In the land of the Stupid, the Free, and the Rich here in Miami, you don't always come across stories of a crackpot venturing into the home of the wild beast. You often have those of the crackpot inviting the wild beast to his home.
Such was the case yesterday at the lavish home of Francisco Unanue, the fabulously wealthy executive of Goya foods, in Coral Gables yesterday. Where some people of wealth would have taste and employ clowns to tie balloons for amusement, Mr. U. showed that his bean money could hire beasts from Wild Animal World to amuse the kiddies.
One can only imagine what was going on in the mind of Georgia, the 62-pound cougar. Was she just tired of being hauled from party to party (I know I feel that way sometimes) or had she developed a general dislike of rich kids' parents trying to show how cool they are? Whatever hit her yesterday, she picked up a little girl who was a guest at the party and mauled her. "Not in Coral Gables", you might scream, but yes. Poor Georgia was put down, but it was probably better than living the life she led and somewhere the term Reckless Endangerment must come into play here. Check this site out and scroll down to "The Ninth Life"
Mr. U., you have to realize that the days of the big Bawanna Ju Ju are over; you run a bean company not The Congo. And, yes, you have made a big, big mistake because--call me Miss Cleo if you like--but I see a lawyer in your future, and he's not yours. Next time stick to cake and clowns, stupid.
posted by Alexis du Bois @ 7:34 AM
10 Comments:
Poor kid, I hope she gets a boat load of beans!
Isn't endangerment of a minor a crime?? Where is M. Riley when we need him?
Thank you for reporting on the insidious business of “edu-tainmnet”. These people claim to be educating when in fact they are only supporting themselves and sending exactly the opposite message of that which they proclaim to be one of respect for the animals. While their lips say, “These animals make bad pets” their actions show wild animals being leashed, bottle fed and fondled and actions speak louder than words. The hypocritical message is, “Do as I say and not as I do.”
Last year Big Cat Rescue championed a Florida bill that would have limited this sort of activity and it passed every committee in which it was heard, but never made it to the floor of the last committee necessary. We will try again this year with a bill that was called the Python Bill last year, but this year hope to include all dangerous exotic animals, especially the cats. I hope that you will help us by generating awareness of the issue because 76% of the public polled is opposed to the notion of keeping exotic animals as pets, and that includes fish, lizards and the like.
If you have contact info for the families and their attorneys who are involved in trying to stop organizations like Wild Animal World please forward my email on to them. While I have lots of stats, headlines and polls that support the ban on keeping big cats in private hands, it takes a personal story and passion, such as these people now have, to bring the situation into crystal clear focus.
The following is a partial listing of incidents involving captive big cats since 1990. These incidents have resulted in the killing or deaths of 234 big cats, 68 human deaths, more than 238 human maulings, and just since 2003 there have been 88 exotic cat escapes and 362 confiscations.
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news.htm
The Journal of Internal Medicine in 2006 estimated that 50 million people worldwide have been infected with zoonotic diseases since 2000 and as many as 78,000 have died. Read more about zoonotic diseases here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/zoonosis.htm
To see the number of exotic cats abandoned each year go to http://www.bigcatrescue.org/animal_abuse.htm
Many states and countries are beginning to ban the private possession of big cats. See who here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/lawsbigcatbans
Summary of last year’s Python Bill and links to actual proposed text which will probably be similar to what we do this year: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/laws/2006python.htm
For a video clip of why these cats make bad pets visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/podcats.htm
It just goes to prove that being rich does not make you smart. In fact it allows you to indulge your 'inner stupid' to extremes.
But it also is a testament to how out of control children's birthday parties have become. As a grandparent I have been subjected to circus themes, Princess themes, Dora the Explorer themes, Beauty day (for 6 year olds!), etc. I supposed wild animals are next.
Quite right, Pimpernel, Recklass Endangerment. If there isn't a lawyer with berg or stein at the end of his name already on it, I'm no lady.
Big Cat, so so right; and a great sight. Tomorrow, I have a great picture to post for you.
Countess, it's all about taste. Old Money (like ours) was all about it. This is altogether different.
Words cannot express my contempt for these idiots, whose actions ultimately led to a child's injury and the euthanasia of the cougar.
I can think of two animal sanctuaries in Homestead area alone that take care of exotics because the cats had to be rescued from the hands of amatuers, and this story sadly shows why they are still needed. Grrr.
Aye dios mio! I better stock up on my garbanzos and habichuelas negros before the prices go up!
Poor kiddie. Poor kitty.
I have no words except that I hope that child winds up owning Goya.
Lucy, you got some s'plainin' to do...
Bawanna Ju Ju?
What is this Bawanna Ju Ju of which you speak?
I speak of those people who roam the world thinking they own it. Georgia didn't need to be put to death, nor did the little girl have an unending horror in her memory. It was the ceaseless search for fame by a rich, parvenue that bothers me.
Oh, and Bawanna Ju Ju....it's the Big Boss. I doubt it's in the dictionary but I remember hearing it used in a Tarzan movie.
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