Griffin Speaks

Roy Horn amazed audiences for nearly 40 years with his white tiger act without any injuries. On Friday, October 3, 2003 Roy Horn's birthday he was critically injured by his 7-year-old tiger named Montecore. The tiger was quarantined at the Mirage for ten days according to state law.

If you are like me you are probably sick and tired of all the news coverage f the incident. Everybody is trying to figure out why a 600-pound white tiger attacked his master while the master beat him over the head with a microphone several times. Duh! It's a tiger!

This is what happened: During the Siegfried & Roy nightclub act Montecore the white tiger was performing at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Roy walks on stage with Montecore and tells the audience that this is the tiger's first time on stage. That wasn't true, Montecore had performed on stage many times. I suppose this really was the beginning of ticking the tiger off. A few minutes later Roy gives the tiger a command and the tiger doesn't comply. Why should he? Roy had just dissed him a few seconds ago. Roy with full confidence knocks the tiger over the head with the microphone several times and the tiger said: " IT'S ON NOW!" THE TIGER LUNGED AT ROY'S NECK AND DRAGGED HIM BY HIS NECK OFF STAGE LIKE A RAG DOLL. THE TIGER WAS SO ANGRY IT TOOK SEVERAL COWORKERS TO BEAT THE TIGER IN AN EFFORT TO GET HIM TO RELEASE HIS GRIP ON ROY HORN. Fortunately the tiger did not leap into the audience.

My sympathy goes out to Roy Horn. I acknowledge the fact that he is perhaps the greatest animal trainer in the world. However, I hate the cruel treatment of animals. Several years ago I served as General Counsel for the Alabama Veterinary Board. My concern for the welfare of animals increased during my tenure.

The use of tigers and lions in performances is not appropriate and very harmful for the animals involved even the human animals. My research revealed that these animals are typically separated from their mothers before they are weaned, abused thoughout their training, subjected to tremendous noise and confusion during performances, and required to live in unnatural and tight environments. When these abused animals reach their breaking point and fight back they are often beaten or killed. I applaud Roy's request that Montecore not be killed.

My research reveals that since 1990, there have been over 150 dangerous incidents involving big cats in 34 states. Forty people have lost limbs or suffered other injuries and two children have died. Eleven adults have been killed, and scores have been mauled. Fifty-four big cats have been killed because of these incidents. We have to face the fact that no amount of training or experience can stop a tiger from being a tiger.

Many people enjoy hunting animals that they have no desire to eat. They simply enjoy the killing. I wonder just how many people would go hunting if the animals shot back? Montecore, the white tiger shot back. I hope the entertainment world is listening. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. You are beginning to look like idiots.

Animal Rights groups are asking you to do the following: write a polite letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tell the Secretary of Agriculture that the USDA has been negligent in continuing to allow tigers and lions to be used in dangerous situations, and request the USDA to immediately prohibit any activities that permit direct contact with big cats. The address is: The Honorable Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture 14th and Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20250 agsec@usda.gov 202-720-2166 (fax)

Siegfried & Roy have made millions off their big cat acts. They should retire and build a beautiful sanctuary for the cats that made the money for them. It's simply time for performing animal acts to disappear. That's how I see it!

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. Join over 95,564 others and visit his WebPage at www.greggriffin.com You will find an archive of his previous articles by clicking on GRIFFIN SPEAKS.