Nevada Rescue

In early April 2025, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) received an urgent request from officials in Nye County, Nevada. Seven tigers were living in dire conditions at a private facility in Pahrump. The property owner, Karl Mitchell—whose USDA license to exhibit animals had been revoked over twenty years prior and who had accumulated more than $68,000 in federal fines—attempted to justify keeping the big cats without required county permits by claiming they were his “emotional support animals”.12

When the TCWR team arrived alongside law enforcement and federal partners, they found the tigers living in cramped, hazardous, and unsanitary conditions. The animals were housed in dilapidated enclosures filled with exposed screws, sharp wire, and splintered plywood. They lacked reliable clean water, supplied only in narrow, algae-lined metal buckets that caused whisker fatigue, led to dehydration, or frequently tipped over. Fed an incomplete diet of unsupplemented raw chicken leg quarters, all seven big cats were noticeably underweight and suffered from disuse muscle atrophy due to severe space constraints. The constant psychological stress was evident through stereotypic self-soothing behaviors such as tail-sucking, fur-plucking, and cage-biting, which caused severe dental damage across the group.132

Among those rescued was Livia, a seven-year-old tiger whose story highlights the profound toll of long-term neglect. Upon arrival at TCWR, Livia was defensive and terrified—retreating deep into her den with her ears pinned back and screaming at caretakers whenever anyone approached. Veterinary examinations by Dr. Kellyn Sweeley and the Dental Coalition for Conservation revealed the source of her distress: Livia had multiple crown root fractures and broken canine teeth caused by years of biting enclosure bars in desperation. Living with constant, agonizing dental pain, she didn’t know she was finally safe. Through pain management, dedicated veterinary care, and eventual dental surgery, Livia’s daily suffering came to an end. Today, her pacing has eased, and she spends her days playing with enrichment toys and stalking her caretakers in her spacious natural habitat.24

Following brief medical checks on-site, the TCWR team loaded Livia and the six other tigers—Maggie, Mustafa, Salvador, Thelma, Louise, and Nakita—for the 1,400-mile journey back to Arkansas. By Friday morning, all seven had arrived safely at TCWR’s Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)-accredited sanctuary in Eureka Springs, entering the Witness Protection and Rescue Program for animals involved in active legal cases.124

All seven tigers have achieved ideal body weights, regained muscle strength, and transitioned from anxious and fearful cats into confident, playful individuals. For over 30 years, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has answered calls like this—working tirelessly with authorities to give animals in crisis a permanent home and a second chance at life.