PAWS Performing Animal
Welfare Society
February 2018
Jake was notable for his atypical facial features, and shortened, curved legs (dwarfism) – evidence that his birth was the product of inbreeding, which is very common in roadside zoos and other unscrupulous facilities that breed tigers to produce cubs for public handling and photo sessions.
Jake was a favorite of the care giving staff at PAWS. He had a cheerful,
easy-going personality and was always eager to greet people with a friendly
"chuff." His short legs and unusual facial features gave him a unique
appearance and made him easy to recognize. As supervisor Renae fondly
recalls, he loved everyone and everyone loved him. Tigers by nature tend to
be loners, or at least very selective about which tigers they want to be
near, but Jake welcomed all tigers with whom he came into contact through
the fence line, greeting them with a chuff and an affectionate head rub as
if to say "welcome to PAWS!"
Jake was one of three tigers rescued from a failing facility in Ohio that
was forced to close its doors due to financial problems, looming revocation
of its exhibitor’s license due to unsafe enclosures, and increasingly tough
regulations. The tigers arrived at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary in June 2012.
Jake was notable for his atypical facial features, and shortened, curved
legs (dwarfism) – evidence that his birth was the product of inbreeding,
which is very common in roadside zoos and other unscrupulous facilities that
breed tigers to produce cubs for public handling and photo sessions. Jake
had also been declawed on all four feet, and he sucked his tail
occasionally, a sign of being weaned prematurely from his mother. Declawing
big cats can cause them to have painful, crippling deformities in severe
cases, and at the very least can change the way they bear weight and
predispose them to developing arthritis at an early age. Jake's malformed
legs and declawed paws probably contributed to his development of arthritis
at the age of 14.
Active and playful, Jake thoroughly enjoyed the grass, trees, logs, and
large habitat at ARK 2000. When he had a sudden bout of illness in early
2016, PAWS' veterinarians diagnosed kidney disease and arthritis. Once he
began receiving special supplements and medications for these conditions, he
quickly bounced back to health and continued to be active and happy. In late
January Jake's appetite began to decrease, and after performing a
comprehensive physical exam under anesthesia our veterinarians discovered
that his kidneys were failing. Throughout his illness, Jake remained
friendly and cooperative, taking his medicines well and enjoying the extra
TLC provided by caregivers.
When Jake’s condition continued to decline, and it was clear that his kidney
disease was not responding to treatment, the most difficult but
compassionate decision was made to gently euthanize him to prevent future
suffering. He passed from this life on February 19th, surrounded by the love
of many who cared for him.
Jake was almost 17 years old at the time of his passing, and will be tremendously missed.
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