Animal and Plant Heath inspection Sece Arial Care Essen Region 920 Main Compus Or ‘Suite 200 asi, NC 27606 Phone (919) 855-7100, fox (939) 855-7202 sceant@aphis da gow IE rites states Department of Agriculture March 24, 2017 To: Dr. Susan Kingston SACS From: Or. Kerry McHnery VMO- Re: Tim Stark/Wildlife In Need #11620 Complaint Response On Friday, March 17, 2017 | met with M. Neafsey VMO and A. Houser ACI to investigate complaint AC17-303 regarding Tim Stark/Wildlife in Need, A complete inspection was conducted, On Saturday, March 18, 2017 an exit briefing was conducted and an Intent to Confiscate order was issued to Mr. Stark with the persons listed above, also including D. Miller SACS. At this time a follow up inspection of the affected tiger cubs was conducted, facitated b GIADA AI s Mr. Stark's attending vetefinarian, Complainant allegations with inspection findings are listed below: 1) Two young tigers (one orange, one white) and two young lions were recently declawed, Two lion cubs and two tiger cubs were recently declawed. The facility's attending veterinarian performed the declaw procedures on these cubs. as a mobile only practice. He said 90% of his practice is spent at Churchill Downs treating racehorses. Claws were removed from all four feet of each aninal ‘were performed on a table in'the facility's exhibit building] tated he used a bandaging material he has never before used on tigers. ated he believes this material contributed to the complications, {REMENGAIGT stated he does not believe these animals feel pain (an opinion that was shared by the licensee) but, he would treat them for pain if they were moribund (unable to eat, move, etc) 2) The tiger cubs are experiencing swelling, wounds, and difficulty walking, due to the declawing, ‘The orange tiger cub appears underweight, pot-bellied, with dull eyes and a rough haircoat. Its paws are markedly swollen, Scabs and bleeding persist where the claws were removed. There is an extensive wound on the left front leg, below the elbow extending to the carpus and possibly further. Several inches of full thickness skin is missing circumferentially around the leg, with only a small section of intact skin remaining. Tendons, muscle, and bone were ‘An Eaual Oppatnty Prove aa Ersioye e.02048_ 0008?initially exposed and compromised. Now, some healing has started in the form of granulation tissue. Granulation tissue makes differentiation of tissues difficult, as all the tissues now appear bright pink. Deep pockets in the wound persist. The flexor and extensor tendons which control the foot have probably been severed. SUMGMMAMMIR stated that he hoped the animal would learn to flip and place its foot, since these tendons are no longer functional. The cub has difficulty walking, sometimes dragging the affected foot and placing it wrong, causing the cub to fall. The cub needs frequent rest. The white tiger cub also appears underweight, pot-bellied, with dull eyes and a rough haircoat. It also has swollen paws, and persistent bleeding scabs where the claws were removed from all four feet. This cub has full thickness skin missing circumferentially from its left rear leg above the hock. A small section of intact skin prevents the wound from being fully circumferential. Though the wound is smaller than the orange cub’s deficit, according tof@MMNGIIUAIGS this. wound is more dangerous. Gnaiee this cub only a 50% chance of survival, Little healing in the form of granulation tissue has developed in this wound. Deeper tissue, probably tendon and/or bone is visible stated the wound very nearly extends to the tarsal joints. He stated if the cub developed infection in the tarsal joints, the tiger will probably die. Though he said the wounds were not infected at this time because he smelled them and they did not smell infected, he started the cubs on oral SMZ antibiotic SGM mm re isgocs sceecysduetnerprosantve supportive measures af this time. Such measures may include, but are not limited to: IV fluids, paif relief, tube feeding, a warm environment, skin grafts or flaps, protective bandages. The white tiger cub has difficulty moving. It deans the left rear leg, and tries to move it when watking, but never places it correctly and does not bear weight on the limb. The cub gives up after a short period to rest, when it collapses and cries. Staff bottle fed the cubs during the inspection. This cub consumed only about one ounce out of a twelve ounce bottle, it just cried and called out rather than eat. 3) The lion cubs were declawed 2-3 weeks ago, at roughly 5-6 weeks of age The lion cubs are now 8 weeks old and experiencing swelling, Swelling appeared minimal on the lion cubs at the time of inspection. An Emi Orpen Pawar ane Emo: 19.02048,co0nse4) Mr. Stark maintains these animals in his home: ‘These cubs, as well as a number of other animals (i.e. Hyena, kinkajou, wallaby, {ishing cat, armadillo, and several primates of different species) were observed in the Stark home. There were many animals maintained in cages and in various rooms in the house. The tigers, and some of the other animals, are allowed to roam loose inthe house. The carpet is stained and dirty with debris. The debilitated cubs were only able to take a few steps before falling on the carpet, exposing their wounds to contamination. Many of the doors in the home are equipped with combination lock keypads. We were not allowed to view the housing condition of two primates, which were brought out of one of these locked doors. We were not allowed to look in one of the locked doors downstairs, which appeared to lead to a small room made with bare wood walls. Mr. Stark yelled and screamed obscenities, including various forms of the word “Fuck” when we asked to view what was in that room, | told him it was not okay for him to speak to me in that way and | asked him to stop. He did not stop, and he said he could say anything he wanted because we were in his house. Mr. Stark refused to allow inspection of that room. Three inspection reports were generated: #2016082568173106 inspection date March 17, 2017 #2016082568174018 inspection date March 17, 2017 #2016082568173507 inspection date March 18, 2017 ‘an Eau Oppontty Provider and Emote +9-02048_000089