Keep Boomerang where he is, and quit wasting money

Keep Boomerang where he is, and quit wasting money
EDITOR:
As the case of Boomerang the lion continues on, I have a few observations. These observations end with the only really important issue.
I will freely admit I am very biased on the issue. I am on the board of Noah's Lost Ark. I greatly admire the real sacrifices Doug and Ellen Whitehouse have made. They have sold cars, boats and personal property for Noah's. They don't have a Hollywood staff. Doug drives a $300 Chrysler with duct tape holding up a window. Yes, money has come in, but it has all gone to the animals.
I was there the Sunday morning Boomerang was abandoned. Yes, I know he was abandoned. The New York Post guys couldn't get out of there fast enough. The cub was very sick. I saw the IV, I saw the vet treating him. It was nip and tuck for several days. On the stand the second day of court, Tippi Hedren said, "the best place for this cub would be with his sister." Bill Long testified he had "checked out Noah's, and it was a nice place."
So, what is the real problem? It is egos! And among these egos the whole cause has been lost. Besides ego, it is the money and not the paltry $1,000 supposedly paid for the cub. There is big money and political influence over the purchase of exotic animals. Certain groups saw the publicity created by Ming and wanted in on the action, which is fine. Only they came up with let's buy a cub and hold it up for the cameras. This group has deep pockets, and the only real beneficiaries of this whole thing have been the lawyers!
One could ask why Noah's is putting up such a costly battle over a $1,000 cub. That would be a legitimate question. The only way I could answer that question is to tell you that you'd have to know Doug and Ellen personally. They view the animals at Noah's as their children. They treat them all the same. Recently, we lost our first big cat. Tigger (a tiger) died. Tigger was mean. Like some children, he was not very lovable. Who knows what happened to him in the past? Yet, they spent hours with him, thousands on vets. Everything they could have done to save this tiger was done.
All the animals have name signs. I make and paint the signs, and my wife prints the names on the signs. I asked Ellen if I should repaint Tigger's sign, and we could use it for someone else. They are a pain to make. Ellen said, "No! I am going to use his name sign for a memorial to Tigger." That tells it all.
To them, Boomerang was an orphan left on the doorstep. They were the ones that got up every two hours for weeks to care for him. They paid the huge vet bills. If someone had dumped an orphan on your doorstep and later someone tried to take him, how much of a fight would you put up?
Finally, let's look at the REAL ISSUE, the one evidently not considered so far. What is best for Boomerang? Let's see, he's in a "nice place" ... Bill Long. It would "be best for him to be with his sister" ... Tippi Hedren. So, he is in a nice place with his sister. Boomerang and his sister have really bonded. They sleep together; they play together. They get along great.
Why can't we just let Boomer have a good life where he is and start spending some of the lawyers' money saving some of the thousands of animals out there in deplorable conditions?
JOHN BATES
Salem
Time to take a stand
EDITOR:
I just have heard so much about this gay marriage issue that it is time for me to take a stand for this issue.
I know even my family and I argue about it, but why fight over this? Because it is not right, some say. A gay person could be your boss, your neighbor, the school teacher who does the best with your son or daughter.
I have many friends who are gay and I am standing with them on this issue. Should we all not have a place in our lives to be happy?
JENNIFER MILANO
Canfield