G.W. Exotic Animal Park steps up to help Missouri Tigers in need

    /24-7PressRelease/ - WYNNEWOOD, OK, August 16, 2008 - The G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation in Wynnewood Oklahoma, an educational zoo that takes in animals needing a new home, is the first and only place to step up to help the Tigers in Warrenton, MO. Last week a tiger escaped his enclosure and attacked a worker at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya animal facility causing the worker to loose part of his right leg.

Sandra Smith one of the owners of Wesa-A-Geh-Ya told Joe Schreibvogel, owner of the G.W. Park in Oklahoma she is calling it quits after all these years. Smith said she "was broke and tired of the fight that PeTA has given me for the past 9 years causing me to loose most of my private donations that funded the animal's care." She said that is what started the Sanctuary on a down hill slide. Schreibvogel said "That seems to be the reputation of PeTA, come in with made up videos and lies trying to close people down, all in the name of helping animals but in reality PeTA is raising money for their own cause which is the total elimination of the use of animals for food, fiber or companionship. I would like to know, where is PeTA at and the 29 million dollars people donated to them this year to help animals? It seems that all animal rights groups want to do is moan and complain in America, but that is by no means going to help these animals now with no where to call home, except the lethal end of PeTA's needle. PeTA does more harm than good with their campaign tactics that ruin people's lives and the lives of their animals."

Schreibvogel said, "I will not let these animals or Sandra call it quits, not without getting them a new home, not on your life." Schreibvogel arranged an Emergency re-homing trip with 2 semis, and large trailers to head to Missouri and has committed to taking 8 lions, 4 tigers, 1 bear, 1 mountain lion, 1 leopard, 1 silver fox and 4 wolves back to the GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma where they will live out the rest of their lives in a safe and secure location. Since Schreibvogel stepped up the Carnivore Preservation Trust out of NC, has committed to take 4 Tigers.

Schreibvogel said he would love to be able to commit to taking in the other 23 tigers he must leave behind at this time. "Until we can fund another trip and more cages that would be hard to do." The fuel costs of this trip and the cost of the cages Schreibvogal had to build has already cost him $21,500.00 and it will cost much more to house 23 more tigers for the rest of their lives. "Once we get them set in cages the battle is over for us because we already have the facility, space, staff and food, we just need financial help to build more cages and the funding for the transportation of the animals." Schreibvogal said he talked to Sandra Smith from Wesa-A-Geh-Ya this morning and she stated she had twenty bucks in her pocket so there are funds that need to be raised for the care of the animals still there until they can re-home them. Schreibvogel is asking the public to please help with the re-homing efforts.


Since the incident at Wesa-A Geh-YA, PeTA has called on Missouri legislators to change the state laws. The ultimate goal is to ban the ownership of exotic animals. Barbara Doherty, President of Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League (UAPPEAL) wants the public to understand that laws such as this punish the many responsible owners who you never hear about in the media." Doherty said "Sanctuaries take on a daunting task out of their love and respect for these animals. Should a problem ever exist, these places should be offered a hand up to assist their efforts for animal welfare rather than be destroyed by animal rights activist. UAPPEAL totally supports Mr. Schreibvogel in his effort to re-home these animals. Places such as this help take up the slack where others have not been able to complete their mission of care to the animals they own due to unforeseen circumstances.

As a lobbying organization, UAPPEAL is prepared to work with the State of Missouri in order to ensure fair regulation for the animals and the responsible animal owners. UAPPEAL promotes as much outreach and education as possible to hold off unnecessary legislation that will effect the conservation, education and ownership of these animals. UAPPEAL supports fair legislation, discourages the casual acquisition of exotic animals and encourages outreach and education. Mr. Schreibvogel is not just a hero in the eyes of UAPPEAL, but he is a hero to the animals he is
re-homing for life." Schreibvogal said he doesn't believe he is a hero. "If we don't care for God's most beautiful creatures He is not going to care for us."

If you would like to be become involved in helping to re-home these tigers you can get more information at www.gwpark.org/rehome.html
or contact G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation at 405-665-5197. or contact UAPPEAL direct at www.uappeal.org

About G.W. Exotic

The G.W. Exotic Animal Park is a not for profit 501-c-3-org, for more information visit us at www.gwpark.org

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