The Truth About Cub Petting

Popular tourism spots like Mexico and other tropical destinations often offer a tourist activity called “cub petting.” Tourists can pay to pet and take a picture with a lion cub or other baby big cat. People often think the organizations that offer these activities have rescued the animals and that the animals have a good and healthy life, but the reality is that these animals are often drugged to remain calm, are often abused, and then abandoned, sold to the exotic animal trade for body parts or even killed when they become too big, so that they can purchase another cub and start the profit-making all over again.

Bobbi Brink, Founder and Director of Lions Tigers and Bears, states, “Please don’t support these tourist opportunities. Even though it may look fun, paying money to these organizations provides more money to breed these animals that are not being properly taken care of and then killed or sold for nothing but profit.

Here’s what you need to know about cub petting:

* These exhibitors are NOT sanctuaries. A true sanctuary does not offer cubs for petting or photo opportunities. True sanctuaries do not buy, breed, sell or kill any animals, no matter what the circumstances.

* The cubs at these places have been taken away from their mothers at an early age. Often, they are torn away from their mothers shortly after birth, which is an imperative stage in a cub’s life.

* USDA regulations now state that there should be no public contact with cubs until they are at least 8 weeks old, when they receive their first round of shots. Additionally, cubs should not be around humans after they are 12 weeks old, because then they are considered dangerous. Often times, cubs are younger or older than required, which can spread disease or cause harm to humans.

* The exhibitors at these places will tell people they have no choice, that the only way they can make money is to offer the cubs for tourists. The reality is that no true animal lover would abuse animals for financial support.

 Brent Hoag, C.P.A., is participating in our Annual Tax Fundraiser. When you get your tax returns done with Brent, just mention Lions Tigers & Bears, and Brent will donate 100 percent of the first two years of your tax preparation fees to LTB. Your check will be made payable directly to Lions Tigers & Bears. If you would like to pay for your tax preparation using a credit card, Brent will write a check to LTB for the amount charged on your credit card.

Brent will also donate up to $2000 in matching funds for the new clients he signs up during this fundraiser.  So not only will LTB receive payments directly from Brent’s new clients, but LTB will receive an additional amount – up to $2,000 – from Brent for the new people who come to his firm through LTB.  Not a bad deal!

Brent has over 25 years of experience preparing personal and business taxes. His office is conveniently located in Mission Valley.

To get your taxes done and help our animals at the same time, either call our office at (619) 659-8078 or call Brent’s office directly at (619) 294-9876.  They answer their phones Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Don’t forget to tell them that you’re calling as part of the “LTB Tax Fundraiser”!

CLICK HERE to buy tickets online.

Meatball in temporary quarantine

Where is Meatball being kept right now?

Meatball is currently in our quarantine area. This is standard procedure for any new animal. The outside enclosure is surrounded by trees and shrubs, but is also protected from the elements. It includes a large water tub, enrichment toys and places for Meatball to hide.

Why is Meatball currently in quarantine?

New animals are required to remain in the quarantine area for at least 30 days to ensure the animal has no diseases or parasites that would be harmful to humans or other animals.

In addition to ensuring Meatball is free of diseases, it is important for him to acclimate to being in captivity. Quarantine is a customary and beneficial process, as it provides a “comfort zone” and reduces stress. Our vet, Dr. Jane Meier, will monitor Meatball’s progress and let us know when he is ready to be moved into the larger habitat. For more information and a statement from Dr. Meier, see below.

What’s next for Meatball?

We will soon be providing Meatball with a full physical and dental examination from our vet. He will also be neutered. Once these procedures are complete and the welder is finished building his new transition enclosure, he will be able to be moved over by the other bear residents at LTB. When the new habitat is built, we will transition him into his new home.

What is Meatball’s diet?

Meatball eating breakfast

Meatball eats Omnivore food, a nutritionally complete diet designed especially for bears, as well as fruit, fish, raw nuts and vegetables. His favorite foods are avocados and peanut butter and honey sandwiches on grain breads. Of course, he also eats a few meatballs every now and then.

How is Meatball feeling?

Meatball has gained all of his weight back and looks forward to being fed each day. He has calmed down and his happy personality shows when caretakers visit him. He is not afraid of humans any more.

What will the new bear habitat look like?

The layout of the new habitat has yet to be finalized, but the current, comparable habitat is full of rolling hills, rock formations, caves, tunnels, hammocks, trees and has a swimming pool. The new habitat will link together with the current habitat through an alley, which will effectively double the current habitat space. The new habitat will also allow space for future rescues.

How much will the new habitat cost?

The current, comparable habitat cost $250,000. It is expected that the new habitat could cost the same to build.

How much money has been collected?

We are happy to report we have collected over $80,000 in cash and in-kind donations! We still need your help, though. To donate to help build the new habitat, visit our “Many Ways to Help” website page.

Breaking ground on Meatball’s safety bedroom

What is the status of construction of the new habitat?

Every animal at LTB gets his own personal safety bedroom. Our welder is in the process of building Meatball’s safety bedroom right now, which will also be used as his enclosure to move him from quarantine to a transition area near the new habitat. This bedroom will become part of the larger habitat, and a place where he can always retreat to for comfort and safety. We are working as quickly as we can to obtain bids and materials for construction on the habitat, in hopes that it will be ready when Meatball is ready.

Will Meatball be with other bears in the new habitat?

Given that Meatball was likely alone in the wild, LTB will need to gradually introduce him to the other bears and see if they get along. Ultimately, it will be the bears’ decision to either spend time together or go it alone.

Alpine, Calif. – (September 12, 2012) - Lions Tigers and Bears (LTB), an exotic animal sanctuary in east San Diego, Calif., has actively started fundraising to build a habitat for the rescued black bear, “Meatball,” after learning the proposed transfer to Colorado will not be allowed due to Colorado law stating it is unlawful for a wildlife sanctuary to possess a bear taken from the wild.

The California Department of Fish and Game released a statement on September 11, 2012 stating, “Out of respect for Colorado law, we do not intend to allow the bear to be transported there.”

The 500-pound bear, named “Meatball” after his preference for the Costco brand, was captured by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) on August 28, 2012 in Glendale, Calif. because he had become “habituated” – unafraid to enter areas of human habitation. Since habituated bears pose a potential threat to humans, they must be removed from the wild. Most are euthanized, but the California DFG chose to relocate Meatball instead. Meatball arrived to LTB for quarantine, a process all captured animals complete to ensure they are free of diseases and are healthy enough for a medical check-up.

Having just welcomed a new bear in June, LTB is at full capacity. The exotic animal sanctuary is asking for donations from the public to help build Meatball’s habitat. Meatball will need a safety bedroom, as well as an enclosed outdoor area to roam and play that will be full of rolling hills, caves, hammocks, boulders and natural grasses. Because he loves water (before being captured, he was filmed pool-hopping), the sanctuary would love to build him a pool.

“We need to do what’s best for Meatball,” said Bobbi Brink, Founder and Director of Lions Tigers and Bears. “We are ready to begin building the habitat as soon as possible but need financial support from the public in order to get started.”

SDG&E has offered to donate 26-foot wooden poles to support the outdoor enclosure. In addition, groups including Prom Plus, Prom Plus Club and the Crescenta Valley Weekly have already begun fundraising for the new bear habitat. While LTB is awaiting official estimates from contractors, the much larger bear habitat currently on premises cost $250,000 to complete.

Meanwhile, LTB has begun the challenging process of getting Meatball accustomed to life in captivity. As a wild animal, he doesn’t understand how to live in an enclosure or that it’s OK to eat food provided by people. His instincts tell him to try to escape and to distrust the people around him. This is why living in a small enclosure at this time is so important to his recovery.

Meatball will not only need to go through this mental process of rehabilitation, but will also have to undergo a host of medical procedures, including a complete physical examination, comprehensive blood work, implantation of a micro-chip, a dental check-up and neutering in order to be with other bears.

Fortunately, LTB has the experience, patience and compassion to see Meatball through this process. No one can predict how long it will take Meatball to decide that the care provided by his caretakers is OK. Some bears are ready in a few days, while others take months.

“This bear has touched so many hearts with his story. We want to see this through to a happy ending,” continued Brink. “The California Department of Fish and Game has assisted us in every way possible, and we thank them for their ongoing support to do what is best for Meatball.”

For more information about Meatball, to donate to the habitat fund or to become a member of the Lions, Tigers and Bears community, please visit: http://www.lionstigersandbears.org or call 619-659-8078.

 About Lions, Tigers and Bears

Lions, Tigers & Bears (LTB) is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501 (c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for unwanted and abused exotic cats and other exotic animals. LTB is a NO KILL, NO BREED and NO SELL facility that allows cats in its care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment. LTB’s goal is to provide a safe haven to rescued exotics and to educate the public about the growing population of abandoned and unwanted exotic animals. LTB is one of few sanctuaries in the United States with the highest level of accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

For more information or to make a donation to help care for the animals at LTB, please visit www.lionstigersandbears.org or call (619) 659-8078.

Early in the week of August 26, the infamous Glendale bear known as “Meatball” returned to the La Cañada Flintridge area near L.A. to scavenge for food and was filmed in at least two locations and seen in a homeowner’s swimming pool.

In response, the California Department of Fish & Game (DFG) dispatched a game warden to set culvert traps baited with bacon and honey to capture the bear. The compassionate decision was made to re-locate Meatball rather than to euthanize him, which is often the fate of what DFG calls a “habituated” bear – one that’s not afraid to enter areas of human habitation.

One of the traps caught Meatball at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29.  Happily, no tranquilizer was needed to retrieve Meatball or to secure him in the transportation vehicle that brought him to Lions, Tigers and Bears. He will eventually be sent to a wildlife center near Denver.

He arrived in Alpine at about 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and was immediately placed in quarantine.  He seemed to like his temporary new home, and we fell in love with this sweet bear immediately. Once again, Founder Bobbi Brink has saved the day and has agreed to transport the bear to his permanent home herself. “Meatball’s situation,” she said, “is a clear example of why people should not feed wildlife.  There are many bears just like Meatball in need of rescue because humans do not understand the true consequences of interacting with wild animals.”

We would love to provide a permanent home for Meatball right here in San Diego, but we have run out of room in our current bear habitat.  Because so many bears find themselves in the same predicament as this confused bear, we are desperately seeking donations to expand our habitat so as to accommodate future rescues of habituated animals. Meanwhile, we are thankful that Lions Tigers and Bears was able to provide Meatball with temporary care and sanctuary until he could be transported to his new, lifetime home.