Ray Thunderhawk FKA Ray Grennell
On March 24, 2009 Brevard County Commission told CFAR they will have to move from their current location. The ruling states the sanctuary must move to agriculturally zoned property within two years. The property they occupy now is zoned general use and is in a residential neighborhood on 2 acres.
The claws come out in tiger custody fight
BY JOHN A. TORRES
FLORIDA TODAY
Tigers taken. Ray Thunderhawk and his fiancee, Brenda Williams, look into a cage that once housed baby tigers. Amanda Stratford, FLORIDA TODAY
What's next
The parties will meet in court at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12 before Judge George Turner at the Viera courthouse.
Ray Thunderhawk spends most of his time in the company of danger.
Years ago, he lost two fingers to an alligator he was working with at a theme park. Then, he decided to dedicate his life to tigers and other big cats.
Now he is in what he calls the scariest situation of his life.
Late last year, Thunderhawk was banned from seeing the tigers, lions and cougars he raised and cared for. In turn, he is suing his ex-girlfriend and others in a custody case unlike most that have come before Judge George Turner.
At issue are 15 adult tigers and several cubs with an estimated value of about $200,000 -- a figure Thunderhawk said he only begrudgingly calculated -- and the leadership of the animal welfare group he helped found more than a decade ago.
"This may rub people the wrong way, but I lost a son years ago, and this is just as devastating," he said. "I have been forced to put a monetary value on the cats. How do you put a figure on your kids?"
Neither Sharon Farrar, Thuderhawk's former girlfriend, nor any other member of the new board of directors at Central Florida Animal Reserve would elaborate on why Thunderhawk was voted off the board.
"Mr. Thunderhawk has chosen to discuss the lawsuit he filed against the corporation and board, and some of its associated topics, in various public forums instead of limiting it to court," Farrar wrote in an e-mail. "The board will not do so."
Removed from board
Central Florida Animal Reserve, known until recently as Thunderhawk Enterprises, cares for rescued cats and aims to keep them from being exploited or from inappropriate living conditions.
The trouble, Thunderhawk said, started 18 months ago when his seven-year romantic relationship with Farrar ended. Thunderhawk Enterprises had moved to Farrar's property in west Cocoa several years earlier and Thunderhawk lived on the compound. After the breakup, he was asked to leave the premises and was allowed back only on a limited basis to care for the animals.
Then, according to his attorney, John Boelke, the nonprofit company and the cats were "stolen" from Thunderhawk when the board, acting without his knowledge, removed his name as the registered agent.
"If you make changes and you don't have authority, then it's a violation of Florida statute, and it's a felony. It's fraud," Boelke said. "That's one of the things in our complaint. They have removed him from the board without authority."
At an emergency hearing in Turner's court on Dec. 6, Animal Reserve board member Julia Kunigan said she had no way of reaching Thunderhawk to inform him of the change made in April, when he was still president and chairman of the board.
"A few months later, we found an address," she said as she testified about why she put her name down as registered agent. "At that time, I talked to the other board members, and they said go ahead and put my name down."
Boelke said Kunigan's testimony is preposterous since Thunderhawk was on the property regularly and Farrar knew his cell phone number and where he was living.
Turner did not grant a temporary injunction for Thunderhawk.
As the head of the operation, Thunderhawk was mainly a showman, Boelke said, working to raise money through fundraisers and shows. His downfall, Boelke said, was being computer illiterate.
"It's a sad situation," he said. "He relied on his girlfriend to maintain things."
Farrar did not wish to be interviewed for this story. Instead, she provided a prepared statement from the Animal Reserve and then a revision. Both were sent via e-mail.
The statement said everything was done legally and that the decision to remove Thunderhawk was not an easy one.
"The change in management was a very hard decision, but was necessary for the long-term survival of the organization and thus all our cats, which belong to the organization and are supported solely by the organization through its charitable activities," the statement read.
It went on to say Thunderhawk, though removed from limited administrative duties, would still be able to care for the animals.
"The board's intention was not to remove him from participating with the company and the cats," the statement continued. "His threat to sue and ultimately his choice to litigate instead of cooperate with the decisions of the appointed Board of Directors resulted in him no longer being allowed on private property."
Turner did order Farrar and her staff to report to Boelke or Thunderhawk any "instances of terminal illness, impending sale or any severe injury or disposition of any animal."
Since that hearing, a tiger chewed his way out of his enclosure and into another tiger's, then killed that tiger. No one called Boelke or Thunderhawk to report this, Boelke said.
Officer Mike King of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission confirmed the incident did occur.
Farrar did not address questions about the incident in her
e-mails to FLORIDA TODAY.
'I want my cats'
Thunderhawk predicted additional dangerous incidents at the compound as the cats vie for his position.
"I was the alpha tiger, and the alpha tiger is gone now," he said.
Thunderhawk says he owned several cats before the corporation was formed and he is entitled to them and their offspring. That some of the cats were allowed to breed was a contentious point between Thunderhawk and Farrar.
He acknowledged that selective breeding -- among the pure bloodlines -- was sometimes done to help with fundraising by taking the cubs to shows. Other births, however, were accidental, as the tigers were part of a contraceptive study.
Boelke said the breeding was so limited that only six or seven cubs were born during the past five years.
The next court date is Feb. 12, where Turner will rule on the new board's request to dismiss the suit.
"They stole my corporation and took my cats," Thunderhawk said. "I want my cats back."
Please contact Torres at 242-3649 or jtorres@floridatoday.com and let him know that big cats do not belong in backyards, basements, garages and certainly not in the hands of people like Ray Thunderhawk.
The following was posted on Florida Today and you can also add your comments there.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080202/NEWS01/802020326
Dear John Torres,
It is well known to everyone in the animal protection community that Ray Thunderhawk purposely inbred white tigers to produce babies that he would then drag out to flea markets for attention and ill gotten gain. There is absolutely NO reason for anyone to breed white tigers and you can learn more about that at Big Cat Rescue's web page called White Tigers.
In USDA reports from 2004 Thunderhawk listed 14 big cats and by 2007 had more than 70. He did not rescue cats, but rather bred them and has close ties to other low life back yard breeders. He relied on the ignorance of the public about how white tigers are produced and their lack of accessibility to see how he was caging the animals. 75 big cats crowded into the muddy backyard of a residential home in Cocoa that sits on less than 2 acres, is not what anyone would consider humane or ethical.
Big Cat Rescue has offered to help spay and neuter the cats so that Ray's "accidental" births (which were never part of any contraception program as he claimed) but required that Ray surrender possession to his board as his actions prove that he does not have the well being of the cats in mind. It was a tough decision for his board to take over the facility, but they are remarkable people and they know that the only way to end the abuse is to stop the breeding. We will help them in any way we can and hope that the public will do so as well.
This is a very sad situation and the good people on the board of CFAR are to be applauded for stepping up and taking action to protect the cats from the likes of Ray Thunderhawk.
Posted by: Carole Baskin, Founder of Big Cat Rescue on Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:40 pm
decipher Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:56 am
I don't understand why he's chosen to make this a public (and gratuitiously emotional) fight, especially IF the law is on his side. Just backs the description of him as a showman.
I've seen him at the flea market, and I was never convinced that he provided a healthy environment for the cats, especially seeing them caged for the shows. I remember him telling sad stories of how they were abused before he got them (people were donating to help support them). This was at least 8 years ago.. I could never go back there after that.
Having said that, I have no idea if their current living conditions are any better, but if they are escaping and killing each other, well, then there's issues there, too. Did this ever happen when he had them on his compound? Are the animals now farmed out for contraceptive studies? This whole thing sounds dirty on both sides.
I think without proper funding and care, these animals are going to be the unwilling victims of both parties. I also think that turning this into a side-show event will do more to harm the long-term rights of individuals who choose to keep exotic pets. I wince to think of the future scandal of abuse and mishandling that this is going to uncover.
This whole thing bothers me. I'm looking at a photo of two people staring longingly at a small cage in a garage with no windows.
So, I went out and looked up the other organization, CFAR. They have photos of "residents" for adoption. After going through them, I saw a lot of photos of animals obviously housed with outdoor views (caged and could see green trees, shade coverings, some were cooling off in tubs for their pleasure).
They accept donations, volunteers, and don't allow public viewings except on member nights. My only criticism is that I would like to see photos of the housing conditions on the website. However, from what I could gleen, it looked a whole lot better than that wire cage in the FL today story.
http://www.cflar.org/index.htm
Part of their charter, "Responsible Advocacy - We stand for responsible advocacy, bringing light to the situation surrounding big cats without resorting to sensationalism for profit."
Looks like they are living up to that. If so, then I would support this organization any day of the week over seeing these animals at the flea market. Just show me more photos of their habitats, so I'm convinced--because adoptions seem to be REALLY expensive. Slick web pages don't do it for me, photos of healthy animals in a safe setting will get my money.
Mr.BikerTrash Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:35 pm
Mr. Grennell
I got news for you folks- Ray’s a fraud. First off his given name is Ray Grennell. He legally changed his name a few years back to further his claims of being 3/4 Native American. According to his own brother he’s not. They had a grandmother that was part Native American.
Ray did lose his fingers to an alligator. He was working as a cage cleaner at Lion Country Safari back in the 80’s. He was instructed to wait for others to arrive and assist moving the gator. Ray decided to show everyone how tough he was and move the gator himself. CHOMP! He lost his fingers and his job.
Next Ray tried his hand at trafficking cocaine in the Miami/Dade area. He got busted and turned State’s witness ratting out his suppliers. Go search “Raymond Grennell” on the Clerk of Courts websites down there and you’ll see for yourself. When his suppliers found out he screwed them, he high-tailed it to Brevard County and started the animal group. Easy way to get cash- Volunteers do all the work, he pleads his sob stories about the animals at flea markets, then takes much of the UNTRACEABLE cash donations to use for himself.
I have seen Ray physically abuse the animals. He’s purchased a lot of his cats; very few were actually “rescued”. Most come from ads he’s answered in the “Animal Finder’s Guide” ( www.animalfindersguide.com). It’s a classified ad book for animals, mostly exotics. You can buy whatever your heart desires if you have the cash and a way to get around the laws if need be.
He's a perfect example of what he’s supposedly against- exploitation of the animals for profit. He needs money to survive. State law won’t allow the general public to come into contact with most of these big cats but the babies are another story. They can be handled until they reach a certain age/size limit. Everybody loves the babies- they make money. Problem is the babies grow up and they’re relegated to a life of being stuck in a cage. The problem just continues to get bigger and bigger.
I’m glad to see he got ousted. I personally know the group now in control of the animals and I know their hearts are in the right place. They have a tough road ahead of them and I wish them the best! As for Mr. Grennell, I’d wish that one of the cats would eat him if I didn’t think they’d end up with indigestion.
decipher Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:14 pm
Mr.BikerTrash: THANK YOU. That story makes sense, and takes about 20 minutes on the internet to verify (would probably take BeachyGirl7 only half that time).
THAT'S the investigative story I want to see FL Today run.
palmbay1524: Who's going to pay for the monitoring & studying? No formal claims of animal abuse have been made. I hope you're not proposing new legislation to watch people with exotic pets. Otherwise, I agree with you about parting lovers--it's pretty sad, but it's the theme of a lot of public entertainment.
Lifetime Brevardian Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:33 pm
First of all, NO ONE should have an exotic as a pet. They are wild animals and remain wild. A lot of people that "own" these large cats get them declawed and defanged. How is that in the best interest of the animal. These people have them as conversation pieces, then when the work get too hard they dump them...still declawed and defanged. I personally think it should be illegal to "own" them and wish there was a law.
Over the years, I have seen Thunderhawk presenting his kittens and cats at the flea market and other unsuitable places. I was never impressed with his presentations or the way the cats were kept. They were obviously terrified to be there, but there they were with no thought about what it would do to them emotionally. This was just exploitation, as far as I am concerned.
He used to keep them on his property in Palm Bay close to an elementary school when the public got concerned over the safety of the children, if one go loose. His neighbors were not too thrilled to have them there either. His property was not that big that they could have been properly kenneled for such a large breed, which also leads me to believe that he should not have had possession of them.
To keep reproducing them so that there were always kittens to take to shows is reprehensible because then when they are grown, they become yet another cat that has to stay in a cage and be cared for by monies made from the next generation of kittens...producing an endless cycle for these poor creatures.
Whether this fight is a personal one or business one does not matter. I hope the judge decides in the best interest of the animals. Maybe a reputable sanctuary somewhere would be in their best interest.
riverside Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:49 am
Mr. BikerTrash has the facts. I too have seen the man in action. He was verbally and physically abusive to staff, and animals.
He is a compulive liar. Starting with the statement there were only 6-7 babies born in the lst 5 years. Maybe there was a typo and that should be 60-70.
Value of $200,000?...just how did someone who hasn't worked in years pay for ANY cat, or it's care. Not to mention his own keep.
Why 15 adult cats? Last I heard there were around 60 on the premisis. Guess only one's with monitary value count to him.
The parties currently caring for them got rid of him so things could be done right! NO MORE BREEDING! That is why such orgainzations are necessary to start with.
Then there is the comment about being the alpha cat...talk about ego!
It would not be in the cat's best interest for him to regain custody. Allow people who really care about the cats to continue.
tigerbrat22 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:15 am To All Who Are Uninformed
What many do not know is what goes on behind closed doors. I know what Ray's motives are and I know what CFAR is trying to do. My love is for the cats and no one else. And that's how it should be...For everyone involved. I personally have seen Ray abuse animals under his care. My biggest problem is Ray preaches that these beings are our brothers sisters and children, not our subordinates, but in the article, he quotes he was the alpha tiger. There is no such thing. If you treat an animal with love respect and care, you'll get the same in return...At least thats what he used to teach. When I first met Ray he amazed me with his passion, skills, and love for the animals, but as time went on he showed his true colors. How can a man who says he loves them so much, do so much to hurt they're long term care? He knows what he's doing, he loves the money that they can bring in and thats about the only thing he loves. And maybe the attention they bring with them.
As for CFAR, and all those invovled, my love goes out to you all. There is no way to put it into words the love that they have for the cats. To work all day and still go out there and put the rest of your day into the care of the cats. But not just the care but love. What the public doesn't know is how much work goes into the housing and feeding and repairs, ect.. that goes into the cats. It is a full time job and then some. Just think about working 9 to 5 evryday and then going and working until 8 or 9 at night. Then you can go home. Do this everyday of your life for the next 30 years, because thats about how long they live. Thats not even thinking about the finacial side. Go and cook a meal for a family af 50 everynight. Then building houses for all 50. And medication if they get sick. Don''t forget about those doctor visits. All that on top of your full time job. That is true love, and no one can break the love that the volunteers have for the cats they call their kids. There have been so many positive things that have happend since Ray CHOSE to leave. And I hope many more to come. Keep fighting Sharon. You have more people behind you than you know. Love all you volunteers, that are truley on the front lines of the fight to protect these majestic beings.
Tigerchange Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:52 pm The claws come out in iger fight
I am very distressed that such an irresponsible article would appear in the Fla Today. Obviously Mr Torres did not take the time or inclination to investigate the originator of this article. Even a check of Brevard County Public records would reveal that Ray Thunderhawk was Baker Acted in Sept of 2007. Waving guns around as toys, threatening to kill your 'significant other', yourself and the animals in your care is not the type of behavior someone would want to keep around and I admire Ms. Farrar for her courage and strength to know it was time to distance herself...that's no 'lover scorned'....that's a smart woman. As an avid animal lover, I read the article and wonder what the real issues should be, versus airing 'dirty laundry' in public. Thank you 'Bikertrash' for elaborating on the South Fla cocaine incident and setting the record straight on the alligator incident. Since Mr. Thunderhawk refers to these wonderful creatures as his children....would anyone in their right mind entrust their child to an adult involed with drugs or irresponsible behavior around danger....I think not!! The real issue here is the welfare and caring of these animals. I have personally supported this organization and attended some of the fund raisers while under the direction of Ray Thunderhawk, however, STOPPED when it became apparent that 'breeding' was more important than keeping true to what 'Sanctuary' is really about. I think Mr. Thunderhawk forgot how to count when it came to tallying up babies in the past few years. The present board seems to be trying very hard to work towards having all these beautiful animals 'fixed' for their safety and prevent further offspring....something Mr. Thunderhawk opposed at every turn. They are dedicated to the well-being and not making money off of them....shame on Ray Thunderhawk, or is it Grannell or whatever??? I must say that I found the picture of the cage just a little tooooo posed. Sorry Bud, but there's no sympathy here for 'Alpha Tiger'. Oh yeah, Mr. Torres (just a hunch), try finding Mr. Thunderhawk's military records...he's always giving the talk about his service as 'special ops', however, I don't think you'll find anything on the books about that either. Remember people...talk is cheap, but actions are what counts. By the way, now that CFAR has begun trying to turn the compound around to make it a 'safe haven' and loving environment, I will continue my support. Thanks for listening.
bigcatlover Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:14 pm The claws come out in tiger custody fight
Ray is a very good liar. However, that is the only thing he is good for. There are no salaries. Ray was the only one who ever lived off the money coming in for the cats. Everyone else does nothing but give. He wanted a way to make a living with someone else doing all the work. His only interest is himself. None of his breedings were ever an accident. He purposely breed brother and sister. CFAR's only concern is for the well being of the cats. They will now be able to do what is necessary to prevent breeding.
I not only witnessed Ray being abusive toward the animals and the volunteers, but also saw him put the volunteers in danger. Ray is a danger to everyone. How many times was he heard threatening to shoot all the cats. What about the other issues mentioned in the previous comments? The facts are there.The cats are now safe and will be well taken care of by the CFAR.
Mr. Thunderhawk is and was a major player in the exotic animal trade - trade that happens to be second only to the drug trade in raw dollars. There are literally billions of dollars exchanged in the exotic animal trade and, as with most, his motive is profit. That is why, in only 3 years, he has increased the amount of tigers he has by a startling 56. That is also why he was removed by the board, who had the courage to step up and finally put the needs of the cats first.
75 breeding big cats crowded onto only 2 acres in a residential community is a recipe for disaster. This is a serious threat to public safety that requires our legislators step up and take action. With few inspectors and minimal standards in this state, are we surprised that 13 % of all captive cat incidents in the US occur right here in our state? The statistics are very real considering that, since 1990, incidents involving captive big cats have resulted in the killing or deaths of 235 big cats, 72 human deaths, more than 250 human maulings, 214 exotic cat escapes and 364 confiscations. We need protection NOW!
Also consider the danger this situation presents in terms of zoonotic diseases (those that jump from animals to humans). The CDC estimates that 75% of all emerging infectious threats are zoonotic and this may become a top threat to national security. The statistics show that 50 million people worldwide have been infected with zoonotic diseases since 2000 and as many as 78,000 have died. Do you think that cramming 75 tigers into this small rural area isn't a ticking time bomb for the general public in one way or another?
I applaud your coverage and hope that it inspires more citizens to stand up and support the board of Central Florida Animal Reserve in their efforts to turn this organization around so that it may become a true, non-breeding, accredited sanctuary. I also hope that Judge George Turner rules in favor of these defenseless, voiceless animals.
Posted by: bigcatadvocat on Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:50 pm
From what I have read and researched online, the individual in question, Ray Tunderhawk, was breeding and showing these cats at flea markets, etc.
A real sanctuary does not breed or allow their cats to be exploited by showcasing them to the public.
I am hoping the cats are now in the hands of people who will provide them with the safety, care, living conditions and respect they deserve. These are the issues that should be paramount in this matter.
For The Tiger
Dee