Pictures of abuse from the AWR

I WAS WRONG TO HAVE HAD THIS PICTURE TAKEN

On a sunny Saturday my wife and I were at a local outdoor mall when we spotted in the parking lot a local "refuge" for animals raising money for their operation by selling pictures with big cats. Having had a long love affair with these beautiful animals, I paid the $25 to have my picture taken with "Kiowa," this lovely white tiger cub.

Kiowa was chained to a post and a "handler" was nearby. He was somewhat agitated though he might have been sedated. It was hot and, now that I think about it, there was no water visible to me.

The "refuge" that did this is no longer in business, thank goodness. On January 18, 2006, Charles Azzopardi, owner of the Amarillo Wildlife Refuge (AWR), was indicted by a federal grand jury on three felony counts and one misdemeanor count of illegal trafficking of endangered animals, including clouded leopards and tigers.

Instead of providing sanctuary to animals, Azzopardi regards the animals at AWR as nothing more than commodities to be bought, sold, borrowed, and traded. [Link to Article]

I should have had nothing to do with this "person." And I'm sorry I did. Don't make the same mistake I did. Check out anyone who might be exploiting big cats or any other animal.

Don't pay them. Make THEM pay. After all, this beautiful animals have no voice. Except ours. 

Please write a polite letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials. Thank them for investigating and pressing charges against Azzopardi and urge them to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law:

Kevin Adams, Chief
Office of Law Enforcement
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr.
MS-LE-3000
Arlington, VA 22203
703-358-1949
703-358-2271 (fax)

Please also contact your members of Congress. Express your support for the USFWS’ investigations into violations of wildlife law.

To be fair, here is a response from Mr. Azzopardi:

In a 2004 e-mail to PETA, the USDA said Amarillo made "significant and continuing improvement," including hiring a veterinarian, serving better food and providing "enrichment" to pass the time for the animals.

Darby Holladay, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, said the refuge was now in "full compliance" with federal animal protection laws.

Charles Azzopardi, owner of the Amarillo Wildlife Refuge, said the PETA investigator orchestrated its photos and videos. He said she moved garbage into the pictures and created maggots to photograph by taking pieces of meat and leaving them in the sun.

"All they're looking for is publicity for them to make money," he said. "They're not for the animals. The animals here, they're happy."

Now, I admit I don't always agree with PETA and it's methods but I think pictures speak a thousand words. And maybe those pictures were staged but the AWR business and website have been shut down. Seems to me that if everything were on the up and up, the website would still be on line and AWR would still be in business.