[FEL-L] Turpentine Creek Owner Injured Before Workers Showed

[BigCatSimba at aol.com]

Cougars rescued in Marion County Owner injured just before Turpentine Creek 
Refuge workers arrive
ARMANDO RIOS 
Bulletin Staff Writer 

A cougar kept as a pet injured the owner Friday morning, shortly before 
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge personnel were to pick up the male cat and a 
female from an area south of Yellville.  
Brent Marshall was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center, where he was 
treated and released. He was cleaning out the pens of the declawed cats, Marion 
County Sheriff Carl McBee said. 

"Marshall stated ... the male cat knocked him to the ground and began biting 
him on the back of the neck, head and leg," McBee said. "His wife, Anna, ran 
into the pen and pushed her fingernails in the cat's neck and made him retreat 
to the back of the pen. At this time she pulled her husband out of the pen and 
closed the door and then called 911." 
The Marshalls had to give up the cougars because the sheriff in the county 
they were moving to would not give them permission to bring the big cats along, 
said Scott Smith, vice president of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.  
A law was passed by the Arkansas legislature two years ago requiring the 
sheriff's approval before an exotic animal owner can move the animal into that 
county.  
Tanya Smith, president of the refuge, and her husband, Scott, arrived in 
Marion County shortly after 8 a.m. Friday to pick up the cougars.  
The male, Wishbone, and female, Sasha, are both about 5 1/2 years old, Scott 
Smith said.  
That scenario has become more common over the last 25 years, Scott added.  
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, near Eureka Springs, was started in 1992, 
Tanya Smith said. The Smiths have been to 17 states picking up big cats that nee
d a home.  
This year, the refuge has rescued six big cats within the state and one black 
bear from Hollister, Mo., Tanya said.  
In addition to rescuing the two cougars Friday, the Smiths were in Yellville 
for an educational program. They brought an African serval with them to show 
to the 45 children and adults who arrived at the Marion County Library. The 
children and adults watched a short video explaining what Turpentine Creek 
Wildlife Refuge is before going outside to visit the African serval and two cougars, 
which were still tranquilized.  
"It is very dangerous for people to have these animals for pets," Tanya Smith 
said.  
"We are here at the Marion County Library today to educate people on what a 
big responsibility it is for any animal — but a big cat is really a big 
responsibility — not only could they possibly get themselves hurt, but they could 
also get their neighbor or a relative hurt by allowing them to go into the cages. 
It is not a good idea at all for anybody to get these types of animals for a 
pet."  
With the two cougars, the refuge now will house 114 rescued big cats, she 
said. The refuge is also home to a monkey, six black bears, birds and deer.  
The refuge has rescued mountain lions near Mountain Home and Ash Flat, and 11 
big cats in Boone County, she said.  
The nonprofit refuge is open to the public every day except Christmas.  
"We think it is real important that people actually get to see what goes on 
at the refuge," Tanya Smith said. "We feed all the animals at 5 p.m."  
The refuge also has hourly tours so people can see the animals in their 
habitat.  
"Right now, we feed about 1,000 pounds of raw meat a day, so it is a big 
undertaking whenever you deal with this situation," Tanya Smith said.  
The children craned their necks to see the animals and peppered the Smiths 
with questions.  
One of the cougars woke up briefly and lifted its head to see what was going 
on, causing the children to get excited. The cat then put his head back down 
and went back to sleep.  
Scott said they brought the African serval, Bowden, to show the children that 
even though it is a smaller animal, it is still a big and wild cat.  
For more information about the refuge, you can visit its Web site: 
_www.tigers.tc_ (http://www.tigers.tc/)   
_armandor at baxterbulletin.com_ (mailto:armandor at baxterbulletin.com)   
_http://www.baxterbulletinonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/NEWS0
1/707070306_ 
(http://www.baxterbulletinonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/NEWS01/707070306) 



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