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For immediate release:
March 1, 2021
Contact:
David Pearl 202-483-7382
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – PETA sent a letter to Waccatee Zoo owner Kathleen Futrell asking him to answer a question about the whereabouts of Leela, a sick tiger that was targeted by PETA due to her poor health and is now missing. presumed dead… The group is pushing for the release of its veterinary records and the transfer of the remaining big cats to an accredited sanctuary.
“After months of exhaustion, hair loss and endless circulation in her dark cage, Leela disappeared – and PETA asks if she died, from pain and cold, and if her death is in hiding,” says Michelle Sinnott, deputy director of law enforcement. animal captivity by the PETA Foundation. “Nothing can fix Leela’s suffering, and PETA is calling on Wakkati Zoo to release the other big cats before they get hurt like her.”
Over the past year, PETA has repeatedly warned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) about Leela’s severe hair loss, irritated skin redness and endless movement – recognized signs of psychological distress. In December 2020, the group informed the USDA and Horrie County Animal Administration that Leela was bald, had significant weight loss, and had poor muscle tone. (there is a photo available here)… Her condition was dire, but no agency took any meaningful action.
PETA, whose motto is in part that “the animals are not ours to be used for entertainment” – opposes arrogance, which is a worldview focused on human superiority. For more information please visit PETA.org or subscribe to the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram…
This is followed by PETA’s letter to Futrell.
February 25, 2021
Kathleen Futrell, owner
Wakkati Zoological Farm
8500 Enterprise Rd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Dear Ms. Futrell,
I am writing on behalf of PETA and its 6.5 million members and supporters around the world, so that you immediately announce publicly what happened to Leela the tiger, publish her veterinary records, and turn over the remaining big cats at your terrible institution to an accredited sanctuary.
Over the past year, Leela has lost all of her fur except for a small patch on her face. She also had a severely hunched back and an abnormal gait consistent with painful osteoarthritis. By December last year, Leela’s condition was dire. She was bald, she had lost significant weight, and had poor muscle condition consistent with muscle atrophy. Judging by her condition, it seemed that Leela was not receiving proper veterinary care. Now it turns out that Leela is missing, and we can only assume that she died after much suffering in the terrible conditions of your roadside zoo. Her significant hair and weight loss over the past couple of months has likely caused additional suffering, stress, and further weakened her immune system, ultimately compromising her thermoregulatory ability, putting her at risk of death from hypothermia in cold weather.
Leela has spent her life in extremely unsuitable conditions. She is often seen walking in her cramped sterile cell – abnormal behavior that could indicate stress, frustration, or an underlying medical condition. She was never able to exhibit species-specific behaviors such as running, climbing, jumping, or soaking and playing in the water. The dire conditions in your institution and the associated stress caused by these conditions likely contributed to Leela’s deteriorating health.
This is not the first time that you have failed to properly provide for the animals in your facility. The chimpanzee Chico, a highly social species, lived in solitary confinement for nearly 30 years until his untimely death in 2015. You refused to let Chico go to an accredited hideout and, assuming she died, you let Leela down too. She could roam a large natural aviary in an accredited reserve where they have the resources and expertise to make sure she received the proper care, diagnosis, and treatment. Two lions and a puma in your enterprise still have a chance. Don’t let them down either.
The public deserves to know what happened to Leela. And it’s time to do what needs to be done for the remaining animals. PETA is ready to assist in placing the remaining large cats at Waccatee in accredited sanctuaries, where they will receive qualified veterinary care and significantly improve their quality of life.
Looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Michelle Sinnott, Esq.
Deputy Director of the Office for Enforcement of Laws on Animal Bondage
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