When I was first contacted by reporter James West from Mother Jones magazine in November 2015, I was thrilled. After trying to bring attention to the deficits, violations, and rampant breeding at DEW Haven for over a year, I was hopeful there was a source now that could bring this issue to a higher audience than I could never reach. Thankfully an investigative article came to fruition.

In July 2014 I made my first visit to DEW Haven, which was one of the most depressing ventures I have ever taken. The first thing that hit me was the smell; the second was these tiny infant tiger cubs in human cribs at the entrance. I found out later that these cubs were used at just two weeks of age for profit by allowing people to feed them for $50 in so-called “tiger encounters.”

Then going through the rest of the zoo I saw inadequate caging, piles of feces, rotting meat, and a multitude of baby animals from goats to bobcats. I took pictures and video of everything. How could this be a rescue and a sanctuary when they breed all of their animals and it looked like the animals needed to be rescued from DEW Haven?

There needs to be better laws and protections for majestic animals such as tigers, lions and leopards. There is legislation in Congress called the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would restrict private ownership and the profiting off of cub petting.

These animals are “cute and cuddly” for only so long. A tiger can live for over 15 years in captivity. People need to think about what happens to these animals once they are not profitable anymore. That is where the true non-breeding, GFAS-accredited rescue organizations come in.

Kristina Snyder

Chester, New Hampshire