Dr. Lamar Hunter has just joined the Carolina Tiger Rescue team as a wildlife veterinarian. After he graduated from NC State’s vet school, Dr. Hunter studied under Dr. Angela Lassiter at Carolina Tiger Rescue. He helps with physicals, medical procedures, and loves seeing the animals improve under the care of the awesome vets at the rescue. Dr. Hunter enjoys working with all the animals at Carolina Tiger Rescue, but his favorite is the lions.
Dr. Hunter’s Blog 5/19/19
Because we serve as a forever home to our rescues, loss is inevitable in our work. However, no matter how many times we go through it, it never gets easier. Shenandoah Tiger passed away on May 18 and it was heartbreaking for all of us here at Carolina Tiger Rescue to lose her.
Shenandoah once lived at a facility in Colorado. The owner of the facility fell ill, the facility closed, and over 100 animals were in need of homes. Shenandoah came to us with fifteen other animals, including her enclosure-mate, Saber. She had been declawed and defanged in the past, likely early in her life. These are common procedures in cub petting. In 2018, with the help of the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dentistry Foundation, we were able to perform root canals on Shenandoah’s canines, helping prevent future infections and pain. Despite the effects of her former life, Shen was resilient and thrived here at the Rescue, living to the ripe old tiger age of 17 years.
Shenandoah lived on tour in Pine Forest with Saber and was the more laid-back of the pair of tigers. She was less likely to visit with people than Saber was, but she did love to come up for food and treats! She loved cat napping the day away and chasing vultures out of her enclosure. She will be sorely missed and we will honor her by continuing to work toward a day when these animals are not used for human entertainment and profit. Thank you, Shenandoah, for teaching many of us not to hurry through life and to occasionally slow down and just take in the sun and the world around us.