E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Andre Penner / AP
Raquel Borges visits her paralyzed lion, Ariel, at the home of a veterinarian where Ariel is being treated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.
According to AP, the 3-year-old lion has been paralyzed over the past year because a degenerative disease has immobilized his legs. So the 310-pound (140 kilogram) beast he has been sleeping on a mattress in the Sao Paulo house of veterinarian Livia Pereira. She says the lion's white blood cells are attacking his healthy cells.
The animal's owner is Raquel Borges, who runs a shelter in southern Brazil for sick and abandoned animals.
She has been the paying lion's monthly $11,500 medical bill through donations from some of the 34,250 people who have clicked the "like" button on Ariel's Facebook page.
Andre Penner / AP
Ariel lies on a mattress in a veterinarian's home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.
Andre Penner / AP
Veterinarian Livia Pereira kisses paralyzed lion Ariel who she is caring for in her home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.
Leave a Comment:
that is cruelty
God bless you all ... this is our purpose in life ... to take care of it and not to destroy it. This gives me hope that it may not be too late for our species.
While these women obviously have the best of intentions, I really have to question if what they are doing is the right thing for this animal. From the article, it is obvious that this poor animal will never get better. Is it right for these women to prolong this animal's life just so they can feel good about themselves and selfishly keep this animal with them. The animal is not living, it is barely existing. They are not fighting to save this lion's life as it will never again have a real life. This is not the way a lion is meant to live and keeping it alive in this state is merely prolonging it's misery and doing a grave disservice to the animal. This animal is likely in pain and should be allowed to die with dignity.
Thank God for those of us who care, just plain care. These women are incredible, but sometimes doing the incredible goes un-noticed. This time we noticed, and I pray on my rosary that they are successful in saving this Lion's life.
amazing, wonderful job ladies. Your compassion is inspiring, I pray for the sweet sweet baby that a miracle may happen and he may walk again
I admire what they're trying to do, but they need to look at this from the lion's point of view. All animals know is how they feel right now. Is this lion enjoying life, or is it miserably existing? I'm not sure, but I hope for the animal's sake that they consider what its life is like, and not just how they don't want to let go. People need to consider their pet's lives the same way as the animals grow old or sick.
I agree with you, I really do think it is a kind and generous thing they are doing for the animal and that at this point they are so attached its unthinkable for them, but what kind of quality of life is this animal enjoying. This poor lion is not able to live the life it is meant to, its purpose has been taken away, its function. It is not the same as if it were partially lame, or blind. This animal in the wild would die quickly. They cannot cure her. Very sad.
Are you kidding me? while this is very sweet of these women they are keeping a suffering animal alive. It would be different if this was a dog or a house cat but it's a LION. This animal is definitely miserable lying on that mattress everyday. They would do it a huge favor by putting it to sleep
Agree...........Wonderful thought for those ladies - but aim in another direction, like saving homeless or abused pets......let this lion - a wild and fierce beast who deserves to be free and running, let the lion sleep and be free in its "after-life".
Admirable what these ladies are doing - but agree with other posters: is this noble beast really having a "quality of life"? It seems to be that prolonging his life is only adding more misery to the suffering.... Sometimes the more humane thing is to end a being's life to end the pain.
It's ok to say goodbye and put the lion to sleep.
We have a local vet here in Lakeland Florida that is getting great results with stem cell injections for this condition. He takes fat from between the shoulder blades, extracts the stem cells, then injects them into all the problem areas...His name is Dr. Latter....your vet should call him....
No one else thinks this is ridiculous? More than $11,000 EACH month to keep a paralyzed lion alive? How many children in Sao Paolo could benefit from that kind of sum? This is a pathetic waste of money.
I agree, with that kind of money, they could probably buy lion habitat and save a whole pride of lions as well as a host of other animals that would also benefit. They could probably give some villagers jobs protecting these lands from poachers too so it would be a win, win, win, win for everyone.
We need to stop thinking of putting animals down as being mean spirited. A good full life and a quick painless death. That is the way to live.
If the animal has no possibility of enjoying a reasonable quality of life, the humane thing to do is euthanize the lion. Keeping the animal alive in a paralyzed state is extreme animal cruelty.
I agree with those who say the lion should be put to sleep. I doubt if other animals than humans have the same life-death consciousness as humans. They probably are only aware how they feel at the present moment. But, who knows? On the other hand, if they should be able to cure the lion, it might be some kind of medical breakthrough.
Is there even a chance to save this lion??? Poor thing. Please let this beautiful animal go in peace.
I went to the website. I'm sorry but that is just plain cruel!!! This lion deserves to be humanely put to sleep.
I agree put him to sleep!!!
While these women think they are being loving, they are not, they are being cruel. This poor lion is suffering. If you were an animal that is meant to run, jump, etc...would you want to be unable to move? The poor animal is suffering and they are being cruel. He should be humanely euthanized! If this woman truly loved this animal, she would not want to prolong his suffering.