to deal with an animal that is bothering you is to abuse it or kill it. Many, thankfully not all, of the animals above came to Bob and his wife because of abuse of either an active or neglectful sort. Who knows how many are killed or die? But on Culebra, we do know, because while we can't save all of the animals, or even give all of them permanent homes, there is a very strong attempt to take care of them. All this sick person (and someone knows exactly who it is) needs to do is put out the word that a particular animal is bothering them...at least that would be giving a fair chance. To poison dogs like Chacho and D.O.G., gentle, loving dogs who just wanted a petting hand, a kind word, is the act of a very weak human being, someone who must be filled with as much poison within themselves as he or she put out in the world. This person needs help, by choice or by enforcement.

D O G

photo by Beth Maciorowski

Tomorrow I'll get the boat show posted, really! Have a sane Sunday.