Pet Mountain Lion Bites Girl

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:54 am

Link

Pet Mountain Lion Bites Girl

Posted: 2:39 pm EDT May 26, 2009

Updated: 10:02 am EDT May 27, 2009

A 10-year-old girl is listed in good condition at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh after being bitten by a mountain lion in Columbiana County.

It didn't happen at any zoo, or out in the wild -- but at home near Lisbon, as a hobby, a family keeps several full-sized lions and mountain lions caged up in their yard.

Homeowner Chris Joseph said the victim, Bailey Rhine Stine, is a family friend who was visiting the home on Lones Road at the time of the incident.

Joseph said her husband was in the cages feeding the lions when the girl wandered over, asking to pet a mountain lion.

Joseph said her husband told the girl no, but when he turned his back, she went in.

The girl was rushed to East Liverpool City Hospital then airlifted to children's hospital.

The animal's owners claim they'd been approved by the government to house these animals and that they have all the required shots.

Joseph told NEWS9 her husband would give an interview because they wanted to set the record straight, but when news reporters showed up at the home at the time she asked them to, she wouldn’t answer the door or the phone and ended up calling police.

Post by **Sunshine** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:59 am

Children do not always listen when told not to do something. It is and unfortunate accident and I do hope the little girl will be ok.

Hopefull, next time. the owner won't allow kids around when feeding the cats.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:01 am

Peg;1195086 wrote: Link

Pet Mountain Lion Bites Girl

Posted: 2:39 pm EDT May 26, 2009

Updated: 10:02 am EDT May 27, 2009

A 10-year-old girl is listed in good condition at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh after being bitten by a mountain lion in Columbiana County.

It didn't happen at any zoo, or out in the wild -- but at home near Lisbon, as a hobby, a family keeps several full-sized lions and mountain lions caged up in their yard.

Homeowner Chris Joseph said the victim, Bailey Rhine Stine, is a family friend who was visiting the home on Lones Road at the time of the incident.

Joseph said her husband was in the cages feeding the lions when the girl wandered over, asking to pet a mountain lion.

Joseph said her husband told the girl no, but when he turned his back, she went in.

The girl was rushed to East Liverpool City Hospital then airlifted to children's hospital.

The animal's owners claim they'd been approved by the government to house these animals and that they have all the required shots.

Joseph told NEWS9 her husband would give an interview because they wanted to set the record straight, but when news reporters showed up at the home at the time she asked them to, she wouldn’t answer the door or the phone and ended up calling police.

She better call her lawyer next. I don't know what posseses peeps to keep wild animals such as lions & tigers as a hobby. They would never get away with where I live.:-5

Post by **Sunshine** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:06 am

qsducks;1195092 wrote: She better call her lawyer next. I don't know what posseses peeps to keep wild animals such as lions & tigers as a hobby. They would never get away with where I live.:-5

My guess is that it is a rescue operation for abused or unwanted critters. People take on these animals as pets and then find they can't care for them any longer. Once the animals are domesticated, they can't be returned to the wild to fend for themselves so a rescue group steps in and cares for them. Still need to respect them though as they are still wild animal by instinct.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:08 am

Sunshine;1195099 wrote: My guess is that it is a rescue operation for abused or unwanted critters. People take on these animals as pets and then find they can't care for them any longer. Once the animals are domesticated, they can't be returned to the wild to fend for themselves so a rescue group steps in and cares for them. Still need to respect them though as they are still wild animal by instinct.

Well in any case...they will now have to consult with their lawyers. Probably why she didn't answer her door to the reporters.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:10 am

Hes a jackass for keeping wild animals especially the size of those cats in a cage.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:17 am

Nomad;1195107 wrote: Hes a jackass for keeping wild animals especially the size of those cats in a cage.

Well said Nomie.

Victoria · Post by **Victoria** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:18 am

If these animals are being kept as pets then shame on the man these animals are not pets , if they are in some sort of rescue shame on the man for not having adequate safety procedures in place.

Post by **Sunshine** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:30 am

Yes, he should have shut the enclosure to keep the child out. Kids are very curious and don;t understant that those animals are dangerous.

He will surely have to answer to someone for this.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:33 am

There are three words that do not go side by side:

1. Pet

2. Mountain

3. Lion

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:36 am

mikeinie;1195149 wrote: There are three words that do not go side by side:

1. Pet

2. Mountain

3. Lion

4. Idiots

Post by **Sunshine** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:39 am

so true. Unforuntally these cats and others like them are used for TV movie and shows. You can take the cat out of the wild but not the wild out of the cat.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:41 am

Sunshine;1195156 wrote: so true. Unforuntally these cats and others like them are used for TV movie and shows. You can take the cat out of the wild but not the wild out of the cat.

Somebody said that to me once..you can take the girl outta of Philly, but not Philly outta the girl:wah:

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:43 am

Nomad;1195107 wrote: Hes a jackass for keeping wild animals especially the size of those cats in a cage.

damn right Nomad!:-5:-5

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed May 27, 2009 11:55 am

I posted this on the white tiger thread but it applies here too I think.

While growing up in rural America in the '40's, we all knew two things.

1. Never trust any animal. Expecially wild animals.

2. Don't make pets out of food animals, like cows, pigs etc.

Generations of children were and are being brainwashed by Bambi type films and nut cases like Timothy Treadwell. People are getting hurt and killed because any natural common sense about animals and wildlife has been erased out of their brains by a steady diet of confusing movies, books and documentaries showing animals as being cuddly, playful and almost human like.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:45 pm

I have no problem with them keeping wild predators - though I have trouble with the notion that they are pets. Though I didn't see any reference in the article to them being kept as pets.

The guy should have been on the alert just as soon as he heard the girl's voice. The gate should never have been left open. Apart from the girl getting in, an animal could have got out.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed May 27, 2009 4:38 pm

hoppy;1195259 wrote: I posted this on the white tiger thread but it applies here too I think.

While growing up in rural America in the '40's, we all knew two things.

1. Never trust any animal. Expecially wild animals.

2. Don't make pets out of food animals, like cows, pigs etc.

Generations of children were and are being brainwashed by Bambi type films and nut cases like Timothy Treadwell. People are getting hurt and killed because any natural common sense about animals and wildlife has been erased out of their brains by a steady diet of confusing movies, books and documentaries showing animals as being cuddly, playful and almost human like.

so true!