To think I almost watched an episode of the “Tiger King” at one time. I had added it to my Netflix list back when I’d heard only that it was a true crime documentay and guessed that it would reveal much about the way animals are abused when forced to perform. But I have long- since removed it from the list, after I started to get an idea that the rampant tiger abuse was not even the focus of the stupid show…

I was reminded of a time years ago when I took the chance to get near tigers by visiting a hollywood animal “trainer” or “wrangler” or whatever the heck they call them now at her property in rural Washington. She “owned” tigers, lions and I don’t remember what else–all kept in small, muddy outdoor enclosures, totally devoid of trees, bushes or any living vegetation. I’m guessing now, that she didn’t want to give the animals anything to hide behind.

When we went out to meet the tigers, one had knocked over its water bowl or for some reason she had to go into the pen with the tigers. One of them (playfully?) took a swipe at her and she responded by picking up a section of 2×4 and hitting the cat as hard as she could over the head, before hastily scrambling out of the fenced enclosure!

At that point it was clear that the animals weren’t at all happy there and wouldn’t hesitate to escape their confines if they had half a chance and freedom would not just end in them being shot like so many “big game” animals humans so proudly display on the walls of their dens or in their “trophy” rooms …