Organization shows big cats love

One index finger, one hand, one arm, one rib cage, one leg and one trainer have been broken, punctured or killed in separate incidents of exotic wildlife attacks in Indiana.\nThroughout the last decade, 10 exotic wildlife attacks, maulings, and escape attempts have occurred across the Hoosier heartland's city zoos, children's zoos and circuses, according to the Animal Protection Institute. Although most reports of problematic wildlife happen at public exhibitions, exotic animals often make difficult house pets despite Indiana law allowing the domestication of lions, tigers and cougars. \nHundreds of Americans obtain exotic animals as pets legally, in fact, from the Internet and magazines specializing in wildlife trades. Lions, tigers and cougars seem the ideal pet until the "cute" cub weighs hundreds of pounds and consumes thousands of pounds of food after the first year. \nOnly a handful of big cats are pets in Hoosier homes.\nThe Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Ind., prides itself in taking care of big cats otherwise "unfit" for entertainment purposes, "unwanted" because of an owner's pet aesthetic or "exiled" from mainstream America because of a criminal record. Although some feline rescue centers are often called animal "sanctuaries." Recently, rescue center personnel have hired a veterinarian and set up an on-site clinic; however, all the animals are spayede and neutered to prevent unnecessary pregnancies.\n"Our purpose is to provide a permanent and adequate home for big cats that have been abused or neglected or for some reason have no place to live," said Joe Taft, director of the Feline Rescue Center. \nHe said the exotic wildlife trade is discredited by so-called rescue centers breeding animals for retail sale. \n"Some rescue centers are more reputable than others," Taft said. "A lot of places that call themselves sanctuaries involve themselves in animal sales; we don't do that. Reproductive sex we don't like; recreational sex we don't mind." \nTaft said he has been working with big cats as pets since the mid-1960s; he lived with a leopard for about 10 years. He said the rescue center started because he found some abused tigers being used for a roadside show and took them in.\n"(Big cats) are cute when they are born," he said. "Tigers weigh two pounds when they are born and 200 pounds after their first year."\nCurrent rescued felines include "Jagger," a 10-year-old male Bengal tiger who mauled his Las Vegas trainer to death and the "Southern Belles," seven lionesses whose trip to the rescue center was featured on "Dateline." \n"We have about 170 cats," said Kathryn Korona, head rescue center keeper. "Enclosure-wise, there is either one or up to 9 in one cage. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)-wise, an animal has to be able to do all its natural positions -- sit, stand, lay down, roll over and so on. We try to see how much space we have and the needs of the animal. "\nOther big cats residing at the rescue center include retired actors from a Hollywood studio, three-ring circus stars and the "Pennsylvania cats" -- 18 felines who were found in a basement packed 5 by 5 foot cageswith no food, water or light.\nLinnea Petercheff, an operations specialist for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, said five to 10 big cats are registered as pets in Hoosier homes. She said most Indiana big cats are kept at exhibition and rescue-type facilities with a USDA license.\n"(Big cats) usually retain natural instincts and they remain wild," she said. "All in all, the whole family is involved in biting and attacks ... If someone wants to keep a (big cat) as a pet, they have to obtain a permit to do so."\nPetercheff said numerous factors are considered when the state decides whether or not Hoosiers can attempt to domesticate big cats, such as available space and housing options. In addition, she said few permits are granted because the neighbors must approve of the feline moving into their community.\nThe rescue center offers students many volunteer opportunities, such as feeding the animals, cleaning their pens and building additional caged space for the animals. In addition, Hoosiers can rent a room on the property to spend a night among the growls, howls and groans of the big cats. Rescue center personnel welcome financial donations to help care for the animals and volunteer labor to help maintain the center.\nThe rescue center animals consume more than 2,500 pounds of food a day -- often donated livestock and road kill.\nKorona said some of the lions, tigers and cougars like to be petted like house cats -- they like to have their butt and under their chin scratched -- although rescue center guests are not allowed to touch the animals.\n"They each have their own personality, and I have a different relationship with all of them," she said. "Think twice about owning a big cat; they eat more food then you realize. They are wild animals; (big cats) are not meant to live in somebody's house ... They will fish in the toilet bowl, tear up the trash and jump on top of the fridge."\n-- Contact City & State Editor David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.