A 71-year-old man from Nevada recently made headlines after claiming that his seven Bengal tigers were emotional support animals (ESAs). Karl Mitchell, a veteran, says that these creatures helped him cope with severe PTSD. ESAs are often prescribed to relieve mental health symptoms as they provide therapeutic benefits through companionship.
Typically, cats and dogs are the most common emotional support animals, which is why Mitchell’s case is so fascinating. He claims that a doctor with the Department of Veterans Affairs had approved of him keeping the tigers as “emotional support” animals. However, authorities have seized the animals due to permit violations and concerns over safety and welfare. Mitchell has also been arrested.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals began as therapy for war veterans after World War I when dogs helped soldiers with “shell shock.” Over the decades, ESAs developed beyond dogs to include animals like cats, birds, and even alpacas and pigs. But tigers? That’s a different territory altogether.
According to The Guardian, more and more people are pushing the boundaries of what qualifies as an ESA, with requests ranging from peacocks to turkeys. This shows how human-animal relationships are evolving, but it’s also testing the limits of patience, policy, and common sense. While some defend the mental health benefits, critics argue it’s often a way to bypass rules.
Karl Mitchell
Karl Mitchell is a resident of Pahrump, which is an unincorporated town in Nye County, about 50 miles from Las Vegas. Recently, Nye County authorities raided the 71-year-old’s property and seized all seven of his tigers. According to records from the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, Mitchell was also arrested on charges of resisting arrest and possession of a gun by a prohibited person.
A SWAT team entered Mitchell’s property to seize the tigers, which he had been keeping without a permit for years. However, Mitchell refused to hand over the keys to their cages and was arrested early that morning. The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that they found a gun in Mitchell’s bedroom.
They Had Been Investigating For Months
He was released later that night. Sheriff Joe McGill of Nye County confirmed that authorities had been investigating Mitchell, who was also being evicted from his property, for several months. Sheriff Joe said, “Mr. Mitchell was being evicted from the property, and the owner of the property was not being allowed onto the property to inspect.”
“We have known for several years he has had big cats on his property, and for the last two years, this has been in violation because he had no permits for those cats,” Sheriff McGill said.
The Department Of Veterans Affairs
“We have received information over the years that he has been seen walking the tigers loose around the property, off the property, in the desert,” McGill revealed. “There have been social media posts from him with people interacting with the cats, which is also in violation.”
In a recent phone interview, Mitchell, who says he is a veteran who suffers from PTSD, claimed that a doctor with the Department of Veterans Affairs approved of him keeping the Bengal tigers as “emotional support animals.” He also showed what appeared to be a letter from the doctor. “They give me calmness, peace,” Mitchell stated. “They are our whole life, and they’re our children.”
Investigating Claims
A spokesperson from the Veterans Affairs Department revealed that officials are investigating the claims that Mitchell had permission to keep the tigers. The Sheriff’s Office declined to say whether Mitchell had permission to keep the tigers as emotional support animals or to share details about the condition the animals were found in on Wednesday.
Mitchell also revealed that he used to run Big Cat Encounters, an organization that rescued tigers and trained them for firm and television commercials. However, this organization has not been active for over two decades.
Joe Exotic
Mitchell claimed that some of these tigers came from Joe Exotic, who is a former owner of an Oklahoma zoo. You might recognize him from the 2020 Netflix documentary series “Tiger King.” Joe Exotic is now in federal prison for several offenses, including wildlife crimes and a murder-for-hire plot.
However, Joe Exotic denied these claims in a recent statement that was posted on social media. “None of these tigers came from me,” he stated.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
The seven tigers that were seized from the Nevada property were taken to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, where they will be held until ordered to be released. But, according to Men’s Journal, Mitchell does not agree that the tigers should have been taken from him.
Speaking about the incident, he said, “The animals did not deserve to be snatched up, knocked out with drugs shipped across the country when they were happy and content where they had lived for more than 10 years.”
Tanya Smith
Tanya Smith, who is the president of the refuge, says that she was present when the animals were seized and revealed that the tigers were being kept in poor conditions. According to Smith, they were being held in small enclosures without adequate access to water. On top of that, the fencing of the property was not secure, which posed a huge safety risk to the public.
“Providing these tigers with a safe, species-appropriate home is our top priority,” Smith said. “Our team is committed to ensuring they receive the best possible care and a peaceful, stable environment for the rest of their lives.”
Keeping The Tigers Safe
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is known for its long-standing commitment to caring for abused and neglected big cats. They provide large, natural habitats, expert medical care, and enrichment programs that help the animals recover from years of mistreatment.
All seven tigers, which include three males and four females, had been tranquilized and put into crates before being transported to the refuge. “It depends on the judge if we’ll be able to keep the cats here,” Smith said. “But it seems like it’s a no-brainer.”
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