The Tail of a Lioness

Everyone involved in wildlife rehabilitation becomes accustomed to evening calls that result in ruined dinners or sleepless nights. It's part of the job. That we can all deal with.

An evening call on February 12, 1998 not only ruined our dinner and caused a sleepless night. That fateful call created agony and suffering for scores of people who love animals. This agony lasted for 4 ½ months and on June 30, 1998, the pain ended, not only for many kind people, but also for one little cougar named Sheba.

On that evening, Chuck received a call from the El Cajon Police Department. They, and the California Department of Fish & Game (CA DF&G), needed our help in the confiscation of a young mountain lion. It seems that the ECPD stopped a large utility vehicle for a minor traffic violation. As the driver was being cited, two heads popped up out of the back seat. One head belonged to a dog and one head belonged to a mountain lion - not your routine traffic stop by any means! The police officer contacted DF&G and Chuck. That night, we took possession of, for the state of California, a 7 month old lion cub.

Her name is Sheba and the story of her life includes exploitation, cruelty to animals and a myriad of other bad situations that no animal should have had to endure.

Although we acquired her in February, Sheba's story did not begin on that day. Her story begins in July of 1997, in some podunk town in Arkansas where she was born. She had the misfortune to be born in a "mountain lion breeding facility". These facilities are not illegal in the state of Arkansas. They breed and will sell lion cubs to any slack-jawed yokel who has a few bucks. Sheba was purchased by an individual with the intention of training the young lion to be in a circus sideshow act. Sheba's "act" was to ride on the back of a horse. What a horrifying thing to do to a horse, not to mention the exploitation of the lion - all for a measly few dollars in some scumbag's pocket.

In September of 1997, an 8 week old cub was brought to a veterinary clinic in El Cajon to be de-clawed on all four feet. The clinic declined to do the illegal surgery and notified the DF&G of the lion's presence in the state and of the lack of documentation (from the owner) to possess the lion in California. DF&G then contacted us to verify that we could take possession of the lion should the need arise. We were prepared, and were then asked by DF&G to make a phone contact with the owner of the cub to assure her that if the cub were confiscated it would be well cared for here.

During the phone conversation with "Ms. L" (the owner), Chuck asked what the cub's diet had been. To his mortification, he learned that Sheba had been fed ground turkey, bits of chicken and cut up steak. This was a totally improper diet for this youngster and Chuck cautioned "Ms. L" that if the cub did not receive proper nutrition, serious medical problems would result. Chuck did assure her that if the lion were indeed confiscated and brought to us, she would receive a proper diet and excellent care.

Unfortunately, we did not take possession of Sheba that September. Instead "Ms. L" assured the DF&G warden that she and the lion were leaving the state that very day. The investigation was dropped and all involved assumed that cat and owner had vacated the state of California.

Then, in January of 1998 we received a late night call from a citizen on Helix St. in Spring Valley reporting a young mountain lion lolling in their yard, looking very relaxed. A subsequent call indicated that this young lion appeared to be injured and was bleeding from the chest area. A young, injured mountain lion roaming a neighborhood could be a very dangerous situation so Chuck and DF&G did investigate and found lion tracks, but no lion anywhere. The tracks dead-ended so the matter was considered closed unless other sightings were reported. There were no other reports.

On February 12, 1998, after a routine traffic stop by the ECPD, many pieces of a mountain lion puzzle began to fall into place.

The "Ms. L" that Chuck spoke to in September 1997 about the nutritional requirements of a young lion had the same (and most unusual) name as the person stopped by the ECPD.

The "Ms. L" who promised that she and her lion were leaving California in September lives on Helix St. in Spring Valley.

The young lion we accepted for the state of California in February of 1998 was wearing a dark pink harness and bore deep pink stains on her chest from the harness, either of which could be mistaken for blood stains in the dark of the night.

Is all of this a mere coincidence? Homey don't think so.

The facts in Sheba's case were finally uncovered by the District Attorney's office and "Ms. L" now has a criminal record.

"Ms. L" never removed the lion from California as promised. In fact, she managed to find an unethical veterinarian who, in violation of state law, de-clawed Sheba on all 4 feet.

"Ms. L" never heeded Chuck's advice on proper nutrition, consequently Sheba's front legs are bowed and her growth is stunted.

Not only was Sheba lacking in proper nutrition under the care of "Ms. L", she was also being improperly housed, thus the reason she was spotted wandering the Helix St. neighborhood in January.

Finally on June 30, 1998, El Cajon Municipal Court found "Ms. L" in clear violation of state law for her possession of the young lion. Sheba was forfeited to the state on the condition that she be permanently housed at our facility. Life is finally on the upswing for Sheba. Although she must remain in captivity for all her days, we can at least make sure that she has a good quality of life.

She is now a year old and has learned, in spite of her maimed feet and bowed legs, to navigate the logs and catwalks in her enclosure. While we cannot heal the physical and psychological damage done to Sheba from the day she was born, we can see that she will never suffer ever again.

Sheba's story may also serve to save many other wild animals from exploitation and abuse. Maybe folks who know her story will think twice about watching animals perform in circuses. Maybe Sheba will show people the tragedies inherent when any wild animal is kept as a pet.

— Cindy Traisi