Welcome to The Lost Animals - The 'Real Story Why the WAO Failed.' I started blogging the WAO fiasco back in 2007; during the second year of investigations into the activities of the WAO's Board of Directors.
For years, the Wild Animal Orphanage (WAO) was hailed as one of the largest sanctuaries in the United States with at one time housing a reported 600 animals, to include tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, jaguars, bobcats, servals, caracal, wolves, wolfdogs, foxes, bears, several non-human primate species, chimpanzees, baboons, lemurs, llamas, horses, potbellied pigs, dogs, and cats.
My story is covered in four separate blogs and I recommend you read them in this order:
- Before Blog (BB) Notebook: Historical facts to include emails, pictures, videos, audiotape, and some commentary;
- Texas Animal Sanctuary Underworld: Mainly commentary with lots of pictures and some emails; and
- Let Your Heart Take Courage: Covers the end of the WAO with lots of pictures, videos, slideshows, audiotapes, and commentary.
- FOIA and Other Government Records: Historical documents pertaining to records obtained through the open records programs.
My blogs cover five years of investigative work which started after I resigned from the WAO's board of directors (as vice president /treasurer) and conclude with the total dismantling of the non-profit organization. For many, this blog may be very disturbing. You may be wondering, why wasn't this story in the national news? Why hasn't the Texas Office of the Attorney General filed criminal charges against those who were responsible for the WAO's downfall? Why didn't the USDA act sooner to save so many animals' lives? Why didn't IFAW help the WAO's animals sooner? Where was the animal community during all this? Did any of them help during the investigation process?
As you read the blogs, I pray you will understand why this story did not make national headline news and why the animal "sanctuary" and animal rights groups went to such great lengths to bury this story.
Originally, I created the blogs, in the hopes of helping other animal caretakers or board directors, faced with the same dilemmas I faced so many years ago. Today, these blogs serve as a testimony to well over 1,000+ WAO animals that lost their lives while housed at either the Talley or Leslie Road facility. It is also a testimony to the 200+ animals that were relocated to other facilities throughout the United States, and to those animals left behind, unwanted by any wild animal sanctuary, because the animals were too old (like sweet Lance [tiger] who was left behind without his longtime cage mate, Layla who relocated to WCS) or too sick.
All of these animals must not be forgotten. For to forget these animals would be tantamount to turning our backs on animals in need, right in our own country. As humans, if we cannot learn from our past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them and so I pray no other person on Earth goes through what I did -- but if that should happen, I don't want you to think you are alone. One person can make a difference. Be a positive voice for change in the life of just one animal and you will change that animal's life forever.
All of these animals must not be forgotten. For to forget these animals would be tantamount to turning our backs on animals in need, right in our own country. As humans, if we cannot learn from our past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them and so I pray no other person on Earth goes through what I did -- but if that should happen, I don't want you to think you are alone. One person can make a difference. Be a positive voice for change in the life of just one animal and you will change that animal's life forever.
So, these blog stories are about shock, anger, hope, tears and finally acceptance. These stories also represent the desire to seek justice for the animals that had no voice--no matter what the cost. Why did I pursue this case for years? Simple -- it was the right thing to do. Ask yourself, how far would you go to save a tiger from a horrible death? A lion? A bear? You really cannot say until you are faced with this challenge. So please, keep an open mind as you read these blogs and understand it took a lot of love and perseverance to see this case through to the end.
I realize I am going to upset large animal rights groups and their donor bases; the wild animal sanctuary "industry"; and a lot of people who were intimately involved in the WAO fiasco. My name will certainly be "mud" in the animal world where a lot of people, who obviously have a lot to lose, financially and politically, are forced to answer questions from people like you regarding how exotic animals are treated in the United States by established institutions. If this blog gets people to question how money is spent in the exotic animal "sanctuary" industry, then perhaps all the heartache and loss I and others went through for the last eight years will not be in vain.
As you read these blogs, I encourage you to question your preconceived assumptions and dig deep into the exotic animal issues. Don't just take my word on what happened at the WAO--instead seek the truth by requesting documents from the USDA, TCEQ, or the Texas OAG - Charitable Trust Division. Ask questions -- learn the truth for yourself and then, if you have the courage, make a commitment to positively change the life of an animal in need.
So without further ado, you are now ready to read the blogs. The direct blog links can be found on the right column and the introduction pages can be found at the top of this page. Keep in mind, before you begin reading the blogs, you may want to read their introduction pages first, so you can understand why the blog was broken up into three pieces:
So without further ado, you are now ready to read the blogs. The direct blog links can be found on the right column and the introduction pages can be found at the top of this page. Keep in mind, before you begin reading the blogs, you may want to read their introduction pages first, so you can understand why the blog was broken up into three pieces:
And now for the legal considerations for the blogs:
These are my personal accounts and opinions relating to my investigation into the exotic wild animal world. My thoughts and opinions change from time to time—I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. These blogs are intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and as such my thoughts and opinions expressed within older posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those I hold today.
All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text, audio, or image may be used for any purpose other than for your own personal reading pleasure.
Use of Intellectual Property
You may not, and agree that you will not, reproduce, download, license, publish, enter into a database, display, modify, create derivative works from, transmit, post, distribute or perform publicly by any means, method, or process obtained from or through this blog, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of this blog owner, me.
Please Note
I hold no claims of ownership to the referenced material used in the blog such as articles, screenshots, or photos that were obtained from public online webpages or other public media sources. Testimonies from my sources and interviews, comments, criticism, and articles are released without malice (i.e., without intent to harm) to any parties and intended solely for educational and historical purposes and are protected by my First Amendment (US Constitution) right to publicly share my story with you.
These are my personal accounts and opinions relating to my investigation into the exotic wild animal world. My thoughts and opinions change from time to time—I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. These blogs are intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and as such my thoughts and opinions expressed within older posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those I hold today.
If you have a disagreement with what I have written, please feel free to comment. But keep in mind; I have the right not to post your comments, especially if you are crude, rude, threatening, or obnoxious. So be polite.
Copyright & All Rights Reserved
Copyright & All Rights Reserved
All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text, audio, or image may be used for any purpose other than for your own personal reading pleasure.
Use of Intellectual Property
You may not, and agree that you will not, reproduce, download, license, publish, enter into a database, display, modify, create derivative works from, transmit, post, distribute or perform publicly by any means, method, or process obtained from or through this blog, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of this blog owner, me.
Please Note
I hold no claims of ownership to the referenced material used in the blog such as articles, screenshots, or photos that were obtained from public online webpages or other public media sources. Testimonies from my sources and interviews, comments, criticism, and articles are released without malice (i.e., without intent to harm) to any parties and intended solely for educational and historical purposes and are protected by my First Amendment (US Constitution) right to publicly share my story with you.
Challenge Your Preconceived Notions or They Will Challenge You.
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