Man paid to ‘play’ with caged leopard and rub its belly – then complained when it scalped him
An exotic animal admirer paid $150 to ‘play’ with a black leopard and rub its belly – only for the big cat to scalp him.
Dwight Turner was horrifically mauled by the rare creature after signing up for sanctuary owner Michael Poggi’s ‘full contact experience,’ which gives visitors the chance to ‘play with (the leopard, rub its belly and take pictures.’
Turner was attacked by the leopard as soon as he entered the animal’s ramshackle enclosure at Poggi’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 31. Part of his scalp was left hanging off, while Turner’s right ear was also torn in half.
He ended up spending a week in hospital being treated for his injuries, with Poggi subsequently charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal. Poggi has also been charged with maintaining wildlife in an unsafe condition.
His Facebook page claims he runs an animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animal, with one clip uploaded showing Poggi stroking a black leopard while it stretched itself across a granite kitchen counter.
Poggi is licensed to own the leopard, but officials say he breached the terms of that license by charging visitors to ‘play’ with the animal.
An attorney for Turner told WPLG that because the experience offered was legal, the waiver signed was void, paving the way for the injured animal lover to file a lawsuit.
Poggi has yet to comment on the charges he faces, and it is unclear when he is due in court.
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