News Release
FWC confiscates six big cats in Inverness
November 13, 2007
Contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials confiscated five tigers and a lion from a big-cat facility in Inverness on Friday.
FWC Investigator Ken Holmes said the cats were removed from 6 N. Robin Hood Road, a facility owned by Susan Mackay.
Because of continual violations at the facility, the FWC sent Mackay a notice of intent to revoke her license on Aug. 23. She had 21 days to request an administrative hearing or 90 days to transfer the big cats to a licensed facility. She did not request a hearing, so her license was denied, according to FWC officials.
Warnings to the facility began in August 2005, when an inspection revealed two cages were too small for the animals. Some of the cages had standing water, and two were completely flooded.
The first citation occurred on April 22, 2006, for possession of captive wildlife with an expired license and for not providing cages large enough for the big cats. Warnings were issued for other caging violations as well.
In May 2006, a Citrus County court found Mackay guilty of housing a lion and tigers without providing proper caging. She was ordered to comply with the appropriate regulations for the large cats.
During inspections on Aug. 3, 2006, another citation was issued for unsanitary conditions and failure to meet the nutritional needs of the lion and tigers. Warnings were issued for other caging violations. Since the animals were malnourished and very thin, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector Thomas Callahan, D.V.M., performed a joint inspection with Holmes on the facility Aug. 7, 2006, and gave Mackay two weeks to improve the animals’ health or the animals would be confiscated.
At the end of the two-week period, Callahan and Holmes performed an inspection that revealed the tigers and lion gained a substantial amount of weight and appeared much healthier. The caging violations were corrected.
On Nov. 16, 2006, the courts found Mackay guilty of two violations. One conviction was for failure to provide a type and quantity of food to meet the nutritional requirements for a particular species. The second was for failure to remove fecal and food waste daily. The court ordered her to keep the animal facilities clean and up to code. The court also ordered her to provide food with the proper nutrition for the animals.
When Holmes conducted another inspection on Feb. 20, 2007, he found all of the cages were again unsanitary, and the big cats were thin. No law enforcement action was taken at the time, but Holmes recommended revocation and/or non-renewal of Mackay’s captive wildlife license.
On May 29, Holmes and three officials with the USDA inspected Mackay’s facility. All the big cats were still very thin, and the inspectors were particularly concerned about a male white tiger. The inspectors noted the facility was more sanitary than in previous inspections, but it still showed evidence that the sanitation practices did not meet minimum regulatory standards. Also, one of the cages was found to be structurally unsound.
The USDA requested Holmes to assist in the seizure of one male tiger on June 29. Mackay had failed to comply with USDA regulations of veterinary care on the tiger. The male tiger was seized by the USDA and transported to Busch Gardens. The other animals were to be monitored.
Mackay received a notice of intent to revoke the facility’s license on Aug. 23. It stipulated she had 90 days to place her big cats at a lawful facility. She was also advised she could request an administrative hearing, but she did not respond.
“Friday, we performed a welfare check on the animals. All the cats – a male orange tiger, four female white tigers and a female lion – were in poor health,” Holmes said. “The animals were in worse condition than on any previous inspection, and we estimated they were at half their normal body weight. Also, the cages were not cleaned, scrubbed or raked as required.
“Based on the animals’ current poor condition, their immediate health needs, and Mackay’s persistent failure to provide proper care for the animals, the decision was made to seize the five tigers and the lion. Vernon Yates, from Wildlife Rescue and Rehab, Inc., was contacted. He has the experience and caging space to temporarily board the animals. He also had the transport equipment needed,” Holmes said.
Yates transferred the big cats to his facility in Pinellas County on Friday evening. Yates reported that the cats were eating, but there were parasites visible in their feces. Yates’ veterinarian was scheduled to examine the animals and treat them as necessary, Holmes said.
“The animals need to be brought to a healthy weight before they are transported to another location,” Holmes said. “We are asking that the animals be turned over to the FWC for permanent placement, and for Mr. Yates to be compensated for the big cats’ transportation and boarding costs.”
Charges are pending against Mackay.