Monthly Archives: April 2013

Apr 16 2013

USDA informs Lori Ensign-Scroggins of Safari’s Sanctuary she is “UNFIT TO BE LICENSED” in letter of January 17, 2012

This letter of January 17, 2012, informs Lori Ensign-Scroggins that the USDA APHIS Animal Care Division intended to pursue administrative action to revoke her USDA license.  The first paragraph reads:  “We are mailing you your notice of License Renewal for the above referenced certificate.  However, please know that although we are notifying you that your license is due for renewal on or before March 25, 2012, Animal Care intends to pursue administrative action to revoke this license, based upon section 2.12 of the regulations (9 C.F.R. SEC. 2.12) on the grounds that you are unfit to be licensed and that your continued licensure would be contrary to the purposes of the AWA.”   [AWA is the Animal Welfare Act]

Lori pretends to the public that USDA findings were minimal, unimportant, and arbitrary. She pretends that she planned to retire because of her illness.  She pretends that she has run the park responsibly and professionally for the last 17-plus years.  This letter makes it very clear that the USDA found her unfit to run an exotic animal park, particularly one open to the public.

USDA letter Jan 17, 2012 [jpeg] to Lori Ensign-Scroggins informing her she is unfit to be licensed

Apr 4 2013

USDA DENIED LICENSE TO SAFARI’S SANCTUARY’S BOARD ON OCT. 11, 2012

On OCT. 11, 2012: USDA DENIES SAFARI’S BOARD MEMBER APPLICATION FOR NEW USDA LICENSE BECAUSE OWNER LORI ENSIGN-SCROGGINS IS STILL ACTIVELY CONNECTED TO THE PARK

Read full article and see evidence at Safari’s Truth Destination on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.441033792640979.1073741834.375092402568452&type=1

We just received from the USDA a copy of the application for a USDA license filed by Karri Murphy in July of 2012, on behalf of the board of interns that were planning to run Safari’s. We also requested and received all correspondence related to the application, including the three-page letter of October 11, 2012, from Robert M. Givens, DVM, Regional Director – Animal Care, Western Region, to Karri Murphy, denying the application, based on Lori Ensign-Scroggins still maintaining ownership of the park and having the company Safari’s Inc. still in her name. Images of all three pages of the official letter are available to view in the photo album connected to this post. There are several important subjects we will address, related to this correspondence and the application information itself, in future posts here, to be published later this week.

Below are excerpts from the USDA letter to Murphy, beginning with the bottom of the first page.

_____

“As you are aware, the same premises and animals identified on your application pertain to Safari’s, Inc., a corporation controlled by Lori Ensign Scroggins. Pursuant to a consent decision and order filed on May 29, 2012, the AWA exhibitor’s license held by Safari’s, Inc., and pursuant to which Ms. Ensign Scroggins operated (73-C-0137), was revoked, effective August 1, 2012. A copy of that order is attached.

[ http://www.dm.usda.gov/oaljdecisions/20529_12-0340_CD_AWA_SafarisInc.pdf  ]

According to the Oklahoma Secretary of State, however, Safari’s, Inc., remains an active Oklahoma corporation.

The evidence that we have reviewed reveals that Safari’s, Inc., and Ms. Ensign Scroggins have a substantial interest in the operation of Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. The May 19, 2012, minutes of a board of directors meeting (presumably of Safari’s, Inc.), reveal an intent to simply “change the name” and corporate form of Safari’s, Inc. and the evidence as a whole indicates that Ms. Ensign Scroggins continues to control the premises, the animals, and the records. In an affidavit that you executed on September 11, 2012, you stated that Ms. Ensign Scroggins owns the property located at 26881 E. 58th St., Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and that Ms. Ensign Scroggins continues to retain ownership and control of the animals identified on your license application, which are in residence at that property. [additional information followed about individuals living and working on premises followed, with identifying information blocked for privacy concerns] The transfer of animals, according to Ms. Ensign Scroggin’s July 2, 2012, letter remains contingent upon your obtaining an exhibitor’s license: “If USDA license is not achieved/or denied, all animals property…will formally return to Lori Ensign, Safari’s Inc. ownership, to continue operations without a license and no longer open to the public. If the new corporation cannot obtain license, they will not be able to pay the bills. And that responsibility will fall back onto Lori Ensign and family to continue to find funds to pay for their care.”

The information has been provided to date does not indicate an arm’s-length transaction whereby Safari’s, Inc., and Ms. Ensign Scroggins divested themselves of the real property, animals, or equipment, nor have the latter distanced themselves from the operation of the facility. Indicative of this is the fact that Ms. Ensign Scroggins retains custody of records (“[a]ll documents will be kept in Lori’s house still.”), and “will serve as an advisor and volunteer at the park.”

[a USDA judge’s decision on a similar APHIS case is cited in next paragraph]

Finally, Safari’s, Inc.’s website contains a statement assuring patrons of the continuity of the facility’s management: ‘Safari’s Sanctuary is currently closed to the public while a group of our dedicated volunteers update many of our animal habitats and apply for a USDA exhibitors license. Our “babies” will continue to receive the same care and love as they have for over 17 years!”

It appears to us that Ms. Ensign Scroggins and/or Safari’s, Inc., are affiliated with, and have a substantial interest in, Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. It also appears that issuance of an exhibitor’s license to Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., would tend to circumvent the revocation of AWA license number 73-C-0137.

Accordingly, pursuant to sections 2.11(a)(5), 2.11(a)(6), 2.11(c), and 2.11(d) of the AWA regulations, we hereby deny the application submitted by Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. If Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., disagrees with this determination, it may request a hearing in accordance with Section 2.11(b) of the regulations and applicable rules of practice for the purpose of showing why the application for license should not be denied. A copy of the Rules of Practice is enclosed. A request for a hearing must be in writing, and should be filed within 20 days of the date of receipt of this letter with the Office of the Hearing Clerk at the following address:

[Washington, DC, office address and telephone numbers followed]

Should Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., request a hearing, the license denial will remain in effect for at least until a final decision has been issued. If Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., elects not to request a hearing, the denial will remain in effect for one year from the date of this letter, at which time Safari’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. may reapply for an Animal Welfare license.

We are returning your application, APHIS form 7003A, the money order [# followed] in the amount of $10.00 received on August 13, 2012.

Please know that is a violation of the AWA and the regulations to conduct regulated activity without holding a valid license.”

[signed by Robert M. Gibbens, DVM, Regional Director – Animal Care, Western Region, USDA]

_____

NEXT related topic to address: Why did Safari’s Vice President Tina Gunn respond to this letter directly to the USDA, instead of President Karri Murphy, to whom the letter was addressed? Had Karri already left Safari’s by that time? If so, why is Tina quoted with a statement that Karri is still president in the Tulsa World article titled “Broken Arrow animal sanctuary needs a helping hand” dated December 14, 2012? Was there a deliberate intention to deceive the USDA and the public that the “board management” was still intact and operational?

Check back soon for more details on that topic and more essential related information.

Apr 2 2013

Lori Ensign-Scroggins bred Safari’s leopards for at least three litters, NOT one

Safari's leopard cub Sep. 1, 2009

Here’s a video clip of Lori Ensign-Scroggins, the owner of Sanctuary’s, with an 11-day-old leopard cub, born of Mirage, being interviewed by KOKI FOX 23, on September 1, 2009.

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1080747/safari_sanctuary

Lori recently stated that she only bred Mirage once, back in 2004, after our recent posts online notified readers that she had intentionally bred Safari’s leopards, resulting in at least three litters. She said that was the only time she bred the leopards, because people had objected to it. This is an excerpt from Lori’s comments made on March 9, 2013, to the KJRH article ““Safari’s Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow is looking for donations and volunteers” published March 8, 2013:

QUOTE

[responding to Jolie’s comment: “Lori Ensign-Scroggins bred two of Safari’s black African leopards Mirage and Oscar, with the result of three litters of cubs. The first litter was born in December 2004. TWO DAYS after the cubs were born, they were removed from their mother, to be raised by humans and bottle fed, to socialize them with humans and allow them to be handled for entertainment purposes for other interactive zoos and sanctuaries and possible as private pets.”]

Lori Ensign-Scroggins: THE TRUTH: YES THERE WERE BABIES BACK IN 2004. THEY WERE CONTRACTED TO A USDA ORGANIZATION WHO WANTED THE WHOLE LITTER. WE PULLED THEM AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE OTHER ZOO. TO A ZOO. AND BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE THAT, WE STOPPED BREEDING AFTER THAT! JUST TO APPEASE GOSSIPING HATERS?! ZOO’S BREED FOR OTHER ZOO’S ALL THE TIME. GENERALLY GETTING POSITIVE FUN LOVING PRESS FROM IT. WHY IS THIS AN ATTACK? OTHER THAT TO JUST TRY TO CAUSE TROUBLE? PERIOD.

[responding to Jolie’s comment: “Removing those cubs distressed the mother leopard Mirage and upset her mate Oscar. That same day, Oscar attacked one of the volunteers who came into the cage to care for him, resulting in serious injuries that required the care of emergency room treatment.”]

Lori Ensign-Scroggins: YEP. IT HAPPENED. I WAS WALKING UP ONE HILL TO TELL THE CREW WE HAD BABIES, AND NOT TO GO INTO CAGES, OR EVEN THAT AREA. THEY WERE COMING DOWN OTHER HILL TO FEED AND CLEAN. IT HAPPENED. THIS IS WORKING WITH EXOTICS. WE HAVE LOCKOUTS FOR THESE GUYS NOW. NEVER EVER GOING IN WITH THE LEOPARDS.

END QUOTE

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/broken_arrow/Safaris-Animal-Sanctuary-in-Broken-Arrow-is-looking-for-donations-and-volunteers#ixzz2NWkWLzpz

Now, she’s caught in one more lie, one of so many, by this official video from KOKI TV (see first link in this article, above).

Lori says in this September 2009 interview that a USDA “zoo” ordered a litter of cubs and this was the only one born. It certainly wouldn’t have been an AZA accredited zoo that asked this breeding (they’re very careful with DNA tracking when breeding threatened or endangered species) or would want the cub taken from its mother at such a young age. The reason for the early removal of this cub is because this cub was intended for entertainment purposes at an interactive zoo–to be petted by humans and likely to be held by visitors who are charged for photos taken with it, while it’s still a young animal. These interactive zoos always have a need for more, new babies to come in–to bring in more traffic and revenue. Is this the work a rescue “sanctuary” should be doing–breeding to provide animals for these purposes (all the while collecting donations based on the premise that the animals at the “all-rescue sanctuary” park have nowhere else to go and would have faced euthanasia unless Lori took them in to care for them)?

“For the love of the animals” is Safari’s official slogan. The truth is more like “for the love of using these animals for our pleasure while ignoring their needs.” What other reason would there be to remove a days-old cub from her mother? No doubt that Lori profited from the sale of this cub or traded it for another animal for her “rescue sanctuary” to bring the public in.

Lori states in the KOKI interview that they (the human staff) were all crying taking the baby cub away from the mother leopard but the mother (Mirage) was not bothered but RELIEVED. Hard to believe and quite a contrast from what happened when the cubs from the first litter were removed from Mirage in December 2004 when they were two days old. Both the female and her mate Oscar were agitated by the event and a staff member was attacked by Oscar, requiring ER care and stitches. The USDA inspection report of Jan. 20, 2005, noted the animals were stressed, by the report made to the agency by one of the employees. Read more from our recent article about the leopard attack here and to see the evidence about the attack.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.434728089938216.1073741828.375092402568452&type=1

Read more of the truth about Safari’s Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, OK, at Safari’s Truth Destination on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SafarisTruthDestination