Volunteer at Animal Rescue Facility gets Attacked and has Leg Amputated

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Aug 6, 2008 7:55 AM EDT

Article Source: The St Louis Post Dispatch

WARREN COUNTY A volunteer at an exotic animal farm had his lower leg amputated Monday after a tiger attacked him Sunday on his first day of work.

Authorities said an 800-pound tiger attacked Jacob Barr, 26, of Warrenton, about 11 a.m. Sunday while he was helping clean cages at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya facility near Warrenton.

Barr was listed in satisfactory condition at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after surgery to amputate his leg below the knee.

Barr's father's roommate and longtime friend, Chris Bryant, said Barr seemed to be in good spirits Monday afternoon after the surgery.

"When I talked to Jacob, he said he was so scared he thought he was going to die," Bryant said. "He said, 'When the tiger started biting me, I kept punching it in the head.'"

The tiger, named Tony, was shot by the owners during the attack.

But the story does not end here. There is a more to this "tail."
...Click to read the article in its entirety or read further for another teaser...

In an interview Sunday with the Post-Dispatch, Smith said she would let authorities take and euthanize the roughly 60 animals at her facility.

But Monday, she said she wasn't sure if she was ready to give up. The Smiths have operated Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, which means "cat lady" in Sandra Smith's native Cherokee language, for more than 20 years, and she said this was the first time an animal mauled a volunteer.

Over the years, the facility has come under government scrutiny and criticism by animal rights groups.

Click to read the article and particularly more about the facility, Wesa-A-Geh-Ya

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Groups: Activism, Breaking News, Kindness & Compassion, Open Minded, Psych, Soc, Philos
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7.9

{"commentId":2377766,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

I am an animal rights advocate, absolutely, but something disturbs me that they did not have better controls in place that would A.) Allow for the mauling, almost death, and subsequent loss of limb for this kind-hearted volunteer and B.) Because they did not have better controls in place, this cat is dead because it was captive here.

{"commentId":2377766,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"digits"}

6 votes

#1 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 7:59 AM EDT

{"commentId":2378309,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

Ire

Yes. This is very disturbing. First and foremost that foolish people "want" an exotic pet. One thing that irritates me about the common run of humanity is their "penis extension" ideas. Among which are possession of Exotic Animals. Eventually they get tired of the animal and it ends up in a place like this; where, on his first day, this guy is cleaning cages in the vicinity of an 800 lb tiger. Something is not right.

"In an interview Sunday with the Post-Dispatch, Smith said she would let authorities take and euthanize the roughly 60 animals at her facility"

The next line is about her reconsidering..Sounds like she's at her wits' end.

{"commentId":2378309,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"transfer"}

5 votes

#1.1 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 9:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":2390854,"authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

JLTpa

when will people LEARN that wild animals in captivity have no control over their actions? we can't begin to understand them... it's a tragedy this animal was in captivity in the first place. and i feel soo bad for the volunteer. this is just heartbreak all around.

{"commentId":2390854,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

4 votes

#1.2 - Thu Aug 7, 2008 12:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":2399606,"authorDomain":"ironhorse"}

Sgt. IronHorse

This is a most interesting article. Many valuable ideas have been offered and intelligent comments have been made concerning the subject. From my perspective I see people thinking they are doing the animals a great service. However, their way of thinking is exactly what gets people into trouble. When we go on vision quest we often times go to a mountainous region where panthers, bears and other dangerous animals roam freely. It is through our prayers that we are protected from the wildlife. We know that we are no match for the large creatures. I have kept many creatures in my home until they could be returned to their natural habitat. I've also been bitten by coyotes and wolves alike (along with a host of every other creature in N. Central Texas) scratched by bobcats, etc. but every time it happened all I could say was, "it's my own fault. They are animals and that's all they know to do." I hope that eventually people realize the reason they call them ANIMALS is just that. We stand to learn manifold lessons from them if we watch but it should be from a safe distance!

IronHorse*

{"commentId":2399606,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"ironhorse"}

4 votes

#1.3 - Fri Aug 8, 2008 10:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":2399738,"authorDomain":"wmolaw"}

wmolaw

Sgt, JPL;

All true. How many @!$%#s have I know over the years who thought it would be "cool" to get an exotic animal as a pet. Too many. And it always turns out bad for the pet.

Idiots.

{"commentId":2399738,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"wmolaw"}

5 votes

#1.4 - Fri Aug 8, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":2422428,"authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

JLTpa

yeah--- i mean, wmolaw, I understand the allure of wild animals. have you ever seen that youtube video of those men that adopted "Christian the lion"? I'll admit it blew me away. It was amazing... but you're right. it's just a bad idea.

{"commentId":2422428,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

5 votes

#1.5 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":2422566,"authorDomain":"ironhorse"}

Sgt. IronHorse

I'm not 100% certain but I'd almost be willing to bet that you'll never see another encounter like that with a lion.

{"commentId":2422566,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"ironhorse"}

4 votes

#1.6 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":2453399,"authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

JLTpa

that's what makes it so special.

{"commentId":2453399,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"jennifer-troupe"}

#1.7 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2378231,"authorDomain":"xanthiana"}

Xanthiana

It's a bit of a lose/lose situation. I am guessing that the accumulation of animals probably started slowly and got out of hand. With too many animals they just forgot to use the care needed to handle huge cats.

So what should be done about? There are several options:
- remove the animals, which most likely will lead to many of them killed
- have someone from the state oversee improvements to safety and "warehousing" the animals
- forbid workers to work at the facility until they received proper training.

To me it is rather shocking, that they would send this guy to feed a tiger on the first day of work. If you keep these kinds of animals you should after all be aware what damage they could do.

{"commentId":2378231,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"xanthiana"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 9:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":2378332,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

Ire

This is an animal rescue facility. They are taking cast offs from idiots who thought an exotic pet would be far more "cool" than it turned out to be.

{"commentId":2378332,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"transfer"}

4 votes

#2.1 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 9:26 AM EDT

{"commentId":2378369,"authorDomain":"xanthiana"}

Xanthiana

I am aware of this, but I don't think that is started as a rescue facility. My mother was heavily involved in animal rights things and if she wouldn't have pulled the stop we'd probably ended up with 15 to 20 dogs and cats, that's why I think it slowly got out of hand.

{"commentId":2378369,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"xanthiana"}

#2.2 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 9:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":2379288,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

To me it is rather shocking, that they would send this guy to feed a tiger on the first day of work.

You can say that again. This poor man was a volunteer for goodness sake. Not even paid. Did he have insurance even? Now his leg!? Wow. Unbelievable. The only way this could not be nuts would be if the man had 20 yrs experience in a paid capacity of dealing with the larger cat variety. Otherwise, it just makes no sense.

It's very sad he has lost his leg and very sad the cat had to die.

{"commentId":2379288,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"digits"}

2 votes

#2.3 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 10:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2378754,"authorDomain":"babin"}

babin

This reminds me of a certain chimpanzee attack story...

{"commentId":2378754,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"babin"}

3 votes

#3 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 10:09 AM EDT

{"commentId":2379174,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

Ire

Did they ever find the chimp? I think this one is much sadder because the tiger died.

{"commentId":2379174,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"transfer"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 10:45 AM EDT

{"commentId":2379304,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

Do you have a link for that. I never heard of this. Was it recent? Maybe I could find it.

{"commentId":2379304,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"digits"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 10:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":2379501,"authorDomain":"babin"}

babin

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/07/01/1627845-domesticated-chimp-is-missing-in-california-forest

The commentary is the best part. Albeit dark comedy ;)

- And no I never saw a follow-up on the chimp being found. Probably better if it wasn't...

{"commentId":2379501,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"babin"}

2 votes

#3.3 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 11:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":2397728,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

Wow. Can't believe I missed that one. I went digging and it seems they have still not found the chimp. I hope he is okay. Maybe they *have* found their pet and no one was interested in telling that part because they already had the sensationalism of the man's photo.

Those comments *were* worth reading...it's amazing how many people mis-read [or neglected to read it thoroughly] and thought the pet chimp of the couple - the one who escaped - had mauled the man isn't it?

That man's nose - or lack of it. Gosh.

{"commentId":2397728,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"digits"}

2 votes

#3.4 - Fri Aug 8, 2008 1:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":2422501,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

Ire

That man's nose - or lack of it.

Among other things...

{"commentId":2422501,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"transfer"}

1 vote

#3.5 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":2384212,"authorDomain":"suzieqandjerry"}

LeopardAppy

The picture in the article does not really give the impression of an exotic animal rescue. I can see why they might be keeping an eye on them. I would think a rescue would be sure all the volunteers have proper training before letting them work in a dangerous situation. What a sad outcome for both the man and the tiger.

{"commentId":2384212,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"suzieqandjerry"}

2 votes

#4 - Wed Aug 6, 2008 5:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":2391998,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

Ire

Yes, very small cage for a tiger. The backstory leading up to this event is a symbol of human selfishness...and more: there's only roughly 2000 or so tigers left in the wild. compare to 6.7 billion people and counting.

It's not right at all.

{"commentId":2391998,"threadId":"326704","contentId":"1724989","authorDomain":"transfer"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Thu Aug 7, 2008 2:24 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"326704","isPrivate":false}

DIGITS

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Volunteer at Animal Rescue Facility gets Attacked and has Leg Amputated

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