An exotic cat owner in Nevada who has a prescription that proves his tigers are his emotional support animals has been left outraged after feds 'stole' them from his property last week.
Karl Mitchell and hisfiancée Catherine Griffiths were woken up at 7am Wednesday at their home inPahrump - about an hour outside of Las Vegas - by the Nye County Sheriff's Office to seize their seven precious Bengal tigers.
During the seizure, Mitchell, 71, was taken into custodyfor resisting a peace officer, but he told DailyMail.com he was trying to help protectthe animals, whohe said were drugged and corralled into a trailer without warning.
'They had no regard for the welfare of the tigers,' an emotional Mitchell told DailyMail.com.
The Vietnam War veteran vehemently defended their ownership of the tigers, telling DailyMail.com he has a legitimate prescription from his VA doctor that states the wild animals are his designated 'emotional support animals.'
He said he suffers from PTSD and that his time with his two male and five female tigers is a'private, therapeutic situation' for him.
The prescription, obtained by DailyMail.com, states: 'The loss of the tigers would severely undermine his mental health and emotional well-being.'
Karl Mitchell (pictured) and his fiancée Catherine Griffiths, were woken up at 7am Wednesday by the Nye County Sheriff's Office, who arrived at their home in Pahrump to seize their seven precious Bengal tigers
The Vietnam War veteran vehemently defended he and his fiancée's ownership of their tigers, telling DailyMail.com he has a legitimate prescription from his VA doctor that they are his 'emotional support animals' (Pictured: One of their tigers that was seized)
In the prescription (pictured), obtained by DailyMail.com, his doctor said: 'The loss of the tigers would severely undermine his mental health and emotional well-being'
Because of this letter, written by Mitchell's psychologist, he does not have to register his tigers for a permit in the state of Nevada, according to US Service Animals.
The couple do have a required US Fish and Wildlife registration for their exotic cats, they said.
‘We’re the most qualified,' Mitchell said.‘We’re in compliance with the federal government and the county is not.’
Mitchell and Griffiths described a chaotic scene the morning the tigers were snatched from their home.
He said hisfiancée had a seizure at the same time one of their beloved tigers did.
Mitchell noted that the drugs the animals were given 'could cause them to regurgitate and die.'
‘You don’t knock them down (drug them), put them in a truck and transport them,’ he said.
Griffiths (pictured) said the way the tigers were transported during the seizure also frightened her.‘You don’t transfer animals in a cargo trailer,' she said
The couple said they have since learned that the tigers were taken to Arkansas. Both of them now worried for the well-being of the animals, as Griffith said they 'are not used to' the cold weather there
Griffiths said the way the tigers were taken away also frightened her.
'You don’t transfer animals in a cargo trailer,' she stated.
While Mitchell was being held at Nye County Detention Center, the tigers were taken to'an undisclosed sanctuary where they will be held until ordered to be released,' police initially said.
The couple told DailyMail.com that they have since learned that the tigers were transported to Arkansas.
Both of them are now worried for the well-being of their animals, as Griffiths said they 'are not used to' the cold weather there.
The couple also said they are worried about what their animals are being fed as they make sure they always eat fresh chicken and red meat at their house.
A spokesperson with the Nye County Sheriff's Office previously told DailyMail.com the tiger's conditions 'seemed good,' but 'there were some concerns about the living conditions.'
Mitchell and Griffiths debunked this statement, stating they always made sure their animals were properly taken care of.
On their property, the tigers live in 20 x 40 square-foot cages, which are up to USDA standards, Mitchell said. They are working on expanding each cage to one acre. (Pictured: One of their tigers)
Griffiths said they are currently in the process of rebuilding the tiger's sanctuary so some of the chain link fencing is moved around, but not enough that the tigers would escape.
According to Mitchell, animal rights activists were saying their tigers 'were running around on the property' - but he said that's a lie.
'Animal activists wanted to satisfy their egos,' he added.
On their property, the tigers live in 20 x 40 square-foot cages, which are up to USDA standards, Mitchell said. They are working on expanding each cage to one acre.
It is unclear when or if they will get their tigers back, but they are hopeful they will be reunited.
Mitchell and Griffiths are currently working with their attorneys to schedule an emergency evidentiary hearing so they can fight to get their tigers back
Mitchell and Griffiths are currently working with their attorneys to schedule an emergency evidentiary hearing so they can fight to get custody back.
Karl said these hearings have to be held in order for the seizure to happen, and that they were happening behind his back before their tigers were taken.
‘We feel that we could prevail,’ he said.
‘We work with our tigers everyday, all day long,’ Griffiths said. ‘We put everything into them. It’s not fair.’
DailyMail.com contacted the Nye County Sheriff's Office for comment.
