Quantcast
breaking news

Mountainburg Woman Calls for Help with 30 Tigers

By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: November 15, 2012
watch video
A Mountainburg woman is calling in backup to take over caring for her 34 tigers, cougars and leopards. Now Turpentine Creek is scrambling to find space at their facility.

"I get up about 4:30 every morning," says Betty Young, who operates River Glen Tiger Shelter.

At 72 years old, Betty Young is still taking care of 34 ferocious felines.

"We are a registered humane society in the state of Arkansas."

For more than 20 years, she's lived with tigers, leopards, even cougars.

"Animals have been my life but tigers, they're just fantastic animals," says Young.

But now, she's barely keeping up, working sunrise to sunset on a crutch.

"I asked Turpentine Creek to help."

Two by two, the Eureka Springs rescue is taking tigers off Betty's hands.

"I realize that it has to be done for their sake because i can't take care of all of them now by myself," says Young.

"They were born and raised in Arkansas so they need to stay in Arkansas so we're hoping we can help them," says Tanya Smith, the President of Turpentine Creek Rescue.

But these tigers aren't too tickled about transition

"So these guys will do just about anything I ask them to do because they love and trust me, but after this, I don't know how much they're going to trust me," says Young.

"Poor ducky, it's going to be alright sweetie," says Young.

And a few tigers aren't going anywhere.

"I'm going to stay here and take care of those because some of them are just too old to transfer. It'd be cruel."

"It's all gone Ms Ducky Duck."

A sad goodbye, just 80 miles away from a brand new beginning.

"All the animals are endangered species and it's really important these animals aren't just euthanized, they need to be cared for and they've got a lot of years to live," says Smith.

But Turpentine Creek doesn't have the facilities right to support all 34 cats. They'll need more than $200,000 to build cages to house them.

For more information on how to donate, head to the Turpentine Creek website.

Comments

Related Content

A local nonprofit is helping families with relatives with disabilities in Northwest Arkansas....

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AR  -- The body of a young female found in the Black River Saturday night is that of missing 14-year-old Sidney Randall, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff....

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- At an afternoon news conference, Governor Mike Beebe has called for the immediate resignation of State Treasurer Martha Shoffner....

SPRINGDALE, AR-- Construction on I-540 in Springdale could cause headaches for some drivers this week....

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS-- The American Cancer Society is celebrating its 100th birthday and there are chances all this week to participate....

ROGERS, AR-- A Rogers restaurant is offering an opportunity to donate to the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter....

FAYETTEVILLE, AR-- A Fayetteville murder trial seven years in the making was delayed today....

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS -- Did you see the Torch Run pass through your town on Monday? Image via Jennifer Lynn Rader-Foster...

LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is calling for the resignation of the AR State Treasurer Martha Shoffner....

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Investigators revealed details of how Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner arrest took place....

 
 
More News
 
 
 
©1998 - 2013 Nwahomepage.com
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
All Rights Reserved