I Adopted Two Lynxes From A Fur Farm, Now I Live With 2 Big ‘Cats,’ 8 Dogs, And 3 Horses
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I am a cat person. But somehow it happened that I have eight dogs: six huskies, a Samoyed dog, and a Northern Inuit dog. Obviously, it wasn’t safe to adopt a kitten having this band of doggos. But I wanted a cat so badly! So I started searching for the cat my dogs would be able to get on with.
After a while, I found out that in my country, fur farms still exist. On one such farm, lynxes are bred for their fur. Coats from lynxes’ fur are quite popular in Russia. But the good news was that it’s legal to take a lynx cub from there and to raise it on your own.It wasn’t a hard decision—I adopted a tiny baby lynx whose destiny was to become a fur coat. I named him Geralt after Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher.
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I rescued a lynx cub from the fur farm
Surprisingly, the dogs helped us a lot with Geralt’s care. They played with the kitten, allowed him to chew their ears, to sleep on their bellies, and, of course, to steal their food
And Banshee, our senior dog, took the baby lynx under her wing
Geralt was growing up a naughty kitty, but he definitely is the life and soul of the huskies’ party
Moreover, he’s familiar with one of my horses, Texas!
It was a long journey, but I gave him all my love and managed to raise and tame him successfully. He is something in between cat and dog
He’s a big, clumsy ball of fur
When Geralt was one year old, I rescued one more kitten, a cute baby girl
She got the name Bulochka, which means “bun” in our language because she’s so sweet!
Wild lynxes are loners, and I was ready for my cats to live separately, but Geralt surprised me. He accepted little Bulochka as if she was his daughter
Our friends were joking that we should name her Ciri instead of Bulochka
And since then, my lynxes are thick as thieves. Just look at these pretty sleepy noses!
After raising two lynxes, I can say with confidence that the most challenging thing in a rescue is health
Due to the aim of breeding on the fur farm, animals’ health isn’t a priority
Geralt has broken his elbow and a toe once, and he is a quite healthy and lucky one!
Taming and training the lynx isn’t so difficult. They use a simple cat litter box and are trained to walk on a leash
And they purr! The same way as domestic cats do, but much louder
Now, I enjoy my life with all my lynxes, huskies, and horses and I love helping people who decide to rescue big cats, to raise and tame them
And I hope that next year, I’ll be able to rescue one more baby lynx from the fur farm
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She adopted them from the fur farm or were they rescued from there? If paying the fur farmer, this encourages continued irresponsible breeding as one way or another the fur farmer makes money by exploiting the animals. I’m happy these two get to live a wonderful life but the farms need to end completely. She has a kind heart. Hopefully one day people will stop treating animals with the respect they deserve and stop buying fur.
I supported not the fur farm, but the life of these cats. However, our wish to stop fur farms doesn't mean anything to those who make decisions. And we can count only on our own resources and actions. So I decided to save these lives instead of making any protests because I'm better at this) That's just my choice and my story)
You are answering the question very evasively. But it seems you have paid the fur farmer. Lynxes are not pets. You did traded their life from being short and unhappy to longer and a little happier. But you also still encouraged the unnecessary farming of wild animals. This way only making room for the same amount or more of live animals to be held by the farmer. It seems your motives are not selfless. Lynxes do seem like a happy bunch though, and I hope others will fight the fight against fur for you.
Anastasia: It looks like you and your dogs done a magnificent job of raising those lynx kitties. They look happy, healthy and much better off with you than in a fur farm. If someone has the means and the knowledge to have a wild animal as a pet, I say more power to them.
You did well, whether you paid or not.
Anastasia you have done a service to these animals. I’m sorry so many people are trying to make you the villain!! Sometimes the western half of the world forgets that even though the USSR is no more, the things east of Germany are not the same as the UK or the USA!! You have beautiful animals, all of them. I wish there was some way I could wave a magic wand and make all fur trade illegal, but until that happens, thank you for saving the few you can!!
Anastasia, please do protest too, get involve in fight to ban fur farms. There are non-profit animal protection organizations in Russia, right?
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Would you give is some info on this adoption process. I'd love to get one myself. I had a Racoon as a kid in Michigan. And been a cat guy forever.
She saved two animals. What did you?
Ang.stl, there is no magic wand to make all fur trade illegal.....what do you mean "....until that happens," ??? Please people get involved in fight against horrific exploitation of animals where ever you live. There never be human rights, equality, and justice without animal rights, period. No marching, no protesting, no looting, no anything will change that. --- " 'Thou shalt not kill' does not apply to murder of one's own kind only, but to all living beings; and this commandment was inscribed in the human breast long before it was proclaimed from Sinai." - Count Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) Russian novelist, philosopher, mystic
She didn't 'save' them. She bought them from an unconventional breeder. Her money, like the money for fur, supports and encourages these practices. These gorgeous photos only serve to glorify and encourage others to 'save' a lynx, effectively marketing for them and providing additional revenue with no change in conditions for the other animals.
Agreed. I see so many 'rescue' stories that aren't rescues at all. You're simply buying from an unconventional breeder. Your money, like the money for the fur, supports the inhumane captivity and exploitation of other animals. People do this with the festivals that sell dogs for meat. Yes, you saved the one dog... but you did not discourage the perpetrators that profit from the trade in the least. If anything you're expanding the market by making it look delightful to buy them as pets. Now these people have a chance at larger revenue from potential exotic pet owners, while not having to improve their conditions or treatment at all. Scroll down and there's a guy that wants you to share the breeder's information. You obviously love and care for these beauties, and I'm so happy for all of you... But please do not call this a 'rescue'. Do not post gorgeous pictures and encourage others to do the same with no mention about the negative impact further purchases will have.
Lynxes are beautiful! How can anyone be so depraved to turn them into fur coats?
What's wrong with you people? Why did you down-voted A.V.'s comment??? You don't like truth??? I'm sorry to say, but as Anastasia stated herself, "I wanted a cat so badly." So, she got a cat. What about all those other fur animals which weren't "saved" by people who want to adopt wild animals??? Have a heart and really try to save animals for their sake not for your selfish wants; get involve in the fight against horrific animal exploitation, join a reputable animal protection organization.
Thank you for rescuing these beautiful lynxes from becoming fur coats.
They were not rescued, they were bought.
Well, although I am against taming wild animals, I would prefer an animal at least got a life and didn't end up being someone's fur coat or other accessory. The situation in Russia is NOT the same as we would expect in Western Europe or North America. I don't think the kind of animal welfare protesting we do here would make an iota of difference in Russia...
It's a tricky situation. These lynxes were saved from a miserable life in fur farm pens before being slaughtered - or used to breed more captives, in the case of the female. That's good for these two individual Lynx. The bad news is that the farmer still profited from his animals and is in no way disencouraged from breeding more. He doesn't care if they end up as coats or pets, just so long as he can go on keeping lynx in tiny cages to make money from them. That's bad news for the lynx he already has and the ones he will breed in the future. Changing attitudes is difficult, especially in a country like Russia, where there is so much corruption, but it can happen over time, especially if international pressure is applied.
Bought or rescued, they were saved. That's the most important thing.
True, but they're ways better as her pets ('cause she looks after them in all the senses) than just being killed, don't you think? Like buying a calf from a slaughter house and rise it free. It's still buying, but at least the cow won't end up as a burger.
Probably, they were rescued because they were bought. That's the way things are down there. Think if you could buy a baby to prevent him from being killed: wouldn't you do it because ethically it's not right?
but rescued nonetheless.
Well now, aren't you just a wet fart on a hot day!
@Oskar, the problem with that is that you just make room for 2 different animals to be held for their fur. By buying them, it's just an easy way of making money out of it. I've seen so many posts here with "rescues" of wild animals where a little side eye is no luxury. I wish all animals could have a wonderful life, it's just that this is not contributing against animal abuse, it just facilitates it in the same way as buying lynx-fur is.
So now what happens to the rest huh? they are now gonna be fur coats its like adopting a twin out of a quadruplet what happens to the rest..those cats had brothers and sister a lyxn can have 1 to 5 babys and what if thier related 4 more sisters or brothers gone
She adopted them from the fur farm or were they rescued from there? If paying the fur farmer, this encourages continued irresponsible breeding as one way or another the fur farmer makes money by exploiting the animals. I’m happy these two get to live a wonderful life but the farms need to end completely. She has a kind heart. Hopefully one day people will stop treating animals with the respect they deserve and stop buying fur.
I supported not the fur farm, but the life of these cats. However, our wish to stop fur farms doesn't mean anything to those who make decisions. And we can count only on our own resources and actions. So I decided to save these lives instead of making any protests because I'm better at this) That's just my choice and my story)
You are answering the question very evasively. But it seems you have paid the fur farmer. Lynxes are not pets. You did traded their life from being short and unhappy to longer and a little happier. But you also still encouraged the unnecessary farming of wild animals. This way only making room for the same amount or more of live animals to be held by the farmer. It seems your motives are not selfless. Lynxes do seem like a happy bunch though, and I hope others will fight the fight against fur for you.
Anastasia: It looks like you and your dogs done a magnificent job of raising those lynx kitties. They look happy, healthy and much better off with you than in a fur farm. If someone has the means and the knowledge to have a wild animal as a pet, I say more power to them.
You did well, whether you paid or not.
Anastasia you have done a service to these animals. I’m sorry so many people are trying to make you the villain!! Sometimes the western half of the world forgets that even though the USSR is no more, the things east of Germany are not the same as the UK or the USA!! You have beautiful animals, all of them. I wish there was some way I could wave a magic wand and make all fur trade illegal, but until that happens, thank you for saving the few you can!!
Anastasia, please do protest too, get involve in fight to ban fur farms. There are non-profit animal protection organizations in Russia, right?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Would you give is some info on this adoption process. I'd love to get one myself. I had a Racoon as a kid in Michigan. And been a cat guy forever.
She saved two animals. What did you?
Ang.stl, there is no magic wand to make all fur trade illegal.....what do you mean "....until that happens," ??? Please people get involved in fight against horrific exploitation of animals where ever you live. There never be human rights, equality, and justice without animal rights, period. No marching, no protesting, no looting, no anything will change that. --- " 'Thou shalt not kill' does not apply to murder of one's own kind only, but to all living beings; and this commandment was inscribed in the human breast long before it was proclaimed from Sinai." - Count Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) Russian novelist, philosopher, mystic
She didn't 'save' them. She bought them from an unconventional breeder. Her money, like the money for fur, supports and encourages these practices. These gorgeous photos only serve to glorify and encourage others to 'save' a lynx, effectively marketing for them and providing additional revenue with no change in conditions for the other animals.
Agreed. I see so many 'rescue' stories that aren't rescues at all. You're simply buying from an unconventional breeder. Your money, like the money for the fur, supports the inhumane captivity and exploitation of other animals. People do this with the festivals that sell dogs for meat. Yes, you saved the one dog... but you did not discourage the perpetrators that profit from the trade in the least. If anything you're expanding the market by making it look delightful to buy them as pets. Now these people have a chance at larger revenue from potential exotic pet owners, while not having to improve their conditions or treatment at all. Scroll down and there's a guy that wants you to share the breeder's information. You obviously love and care for these beauties, and I'm so happy for all of you... But please do not call this a 'rescue'. Do not post gorgeous pictures and encourage others to do the same with no mention about the negative impact further purchases will have.
Lynxes are beautiful! How can anyone be so depraved to turn them into fur coats?
What's wrong with you people? Why did you down-voted A.V.'s comment??? You don't like truth??? I'm sorry to say, but as Anastasia stated herself, "I wanted a cat so badly." So, she got a cat. What about all those other fur animals which weren't "saved" by people who want to adopt wild animals??? Have a heart and really try to save animals for their sake not for your selfish wants; get involve in the fight against horrific animal exploitation, join a reputable animal protection organization.
Thank you for rescuing these beautiful lynxes from becoming fur coats.
They were not rescued, they were bought.
Well, although I am against taming wild animals, I would prefer an animal at least got a life and didn't end up being someone's fur coat or other accessory. The situation in Russia is NOT the same as we would expect in Western Europe or North America. I don't think the kind of animal welfare protesting we do here would make an iota of difference in Russia...
It's a tricky situation. These lynxes were saved from a miserable life in fur farm pens before being slaughtered - or used to breed more captives, in the case of the female. That's good for these two individual Lynx. The bad news is that the farmer still profited from his animals and is in no way disencouraged from breeding more. He doesn't care if they end up as coats or pets, just so long as he can go on keeping lynx in tiny cages to make money from them. That's bad news for the lynx he already has and the ones he will breed in the future. Changing attitudes is difficult, especially in a country like Russia, where there is so much corruption, but it can happen over time, especially if international pressure is applied.
Bought or rescued, they were saved. That's the most important thing.
True, but they're ways better as her pets ('cause she looks after them in all the senses) than just being killed, don't you think? Like buying a calf from a slaughter house and rise it free. It's still buying, but at least the cow won't end up as a burger.
Probably, they were rescued because they were bought. That's the way things are down there. Think if you could buy a baby to prevent him from being killed: wouldn't you do it because ethically it's not right?
but rescued nonetheless.
Well now, aren't you just a wet fart on a hot day!
@Oskar, the problem with that is that you just make room for 2 different animals to be held for their fur. By buying them, it's just an easy way of making money out of it. I've seen so many posts here with "rescues" of wild animals where a little side eye is no luxury. I wish all animals could have a wonderful life, it's just that this is not contributing against animal abuse, it just facilitates it in the same way as buying lynx-fur is.
So now what happens to the rest huh? they are now gonna be fur coats its like adopting a twin out of a quadruplet what happens to the rest..those cats had brothers and sister a lyxn can have 1 to 5 babys and what if thier related 4 more sisters or brothers gone