November 2002 Sanctuary News
Our Monthly Update from Tim Mills, Yogie and Friends hard-working Executive Director!
Hi everyone:
We are now able to accept donations and contributions by VISA and MasterCard. Make a $25 tax deductible donation and receive a FREE T-shirt of your choice!
It’s November and that means turkey time! Last year we had the blessing of David and Toni Zuber bringing out ten 15 lb turkeys for the cats. They all enjoyed it and Putty Tat ate 2 of them. This year, I hope everyone is doing fine and planning to have a good Thanksgiving. And please remember your animals during this time of year. Its getting cold outside and they are in need of warm shelter and more food to keep their bodies warm.
On November 14 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed by voice vote the Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act, a bill to combat the practice of private “canned hunting” operations throughout the United States. S. 1655, which was introduced by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), is now ready for a vote in the full Senate. The U.S has as many as 1,000 canned hunts ranches, facilities where trophy hunters pay a set fee to shoot tame or habituated animals in a fenced enclosure, typically in a “no kill, no pay” arrangement. While gazelles may sell for $800, other exotic animals such as African lions and giraffes sell for fees ranging into the thousands of dollars. For more information on canned hunts, click here: http://action.fund.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1270 and sign the letter.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for moving the canned hunt bill through his committee: Phone: (202)224-4242/ Fax: (202) 224-3479/ Email: senatorˍleahy@leahy.senate.gov
We had another busy month as always and had a Keithville school and a Bossier Parish special education class out to visit Yogie. Also the Rutherford House came out and will be bringing out two other houses. Plus we had many boy scouts, cub scouts, brownies, girl scouts and head start schools out to visit the cats. Everyone enjoyed their visit and came away with more knowledge about these great cats. We are expecting 2 more schools to be coming out this month as well as more groups.
Weve just rescued a cougar from Arkansas. His name is Bubba, hes 13 years old and has been in 6 different homes. This will make his 7th home but it will be his LAST! A couple took Bubba in, otherwise he would have to be put down. After getting Bubba, they realized they didn’t have the means to take care of him, so they contacted us and we brought him to Yogie and Friends. This means a new pen, house, food, medical care, toys and lots of care. Since he has been with us Bubba has had two root canals on his teeth. He feels much better now. You can visit Bubba in the photo gallery.
We are in desperate need for funds during the wintertime more than ever. Donations are next to nothing and the cats have to eat and be taken care of. Everything and anything you give will be helpful and is tax deductable. So please give, and help save these great animals.
We have new members:
Jenny Senier is Director of Marketing and Human Resources
Jim Denney is our Volunteer in charge of Public Relations.
Angela Drudge is our exotic cat trainer
As you can see the web site has changed, and is being completely redesigned. We want to thank Len Moyer of Merlin Computers for his contribution and for introducing us to Don Sherret of WWWeb-Works Web Design Studios in Shreveport. Please visit their businesses and thank them for all they are doing for the animals.
It’s school time of year so any schools you might know of that want to go on a field trip to see wildlife, please let them know we are here and open for schools during the week. We even have a lesson plan to teach the kids about the cats.
We have a golf cart for those who are handicapped so they can enjoy the cats also.
Please remember these cats are NOT PETS. These animals are very dangerous and can kill or seriously hurt you . It does not mean that the cats are bad or evil, this is what they are and what they do. We do not promote these animals as pets. They belong in the wild, but because of man and the desire to own them as pets they lose their natural environment. The animals suffer from a lack of room, a good diet, vet care, a mate, and so on. Also the owners are in danger of the cat hurting them and whoever is in the cats area. So please, if you or someone you know wants to buy a cute little exotic cat, understand that they get big fast and its very dangerous and not healthy for the animal. If you care for wild animals at all, just don’t do it.
Hope to see ya out here real soon!!
Here is a little information about me, Tim Mills
I am single. I lived in Michigan for 32 years. I moved here after I got my HVAC, (A/C) license at FSU. I got my first cat after 6 months of study. Then when I got my first one, I learned so much more about them. They are not pets and they need special treatment. After I got my first tiger, I went to different sanctuaries, got online, read books, and talked with many people in the business. After a year and a half, I started a nonprofit sanctuary in Frierson, LA. with the help of Billy Strunk, vice president of Yogie and Friends, a very special person that has taught me many things about running this organization. With the help of Jim Denney, my right hand man, we have built 5 pens and have taken in 10 cats. We are licensed by the USDA and the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. We are the only sanctuary in the state of Louisiana. that does what we do.
Tim Mills
We need volunteers to help us raise money for further improvements to the sanctuary. Call one of the numbers on the ‘come see us’ page if you can help. Please help us see that these cats live Happily Ever After.
We have just put up 5 new 9 foot umbrellas for shade. Its very hot and we want everyone who comes out to have a enjoyable time. So don’t worry about the hot sun, just get under the shade and enjoy the cats. Soon the weather will be perfect to come and see the cats.
We are in need of donations for the new cats pen, food bill and vet bills. Please send your tax deductible donations to: Yogie and Friends
128 Fob Lane
Posted in Monthly Newsletter and tagged 2002 November News, Latest News, Yogie and Friends News
October 2002 Sanctuary News
Our Monthly Update from Tim Mills, Yogie and Friends hard-working Executive Director!
Hi everyone:
We are now able to accept donations and contributions by VISA and MasterCard. Make a $25 tax deductible donation and receive a FREE T-shirt of your choice!
It’s October and summer’s hot weather is slowly going away. The tigers are more bouncy and playing in the pools more. September was also very busy. Channel 12 came out and did a “live at 5” broadcast on September 25. It was great but we had to use lights to do the broadcast as it was “live at 5” in the AM!! Leo was very vocal during the filming. We are thankful for the people who came out early in the morring to support us. We had a great time with Jeff Ferrell and his camera man, Bobby. Bobby had a great time playing and running with Yogie – Bobby was on the outside of Yogies’s pen, of course. Thank you very much, guys!
We took in 5 exotic cats this summer, and built 2 new pens and still in need to build one more. We now have 7 tigers, 5 lions, one black leopard and one serval. We named the serval Speedy Gonzales. We are sorry to report the death of Slowpoke, our bobcat, in September. Although he was only with us a short time, we will miss him. This was Slowpoke.
We took in 3 lions, 2 female and one male. We were told they were living in a garage for 17 years in Texas. They were in bad shape and in need of good vet care, healthy food and a good home. We are giving them that plus lots of love.
We also had a home school group that came out, around 35-40 people. LSUS Biology club, and the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux came out and visited the cats. They all enjoyed themselves and are welcome to come back soon.
This coming month we are going to have Keithville middle school out to visit Yogie. The kids are going to have a blast with the cats, learning about them and seeing these cats play.
We are still expanding Yogie and Boo Boo pen. So anyone that want to come out and help, please let us know. Our next project is building a new pen for Tigger. He has outgrown the small pen he is currently using. We are in need of funding for this, as it cost us a little over $4000. per pen to build so please, if you can, donate to help support this great cause.
We also had 2 big cat houses built by David and Tonia Zuber this summer. They are nice
enough to come out and build heavy duty houses for our big cats. The houses have lots of
room with a floor to keep them dry.
As you can see the web site has changed, and is being completely redesigned. We want to thank Len Moyer of Merlin Computers for his contribution and for introducing us to Don Sherret of WWWeb-Works Web Design Studios in Shreveport. Please visit their businesses and thank them for all they are doing for the animals.
It’s school time of year so any schools you might know of that want to go on a field trip to see wildlife, please let them know we are here and open for schools during the week. We even have a lesson plan to teach the kids about the cats.
We have a golf cart for those who are handicapped so they can enjoy the cats also.
Please remember these cats are NOT PETS. These animals are very dangerous and can kill or seriously hurt you . It does not mean that the cats are bad or evil, this is what they are and what they do. We do not promote these animals as pets. They belong in the wild, but because of man and the desire to own them as pets they lose their natural environment. The animals suffer from a lack of room, a good diet, vet care, a mate, and so on. Also the owners are in danger of the cat hurting them and whoever is in the cats area. So please, if you or someone you know wants to buy a cute little exotic cat, understand that they get big fast and its very dangerous and not healthy for the animal. If you care for wild animals at all, just don’t do it.
Hope to see ya out here real soon!!
Posted in Monthly Newsletter and tagged 2002 Fall Sanctuary News, Latest News, Yogie and Friends News
September 2002 Sanctuary News
Our Monthly Update from Tim Mills, Yogie and Friends hard-working Executive Director!
Hi everyone:
Its finally September, and hopefully the hot weather will cool down. We sure had a busy summer here. We took in 5 exotic cats this summer, and built 2 new pens and still in need to build one more. We now have 7 tigers, 5 lions, one black leopard, one bobcatand one serval. We named the serval Speedy Gonzales and the bobcat Slowpoke Gonzales. Update Sept. 12 – We are sorry to report the death of Slowpoke last night. His serious injuries were too much for him and he just couldnt make it. Although he was only with us a short time, we will miss him.
We took in 3 lions, 2 female and one male. We were told they were living in a garage for 17 years in Texas. They were in bad shape and in need of good vet care, healthy food and a good home. We are giving them that plus lots of love.
We also took in a bobcat that a family found in the area that was hurt and wouldn’t have lived without proper medical care. The bobcat was less than 2 pounds and had a crushed hip and pelvis, ticks and worms. The family was nice enough to call us and bring him out and even paid for his medical bills. If everyone would act this way, looking out for helpless animals in need, I wouldn’t have to rescue so many animals. We are very thankful to the family for their caring of the bobcat and their gift of life to save him. This was Slowpoke.
We just had a serval flown to us from Washington State. The owner, because of his job,
didn’t have time for the cat. The serval flew in Wednesday to Shreveport Airport and I
took him home. He is outside in a new pen beside Tigger the leopard. He is still not sure
what is going on! He misses his old life but we will give him lots of love and make this his new home.
We also had 2 big cat houses built by David and Tonia Zuber this summer. They are nice
enough to come out and build heavy duty houses for our big cats. The houses have lots of
room with a floor to keep them dry.
As you can see the web site has changed, and is being completely redesigned. We want to thank Len Moyer of Merlin Computers for his contribution and for introducing us to Don Sherret of WWWeb-Works Web Design Studios in Shreveport. Please visit their businesses and thank them for all they are doing for the animals.
It’s school time of year so any schools you might know of that want to go on a field trip
to see wildlife, please let them know we are here and open for schools during the week.
We even have a lesson plan to teach the kids about the cats.
We have a golf cart for those who are handicapped so they can enjoy the cats also.
Please remember in your prayers the young girl in Florida who worked at Bush gardens and was showing her boyfriend and her family a tiger. Well, something happened and she got her arm biten off. They rushed her to the hospital and they don’t think they can put her arm back on.
These things happen at zoos and other places that have big exotic cats. These cats are NOT PETS. These animals are very dangerous and can kill or seriously hurt you . It does not mean that the cats are bad or evil, this is what they are and what they do. We do not promote these animals as pets. They belong in the wild, but because of man and the desire to own them as pets they lose their natural environment. The animals suffer from a lack of room, a good diet, vet care, a mate, and so on. Also the owners are in danger of the cat hurting them and whoever is in the cats area. So please, if you or someone you know wants to buy a cute little exotic cat, understand that they get big fast and its very dangerous and not healthy for the animal. If you care for wild animals at all, just don’t do it.
Hope to see ya out here real soon!!
Posted in Monthly Newsletter and tagged 2002 September News, Latest News, Yogie and Friends News