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Case ID: 3954
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: captive exotic
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Exotic animal neglect - 8 seized
Pahrump, NV (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 1, 2005
County: Nye

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available

Alleged: Karl Mitchell

Eight exotic jungle cats belonging to former Nye County Animal Control Director Karl Mitchell were removed on the afternoon of March 1, 2005 from a residence in Pahrump. Mitchell lost his county job in 2001 amid animal abuse allegations.

Karl Mitchell is in prison in connection with a theft charge. His girlfriend asked that the animals be removed from the residence on Jesse Street.

"The Ketamine sedates the animal and the Valium is to keep them from having seizures. Tigers are very prone when you sedate them with the Ketamine for seizures." Norma Lagutchik makes the darts used to sedate the cats. Too much medicine, the animals die. Not enough, the animals could attack their rescuers.

"The stench was overpowering. All the cats were just covered in feces and mud from head to toe. They're skinny. They look like they could have some parasitic infections." Josephine Martell with the International Fund for Animal Welfare has seen the conditions the animals lived in. So has Carol Asvestas, director of the Texas based Wild Animal Orphanage. She is adopting the cats. "It is not adequate. It did get to a point where it became an unsafe situation and a health hazard."

This is a sad day for Steve Benson. He helped Karl Mitchell and his girlfriend Sandy Alman care for the animals. Last week, one of them bit Alman's finger off. It was then Benson knew the animals he calls his children had to go. "They're our children. We want what's best for our children. It's real easy and simple. Yes, it bothers me. It's a very emotional day for me."

The animals removed Tuesday were part of an animal sanctuary operated by Karl Mitchell. In 2001, the federal government pulled the facilities license. Mitchell kept the animals anyway.

In addition to the federal government, Mitchell has also been under investigation for animal neglect here in Nevada and in California.

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