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Maltreated, Exotic Animals Rescued

Rescuers: Situation Disgusting 'Beyond Words'

POSTED: 5:21 pm PDT April 22, 2003
UPDATED: 7:50 pm PDT April 22, 2003

San Diego wildlife rescuers are reeling after a raid in Riverside County -- a situation they call disgusting "beyond words."

The facility that was raided Tuesday morning is in Colton, Calif., 10News reported.

Video

A crew of animal rescuers from Ramona helped save baby tigers and leopards while Riverside County officials arrested the owners of the facility. According to KABC in Los Angeles, the owners of the facility were cited for breeding without a license last year after three baby tigers were born on the property. There is no word yet as to charges.

Chuck Traisi runs the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Ramona. Both Traisi and his crew are dedicated animal lovers and hope to nurse the babies back to health.

Although the odd little squeal made by baby tigers and leopards clawing their way to a bottle is music to Chuck Traisi's ears, he said it is not a happy picture.

"What we've got is 11 baby animals that never should have been born. They were bred for profit," Traisi said.

The tiger cubs are just a handful of the animals discovered at a Riverside County house where animals were so neglected that some could not walk. They were the lucky ones.

"Without even walking around the property I personally counted 13 adult tiger carcasses in various stages of decay," said one of the rescuers.

California Fish and Game officers raided the home and arrested the owners and their veterinarian.

Fish and Game Department spokesman Tom Stenson said, "We served a search warrant this morning and found those animals with some more that were hidden."

The owners have reportedly cared for retired circus and showbiz animals at the Tiger Rescue Center for decades without incident. Volunteers say the problems started when they were forced to move a few years ago.

Tiger Rescue volunteer Steve Jeffries said, "We have never ever been cited by Fish and Game for anything in the history of the compound."

Over the next two days, Traisi and his crew will medically evaluate all the cats, but so far they are settling in pretty well.

Traisi's heart was at ease seeing the animals saved but he shared one final public plea.

"Do not ever under any conditions contribute to any organization that exploits animals like this and breeds them," Traisi said.

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