When Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue became known for trying to stop the trade in exotic cats as pets, Lisa Welch began slandering them in an attempt to draw the attention off the subject; Exotic Animals as Pets, which is not a subject anyone can defend, and try to misdirect attention in any way she can.  In the letter below, and in other correspondence we have intercepted, she has circulated lies and misrepresentations about Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue.

Below is the email that was circulated by Lisa Welch to discredit Carole Baskin.  Lisa Welch is a breeder and did not like the fact that Carole Baskin was the chairman of the Animal Advisory Committee and working for better laws to protect the animals in Hillsborough County.  Since there is no way to defend her practices, all she can do is hope to dupe a few people along the way to slow the inevitable and increasingly compassionate change that is coming to the way animals are treated in our society.

From: EPOU@yahoogroups.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ‘; document.write( ‘‘ ); document.write( addy_text51087 ); document.write( ‘</a>’ ); //–> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] On Behalf Of Raven Simons
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 5:59 PM
To: EPOU@yahoogroups.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Subject: [EPOU] FW: FL Animal Rights activist removed from Animal Advisory

Hello all,

I am asking an important favor of everyone. Please write a thank you letter to Mr. Brian Blair for removing Carole Lewis Baskin (Big Cat Rescue and Humane USA) from the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee. Carole is having a fit at being removed. Mr. Blair needs to show community support on this decision.

To all the bird people- This is the women that posted our names and address on her Humane USA website.

To all the pet owners- I welcome anyone to attend the meetings with us. This group called the Animal Advisory committee are nuts. They are extreme in their views.

Please feel free to forward this email to supportive individuals. We need as many letters as possible by Sunday 6/4/06. Anyone and everyone can write a letter, not just Hillsborough County people. This effects any animal owner. Counties tend to follow each other’s lead.

Animal rights activist do not have a place on an advisory committee. They have a personal agenda that is not in anyone’s best interest, including the animals.
Mr. Blair can be reached at Blairb@hillsboroughcounty.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ‘; document.write( ‘‘ ); document.write( addy_text51401 ); document.write( ‘</a>’ ); //–> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > . I am including the letter that I sent.

Thank you,

Lisa

Dear Mr. Blair:

I am writing to thank you for removing Carole Lewis Baskin from the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee.

I have been attending the Animal Advisory meetings. The committee is made up of animal rescue / animal rights individuals and local veterinarians. Ms. Baskin is the Florida director of Humane USA, an animal rights group. I feel there should be individuals representing the pet community (groomers, kennel owners, dog trainers,ect.) on this advisory committee.

The current Animal Advisory committee is outrageous in their proposals. They would like the Hillsborough County ordinances to regulate the pet population and our ownership to an extreme. Without the balance of pet industry individuals, I feel that Hillsborough County will not be a pet friendly place to live. The pet industry provides many jobs in our area and has a multimillion dollar impact on our County. The medical community has also proven that pets improve the quality of our lives.

The story on BayNews 9 about the fraudulent fund raising at Big Cat Rescue, which Ms. Baskin is the CEO, is of concern also. It makes you question her integrity.

Thank you for taking the time to address this issue.

Respectfully,

Lisa Welch