AR-News: (US) BIG HEARTS FOR BIG CATS

[Tracey McIntire]

For Immediate Release

BIG HEARTS FOR BIG CATS--
THE FUND FOR ANIMALS VALENTINES DAY AUCTION
TO BENEFIT RESCUED TIGERS

SILVER SPRING, MD (February 2, 2004) -- Looking for a special gift for 
your sweetheart? The Fund for Animals announced today a special 
Valentines Day auction to benefit big cats in need. The online auction 
-- at www.FundAuctions.org -- will run from February 2 to 14 and will 
provide creative gift ideas for your Valentine, all for a good cause.

One hundred percent of the money raised will be used to care for big 
cats who were rescued from a breeding facility in southern California, 
where state officials said they were living in cramped, filthy 
conditions. The story of the rescued tigers, leopards, and lions made 
headlines last year and since then, The Fund for Animals and hundreds of 
volunteers have been feeding and caring for them. Many have been placed 
in new homes at accredited sanctuaries around the country, and The Fund 
for Animals will soon relocate the remaining 39 tigers to a new ten-acre 
habitat at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in northern 
California.

There is a crisis facing exotic cats in the United States, and there 
are more than 10,000 tigers kept in inadequate conditions in private 
homesdouble the number who are left in the wild, said Michael 
Markarian, President of The Fund for Animals. The cats who were rescued 
from horrid conditions last year are the fortunate ones who have been 
given a second chance thanks to volunteers and donations. We ask that 
people open their hearts for Valentines Day to help feed and care for 
these lucky tigers who have been saved from such cruelty.

Items available at the online auction include:

--Dinner for Ten at Marrakesh: Enjoy a delicious seven-course dinner 
while watching a belly dancing show at Washington, D.C.s premier 
authentic Moroccan restaurant.
--Wildlife Gourds: Various unique, wood-burned, hand-decorated gourds 
featuring wildlife images such as tigers, giraffes, and eagles.
--Tiger Photos: Large (3x5 feet) mounted photographs of the baby tigers 
who were rescued and nursed back to health at The Fund for Animals 
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
--Kenji Koga Animal Art Handbag: Create your own leather-free style bag 
with an image of your companion animal.
--Movie Memorabilia: An assortment of authentic classic movie posters, 
from The Mark of Zorro to Above and Beyondtrue collectors items.

The Fund for Animals is a national animal protection organization 
founded in 1967 by bestselling author Cleveland Amory. With the mission 
to speak for those who cant, The Fund uses education, litigation, and 
legislation to advocate for animal protection, and provides hands-on 
care for thousands of animals at its world-famous sanctuaries such as 
Black Beauty Ranch. More information is available at www.fund.org.