Dear Friend, Tiger cubs born in nature remain safe under their protective mothers' care for as long as two years, until their immune system develops and they learn to survive on their own. But because of cruel people who profit from the breeding of big cats, Luna never got that chance. Luna was born at a roadside zoo owned by "Joe Exotic" (aka the "Tiger King") and was quickly torn away from her mother. When she was just 1 week old, she was sent halfway across the country—from Oklahoma to Dade City's Wild Things (DCWT) in Florida. At DCWT, she was smacked, handled roughly, dragged by the neck, and forced into stressful photo ops with the paying public. Distressed tigers are suffering at hideous roadside zoos and tourist traps. PETA has been working to end their exploitation for years, and it's rescued dozens of tigers from abusers, including Luna, as you'll read below. But PETA needs your help right now to rescue more animals and shut down cruel exhibitors. Strengthen an organization that's sparing tigers and other animals a lifetime of cruel confinement, transporting them from roadside zoos to reputable sanctuaries, and promoting respect for all. Donate to PETA today—even $3 will help. Luna's story isn't unique. At horrid roadside zoos across the country, it's common to remove helpless cubs from their mothers soon after birth, callously abuse them during rough "training" sessions or tourist encounters, and confine them to deplorable conditions. Even animals with life-threatening illnesses, severe injuries, or chronic ailments are often denied the veterinary care that they desperately need. Such treatment isn't just cruel—it's often illegal. Based in part on an eyewitness's findings, PETA filed a lawsuit against DCWT claiming that its practices of prematurely separating endangered tiger cubs from their mothers, forcing them to participate in public encounters (including "swim with a tiger" sessions), and confining tigers in inadequate conditions violate the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA prohibits unlawful "takes," which include harming or harassing an animal. The abusers at DCWT showed their callousness when they secretively moved 19 tigers from their roadside zoo to Joe Exotic's facility in Oklahoma in an attempt to avoid a court-ordered PETA site inspection. Three baby tigers were born and died during that 18-hour, 1,200-mile journey in a sweltering transport truck with no climate control and no drinking water. PETA is vigorously working to shut down the tiger cub encounter industry, which involves the breeding of tigers as saleable commodities. One exhibitor in Indiana, Wildlife in Need, painfully declawed tigers. The process involves amputating the first digit of the claw, including the bone and muscle tissues, in a manner that causes permanent injury and sometimes a lifetime of chronic lameness, pain, and psychological distress. Right now, PETA's trailblazing legal team is making huge strides toward ending this shockingly cruel trade. In its case against Wildlife in Need, PETA won a first-of-its-kind agreed-upon order finding that declawing endangered or threatened cats violates the ESA. After an eye-opening PETA investigation, years of campaigning, and that hard-hitting ESA lawsuit, a judge last week permanently banned DCWT from owning or possessing endangered tigers. The facility is now closed and is not expected to reopen! PETA helped facilitate the transfer of long-suffering Luna, another tiger named Remington, and—just days ago—the remaining six tigers at DCWT to responsible, accredited sanctuaries where they'll finally be able to roam vast habitats, choose to swim if and when they want, and be free of exploitation and abuse for the first time in their lives. In recent years, PETA has rescued 49 tigers—27 of whom came from DCWT—and dozens of other animals from shady roadside zoos and traveling shows. But the work is far from over. It takes significant resources to get tigers and other animals out of roadside hellholes and give them the peaceful sanctuary life that they deserve. Will you make a gift of $3 or whatever you can afford today to help fund this life-changing work? PETA won't rest until it stops the exploitation of vulnerable tiger cubs and ends the sleazy breeding industry that fuels the captive-tiger overpopulation crisis—and with your help, that day will come even sooner. Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Kind regards, |
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