ifaw request letter - july 2 2013

7/28/2019 IFAW Request Letter - July 2 2013

1/4

Gail A'Brunzo

International Fund for Animal Welfare

290 Summer Street

Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

[email protected]

July 2, 2013

On June 18, 2006, I contacted IFAW to advise your organization of a terrible situation that was

taking place at the Animal Sanctuary of the United States (ASUS), f/k/a the Wild Animal

Orphanage (WAO). As the WAOs former Vice President and Treasurer, I begged IFAW to

conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged animal abuses and misappropriation of

charitable donations. I had hoped with all the animals IFAW relocated to the WAO, along with

several large grants, that your organization would want to help protect and defend the WAO

animals.

Sadly, I learned that my allegations were not taken serious; I was denigrated and ridiculed by

several members of your organization and so my request was summarily dismissed out of hand.

As you now know, my allegations were proven true; money was misappropriated, animals were

kept in deplorable conditions, and many of the exotics rehomed throughout the US are now

dead due to various serious health related issues, such as cancer, because they never received

appropriate health care/diet while living at the WAO.

It wasnt until the WAO declared bankruptcy did IFAW come in and offered to help the WAO

animals. What many people do not know is that your organizations help came at a pricea

$59,417 loan expected to be paid at the conclusion of the WAO bankruptcy proceedings.

I am writing to you today, to advise you of another terrible situation

taking place at a Texas wild animal sanctuary that needs your immediate

assistance and Ipraythat you will take this request very seriously. This

sanctuary accepted three former WAO animals: (1) male tiger named

Okemo who only lived one year at the sanctuary because of the

diagnosed cancer found in his jaw discovered upon his arrival at his new

home; (1) African lioness named Jinxie, who had a large cancerous mass

removed from her body upon arrival at her new home--died two years from cancer that riddled

her entire body; and (1) male lion named Sabu, who suffers from extremely low Vitamin Adeficiency due to years of neglect when he lived at the WAO. No one wanted Okemo or Sabu

because of their advanced age and health issuesall except one sanctuary who gave them a

loving home where they flourished. Okemo died knowing he was loved by the staff and lots of

volunteers, and Sabu stole the hearts of staff, volunteers, and visitors, alike. Thanks to a well-

balanced diet and vitamins, Sabus Vitamin A level has greatly improved.

Meet handsome Sabu


2/4

Sabu holds a veryspecial place in my heart because he was one of four primary animals (Sabu,

Bubba (white Bengal tiger), Princess (Bengal tiger), and Jake (white-crowned mangaby) that I

was determined to save as they were slated for death, at the hands of the WAO staff back in

2005all because they out served their usefulness to the WAO directors. They were the

reason why I tried so hard to stop the animal abuses and theft of funds/property from occurring

at the WAOthey were the reason why I came to IFAW in the first place back in 2006.Ironically, the oldest animal, Sabu, who happens to be 23 years old this year, is the only survivor

of the four. The other three animals were much younger in age and are now dead, along with

over 80+ documents exotic animals (that I was able to trace) that died during the course of the

USDA and Texas OAG investigations.

You may have heard by now, In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Education Center, (a GFAS

verified sanctuary) where Sabu calls home, suffered a horrible tragedycanine distemper

swept through their lion and tiger populations. http://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.html

Heres what happened:

Three months ago, 25 raccoons in Plano were found to have canine distemper, a potentially

deadly virus that typically only affects dogs, raccoons, and ferrets.

Last month in Arlington, 29 raccoons also tested positive. Cases have also been confirmed in

McKinney and the home of In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, Texas.

Within the last couple months, In-Sync Exotics witnessed four raccoons on In-Sync property

that have displayed strange or symptomatic behavior. None of these raccoons were found in a

cat's enclosure, but direct contact between an infected raccoon and a cat is not necessary. Foryou see, a raccoon could climb up a nearby tree onto the roof of an enclosure. Once there it

could have urinated or defecated into the enclosure where the intrigued cat checked out the

new smell. Contact between the cat and urine could readily explain the transmission of the

disease.

Now, sadly, the disease has been confirmed in 4 of their big cats (like

Kiro, pictured left) and another 18 big cats also started showing

symptoms. As you know, this disease is not new to exotic cats and has

stricken populations both in the wild and in captivity.

Shockingly, the death rate for canine distemper virus can reach 50

percent, and animals that do recover are often left with permanent

neurologic disabilities. There is no effective treatment, but virus-

associated disease is largely preventable through vaccination.

All of the exotic and domestic cats routinely receive complete rounds of all vaccinations

suggested by exotic cat experts, accrediting agencies, and their veterinarian. This includes
http://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/video/canine-distemper-outbreak-sync-exotics-033200310.html


3/4

vaccinations against feline distemper (also feline parvo). The exotic cats were never vaccinated

against canine distemper because they were advised against doing so by their veterinarian; the

vaccination carries dangers of its own, and the risk of them contracting the disease has always

been very slight. When the first cats started showing symptoms, they immediately vaccinated

the others. Since then, some of the vaccinated cats have begun to show symptoms. It is unclear

whether this is a result of the vaccine or the disease itself. They have ten big cats that remainasymptomatic.

Because it is a virus, they cannot directly treat the illness. What

they are doing; however, is giving all big cats antibiotics to ward

off any secondary infections and multiple vitamins/supplements

to support their immune, nervous, and digestive symptoms, so

they do not suffer secondary infections. It takes the feeding

volunteers a lot of time, patience, and dedication to get the big

cats to eat their meat and supplements, especially when all they

want to do is give up and die.

The staff and volunteers are determined to save these exotic cats. One of the volunteers

wrote me a very heart-felt letter letting me know what its like at In-Sync Exotics this week:

I am truly humbled by the dedication of the feeders. The task is enormous. I know that there isno other sanctuary anywhere on the planet that would go through this. They would have put allthe animals down, said a brief prayer, and gone on. In-Sync people are truly crazed. Nuts.Dedicated. Fiercely stubborn and wont give up. I left at midnight and they were not donefeeding. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I have not lived through a naturaldisaster other than the great blizzard in Boston in 1978, and the hurricane Gloria. Though theybrought people together on a large scale, I have never experienced the type of camaraderie and

devotion that has united the folk at In-Sync. We all kind of knew each other, and I know there ismore of a clique among the feeders, but this situation has brought together a group of looselyconnected folk into a cohesive alliance with one single aim: save those cats. Get them to eatand take their meds. It is a Herculean task that I am at a loss for words to describe. Intense. Theamount of food. The variety of foods. The pleading, begging, asking each other for help whenthey cant get the cats to eat. Trying anything to get the job done. It is humbling.

As of late, here in the United States, IFAW generally raised funds to relocated exotic animals

from private owners to wild animal sanctuaries. I am coming to you today, asking you make a

REAL difference this time in the lives of captive lions and tigers by donating $59,417 to this

sanctuary. This is a REAL immediate need. In-Sync Exotics is dealing with a horrible situation

and all their resources go towards the care and treatment of the 22 sick cats (which happens tobe about a third of the exotic cat population). Their vet bill is over $42,000, and this is just for

the month of June 2013! They need help from IFAW today. I cannot think of a more

appropriate gift IFAW can make in memory of Bubba, Princess, and Jake and honoring Sabu,

considering what these and all the other WAO animals had to endure while living at the Leslie

and Talley Road propertiescan you?

Tacoma - fighting for his life


4/4

I pray that IFAW will come to the aid of Sabu and the rest of the In- Sync Exotics animals by

making a gift that will help the sanctuary get through this most difficult time. Please let me

know what you decided as I am most interested in knowing whether or not IFAW plans to help

Sabu and the rest of In-Syncs big cats. Thank you for your kind attention to this most

important matter.

In honor of Sabu and in-memory of Bubba, Princess, and Jake,

Kristina Brunner

ifaw request letter - july 2 2013

Documents