Man claims his 7 caged huge cats ‘rescued’ from Tiger King are for ’emotional assist’
Karl Mitchell, 71, said he had “’rescued’ the big cats from ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic and that he kept them as ’emotional support animals’, but his home was raided last year
A bloke who was arrested after seven tigers were seized from his home claimed they were his “emotional support animals”.
Karl Mitchell, 71, said he had “rescued” the big cats from “Tiger King” Joe Exotic. Police raided Mitchell’s home in Nevada, US last week as he didn’t have the right permit to own the big cats. Authorities have accused him of violating other rules over the years too, but he said that he did not need permits because they’re his emotional support animals.
Neighbours claimed they had seen him walking them “loose” around the home and in the desert.
Sheriff Joe McGill said: “We have received information over the years that he has been seen walking the tigers loose around the property, off the property, in the desert.
“There have been social media posts from him with people interacting with the cats, which is also in violation.”
He said that a couple of the animals “visibly appeared to be underweight”.
Mitchell claimed the public was not in any danger from the animals.
They were seized from his property and looked over by a vet, before being sent to a sanctuary where they will be “held until ordered to be released”, the sheriff’s office said.
Mitchell was charged with resisting a peace officer and possession of a gun by a prohibited person, due to a previous conviction.
He was released on bail and is due to appear in court on May 15.
Mitchell has previously accused authorities of causing “extreme distress” to him over the threat of “taking” his “emotional support animals”.
Zookeeper and Netflix star Exotic, meanwhile, is serving a jail term for a murder plot involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin.
Real name Joe Maldonado-Passage, Exotic became one of the best-known TV faces during the Covid pandemic. Countless people raced through the series while stuck at home during lockdown.
But he became an overnight sensation due to his hatred for fellow big cat owner Carole Baskin. He had previously appeared on a few shows, including 2011 Louis Theroux documentary America’s Most Dangerous Pets.
Tiger King focused on his rivalry with Carole, and his eventual imprisonment.
In January 2020, before Tiger King’s release, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Five years on and, no surprise, he is still behind bars. However he’s been trying his hardest to get released, even contacting Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian.
Recently, Joe married Mexican fellow inmate Jorge Marquez. He has since been trying to stop his husband’s deportation.
During his time in prison, Joe was also diagnosed with cancer. He predicted: “I’m not going to live to carry out this sentence,” adding: “I would love to go home.”
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