Collection: Chief

Rescue Story: As a member of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and a founding member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance (BCSA), Turpentine Creek is often called in by Government Organizations to handle high profile cases. In September of 2020, Turpentine Creek rescued four tigers and four lions from Tim Stark’s Wildlife In Need, a cub-petting scheme operating as a pseudo-sanctuary. A federal judge ordered the animals be removed from the Indiana facility due to Stark’s inhumane declawing practices and his practice of prematurely removing cubs from their mothers. The haphazard rescue involved missing and abandoned animals, as well as an angry and on-the-run Tim Stark. We required assistance from the U.S Marshals, who had to sweep the property before we were even allowed to enter, and stood guard throughout the rescue. All the cats were immediately treated for health issues; they were arthritic from being declawed, invested with intestinal parasites, and had other individual health concerns.