Here’s a sobering reminder that, while there are all kinds of fantastic animal sanctuaries out there, some are not what they claim to be. This new video from Big Cat Rescue demonstrates how three tigers named Kimba, Keisha, and Zeus had to be rescued from a fraudulent animal “sanctuary” in Sinclairville, N.Y., after the facility lost its USDA license.

The cages in this facility – “JNk’s Call of the Wild Sanctuary” – had rotted to the point of near-collapse, the floor of the enclosures were covered in sharp stones, there was very little shade available for the tigers, and no inspectors had been able to inspect the premises in months.

It is believed that Keisha lost her tail in an altercation with lions from a neighbouring cage, while Zeus had suffered an eye injury during his time at “Call of the Wild.”

Sadly, Big Cat Rescue says, “There are an estimated 10,000 – 20,000 privately owned big cats in the USA, cubs bred to be used as photo props and then sold as “pets” confined to tiny backyard cages, killed for their body parts and exotic meat trade or bounced around between the different facilities.”

Luckily, Kimba, Keisha, and Zeus will now be able to spend the rest of their lives in Big Cat Rescue’s Tampa, Fl., facility, receiving the nutrition, social stimulation, and veterinary care they so desperately need. You can help put an end to the proliferation of fraudulent big cat sanctuaries by asking your local representatives to support the Big Cats Safety and Protection Act.

Image source: William Warby/Flickr