"A Chance At Life"

"Christian" the lion & MSN

Here is the clip from the today show interviewing "Christian's" rescuers. Still makes me weep watching this incrediable story. Be sure to click the pause button on the music, so that you can actually hear the video.

Man in ‘hugging lion’ video reveals its secrets

Several Day’s ago I posted the most touching video about “Christian” the lion and the two men whom had saved his life. Today I saw this article and thought perhaps you would enjoy knowing the whole story. It really is an amazing life teaching event. Something we can ALL learn from . . .

I believe God’s creatures are here to teach us, we just need to be willing to listen!

Namaste’

Denita

Man in ‘hugging lion’ video reveals its secrets

One of animal’s owners tells story that still tugs heartstrings after decades

By Mike Celizic

TODAYShow.com contributor

updated 11:27 a.m. ET, Tues., July. 22, 2008

The decades-old footage of a full-grown lion joyously embracing two young men like an affectionate house cat has made myriad eyes misty since it recently landed on YouTube. What is it about the old, grainy images that have attracted millions of clicks around the globe?

Is it simply that a lion, whimsically named Christian, remembered the two men who raised it and then released it into the wild?

Is it nostalgia for a simpler time 39 years ago, when you could walk into Harrods department store in

London

, stroll through the “exotic animals” section, and buy a live lion cub?

Is it a longing for the swinging Austin Powers-era London of 1969, when you could take the beast home to a basement flat, play soccer with it in a walled garden — and even take it out to restaurants in the back of a Bentley?

The answer may be all of the above. But it may be something more: the indelible image of a creature that could kill a man in seconds behaving like a pussycat with two men it obviously loves, smack in the middle of the African bush.

TODAY played part of the video last week with little comment or introduction, and when the grainy footage, originally shot on 16-mm film, was finished, Meredith Vieira was among many in the studio wiping away tears.

Swinging

London

The video is the work of Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall, two Australians who in 1969 were living in a hip section of

London

. Nearly 40 years later, Rendall expressed astonishment that one video of his reunion with his former pet had drawn more than six million hits as of this writing. (Two other versions of the video on YouTube have drawn another six million hits combined.)

“Oh, my God,” Rendall exclaimed from

Australia

when told how popular the video has become. “If it’s made people more aware and more interested in conservation and the protection of the environment, we’re very pleased.”

Back in ’69, Rendall was living on King’s Road, in the

Chelsea

section of

London

. The center of

London

’s counterculture at the time, King’s Road seethed with creativity and fashion. Even Mick Jagger once resided there.

“It was more of less the center of that music, art, publishing, hairdressing world,” Rendall said. “It was a very exciting time to be in

London

.”

In the lingo of the day, it was wild. And it was into that milieu that Rendall and his friend Bourke would introduce something even wilder: A real, live lion.

One hump or two?
Going to

London

was sort of rite of passage at the time. “We finished university in

Australia

,” Rendall explained. “In those days, everybody in

Australia

went to

England

as soon as they got out of university.”

Having grown up in

Australia

’s sparsely populated outback, the young Rendall was agog at the capital of the

British Empire

. Where he came from, there was one store where you could buy any color shirt you wanted — as long as it was white. “If you asked for a blue one, they said, ‘Get lost,’ ” he said, but in slightly more colorful language.

So when a friend came back from a trip to Harrods,

London

’s famous department store, and told a story about her trip to the pet department, Rendall was understandably fascinated.

“Harrods has always claimed that they could find anything,” he explained. “Anything you’d want, Harrods could get for you.”

His friend decided to test that. “She said she’d like a camel,” Rendall said. “Without batting an eye, the manager said, ‘Would that be one hump or two, ma’am?’ I had to see the department store that was so cool.”

So Rendall enlisted Bourke to go to Harrods with him. “We thought we’d have a laugh at this,” Rendall said, “and there were these beautiful lion cubs.”

Love at first sight
The two cubs were in tiny cages in the exotic animals section. Like a kid enthralled with a puppy, Rendall instantly became smitten and determined to rescue one of them.

“I grew up in the bush in

Australia

,” he told TODAY. “I was pretty shocked to see this animal, even if it was three months old, in this tiny cage: ‘This isn’t right. We really have to do something about this.’ And right there [we] decided to buy him.”

The notion that one could buy a lion and move it into an urban neighborhood seems preposterous today. But in 1969

London

, the improbable was not impossible.

Bourke and Rendall did have to go through a long process to prove they could care for the animal, and there were others who wanted to buy the cub. But the two friends prevailed, and soon the basement of the custom furniture store where they worked had a new and exotic housecat.

“We persuaded the owners of the shop that it would be great publicity for the shop if we had the lion live there,” Rendall explained.

“It’s something that can never be done again,” he admitted. “You couldn’t have a lion in central

London

.”

The lion whisperers
Inspired by the Bible and a sense of irony, Rendall and Bourke named the lion “Christian,” and the beast soon became a celebrity. Rendall said they took a “horse whisperer” approach to raising the animal, never restraining it and never using physical force of any kind. Instead, they indicated with their tone of voice what was appropriate and what wasn’t.

“He could tell by the tone of our voice,” Rendall explained. “He knew that we knew we wanted him to calm down, not now, let’s go, that sort of thing. We were very fortunate that we got it right. We ended up with a wonderful animal. He never bit anybody.”

The shop’s bottom floor became Christian’s den. “He had the whole of the basement. He had these toys down there — rolled-up old mattresses,” Rendall told TODAY. “He had his own kingdom downstairs, that that’s where he slept.”

But when Bourke and Christian went out, Christian went with them, riding in style in the back seat of a Bentley. He even accompanied his human friends into restaurants. For exercise, they took him to a large, walled-in garden next to the furniture shop. Christian’s favorite pastime? Soccer.

Growing pains
After a year, Christian had grown from 35 to 185 pounds. Rendall said he and Bourke knew the lion couldn’t stay with them much longer. They weren’t worried about Christian attacking anyone, he said. It was more that he was so big he could break a window just by leaning on it. Who knew what other damage he could accidentally cause when he grew even bigger? Fortunately, actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna dropped into the furniture store one day, looking for a writing desk. They had just finished filming “Born Free,” the famous story of Elsa, a real lioness who was reintroduced to the wild. In the hit movie, the married actors played real-life naturalists George and Joy Adamson (Joy Adamson wrote the book on which the film was based).

Travers and McKenna suggested that Rendall and Bourke contact George Adamson. Soon Rendall, Bourke and Christian were all on a plane to

Kenya

, where they and Adamson introduced Christian to something he had never seen before: his natural habitat.

When the two friends felt sure Christian had a new family and a safe territory, they went back to their lives in

London

. But they kept in touch with Adamson and made a few visits to

Kenya

to see Christian from afar.

Emotional reunion
Their first reunion was in early 1972, a year after Bourke and Rendall left Christian with Adamson. It is this event that is shown in the grainy film that has become such a sensation on YouTube (although the captions on at least one version of the video misidentify the event as taking place in 1974.)

The now-famous footage shows the cat approaching the two men, cautiously at first. Then, as recognition begins to dawn, the lion picks up his pace and leaps into the arms of his old roomies.

The film is color, but has no sound. Subtitles have been added to tell the story, but they’re hardly needed. There are two men in flared jeans and shaggy hair, and there is a lion. The huge carnivore approaches from a distance, slowly at first. Then recognition sets in, and soon everyone — men and beast — are hugging and crying.

Also in the original film are two lionesses named Mona and Lisa. They had been trapped elsewhere in

Africa

and given to Adamson to rehabilitate. Unlike Christian, Mona and Lisa had never set eyes on Bourke and Rendall before, but they came over to meet the two men anyway. If Christian vouched for them, these humans were apparently OK guys.

A last farewell
But in 1974, Adamson lost touch with Christian for three months. When he told Rendall and Bourke, they decided to make one last trip to

Kenya

to try to say goodbye to their old friend.

The night before they landed, according to Adamson, Christian suddenly reappeared and sat on a rock outside the naturalist’s camp — as if waiting for his pals.

There was another tearful reunion and another romp. The next day Christian walked back into the bush, where his lionesses were waiting. He was never seen again — but the power of the Internet guarantees he will never be forgotten.

Now Rendall hopes that the sudden popularity of the old film will help wildlife conservation efforts. He has remained an active supporter of the Mkomazi Game Reserve in

Tanzania

and the George Adamson Trust. Tragically, Adamson himself was killed during local unrest 14 years after the video was shot.

Rendall doesn’t know who posted the first video on YouTube, but he doesn’t mind that they did. “It’s a lovely story and we’re delighted people are interested in it,” he said. “If they want to support the George Adamson trust, we’re delighted.”

Big Summer Inventory Blowout . . . 50% off entire store!!!

Be sure you stop in tomorrow because as you know we really have some awesome merchandise in the store. This is your chance to stock up and get more for your money!

We are running a summer inventory blowout sale. Need to make room on the floor for all the items stored in the back.

EVERYTHING in the entire store is 50% off all day tomorrow.

Just a little tease . . .

Nice chair in excellant condition, and imagine this for only $17.50

All of these patterns (all not some) for $10.00

This is calling my friend Elle's name . . . as if she does not have enough doggie bags already. But look miss Elle it's pink and has never been used! Not bad for $12.50 huh?

Of course all of these prices I posted here are at the 50% off price.

Hurry in!!!!

9am-3pm tomorrow only!!!

Featured Items Alert!!!!

MANY of you were VERY interested in the 2 following beautiful antique pieces when you last in and they both had sold stickers on them . . . the folks whom put a deposit on them have had a hardship knock on their door and regretfully had to lose the deposit and back out of their commitment! The good news is . . . they are both back on the floor and ready to go to your home!!! So hurry, hurry, hurry because they will not last long!

Corner curio $250 obo

Very, very old desk $250 obo.

This is a sharp looking dresser, I believe it was a buffet orginally and converted into dresser with a mirror. $175

This coffee table came in this week and is absolutely beautiful. $75

The van is our other business and not for sale . . . the love seat is the item for sale.......$75 (no stains or rips) very clean

Make purchase to help Lost Angels Animal Rescue!!!

Don't forget to go to this website and purchase treats for your furry ones! They will donate 5% to Lost Angels as I mentioned earlier this month. I just ordered two dozen for my girls and man do they look ands sound delicious, so hurry now get shopping...................

Grab a tissue . . . your'e gonna need it!

This is just what I needed this morning, and yes it made me cry . . . but it was a good cry indeed! And humans think that the furry ones forget the bond . . . PLEASE!!!!!!

Thank you Jen P for sending this to me!

Warm fuzzies . . . remember those?

This is absolutely amazing! I love to watch it over & over & over, it's just precious. Although I have to agree with his wife, I would have never believed this had I not seen it with my own eyes. Cute factor indeed.....

Please consider signing this petition . . .

Dear Members and Friends,

You probably heard in the news that Senator Obama has promised his family they’ll get a new family dog after the November election.

The American Kennel Club jumped on this announcement with a list of possible “pure” breeds that the Obamas could buy from a pet store or breeder.

We’d like to propose something different to the senator and his family:

“With millions of homeless pets still being killed in shelters every year, please adopt your dog from a shelter or rescue group. Don’t buy from a pet store or breeder.”

It’s the same thing we say to people everywhere.

So we’ve launched a new website –
http://www.obamafamilydog.com/?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sign%20the%20petition%20from%20homeless%20pets%20to%20Senator%20Obama! – where you can sign a petition encouraging the senator to save a life by adopting a homeless pet.

Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, left-wing, right-wing or any other wing, please sign the petition, and encourage all your friends and family to sign it, too.

It’s a great opportunity to promote the cause of homeless pets everywhere.

So, please sign the petition and read the story.

Thanks, and good wishes,

Michael Mountain
Best Friends

Great suggestions for pets terrified of storms!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! We are moving our home to North Port, wish us luck!

Time to feel some furry luv . . .

Thank you Martha for sharing this adorable video! I just love watching the gentleness!!!!! I will post another this afternoon that will definitely warm ALL of your hearts!

DO NOT ADOPT TO THIS HORRIFIC ANIMAL!!!!!!

Alert: URGENT ALERT-KNOWN ANIMAL ABUSER ON CRAIGSLIST LOOKING FOR AN ANIMAL TO ABUSE Focus: Animal Welfare Action Request: Read Location: United States Please crosspost this everywhere.  If you have media contacts, use them to get this story out!  The email is kind of long but it has case numbers, license numbers and addresses on this man.  Please take the time to read this and forward it to everyone you know. This needs to go out to ALL RESCUE & ANIMAL RELATED people and all animal related groups: RE:  Shon Rahrig His current address is: 23560 or 23600 Walden Center Dr., Bonita Springs, FL He has two #'s, 239-947-0518 and 239-495-3716. Bonita Springs is right next to Fort Myers. CROSS POST EVERYWHERE...this man is adopting and torturing animals across our country ...has been convicted, now on the loose and still adopting...last known to be in Florida. If any of you have any "media contacts" consider contacting them to expose this horrible man... Do you have contacts with groups rescuing in disaster areas where this man could "help" by adopting.... PLEASE: take the time to pass this warning... Shon Rahrig DNA (various states) VERY DANGEROUS TO ALL ANIMALS! PERMISSION TO CROSS POST! According to info below, this man moves a lot, and is near Georgia and is dangerous to any animal he adopts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diana Fuchs, PCAR Coordinator FL Please read and forward this information to anyone that is related to animals. This person has been caught, and found guilty in a few states for animal cruelty. He is now located in Florida, and appears to move frequently. For the link to this article and photograph of this person: http://www.lovemyspca.com/AnimalAbuseCase.html More details and a case profile can be find at: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/352/ Case profile: Case Report: Shon adopted a cat from Citizens for Humane Action (C.H.A.) on January 26, 1999. In the early morning hours of February 6, Shon beat the cat, poked out its eye, broke its jaw legs, and left it bloody and in agony in a laundry basket in his apartment. He asked Melissa to come over and get it and take it to Delaware County Humane Society and tell them she found it along the road. She instead took it to Columbus Veterinary Emergency Service (CVE who humanely euthanized it due to the extensive nature of its injuries. Shon Rahrig, about 30 years old, of Sandbury Blvd, allegedly adopted 6 or 7 cats and a puppy from various local shelters and allegedly abused them horribly, broke their limbs, put their eyes out, etc. The alleged abuse became known when his girlfriend took one of the victims to a vet to be euthanized. In court he "copped a plea" to avoid the nasty publicity of a jury trial, and confessed to torturing one black and white cat, Misty, adopted from Citizens for Humane Action. Under the current statutes the most severe penalty for this man, if convicted, would be 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $750. Melissa contacted C.H.A. and advised them what had happened. C.H.A. transported the body from CVES to Capital Area Humane Society and filed an abuse report. Shon was subsequently arraigned and charged with one count of animal abuse. Shon at first plead not guilty, but changed his plea to guilty. On September 29,1999, Judge Pfeiffer sentenced Shon to 90 days in jail (of which 45 were suspended), 5 years probation, mandatory counseling and he was forbidden from owning any living thing during the 5 year probation period. He began serving his sentence on November 1. More details from the article of this person. http://www.lovemyspca.com/AnimalAbuseCase.html UPDATE: 12/28/2002 PETA's cruelty investigation team reports Shon Rahrig as now living in Fort Myers, Florida area. On 7/23/2002: As of this date Rahrig was in the San Diego area, where he has a real estate license. On 4/17/2002: This man was reported as living in Southern California and Los Angeles area has been trying to adopt animals from numerous shelters. BEWARE OF THIS MAN SHON RAHRIG PLEASE, PLEASE, PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO IS INVOLVED IN ANIMAL RESCUE AND ADOPTION! WE MUST PROTECT INNOCENT CATS, DOGS, KITTENS AND PUPPIES FROM THIS MAN AND ANY OTHERS LIKE HIM WHO WOULD CRUELLY HURT THEM! There is a warning going around about a man trying to adopt from local groups and who may be trying to arrange private adoptions, who has been convicted of multiple torture/killing of cats and puppies that he has adopted. He is now in the Fort Myers Area in Florida. Local rescue groups are sharing information about this. It is part of the reason screening adoption applicants is so important. You can read about his conviction in Ohio at: http:www.petfbi.org/issuerahrig.htm . and at the end of this article. SHON RAHRIG was convicted in Ohio of torturing animals he adopted from animal shelters. He has been spotted in California and now Florida and has tired to adopt from several agencies; his parole states that he cannot acquire an animal for 5 years. He may try private adoptions by advertisement. If you encounter him, please alert the DA and the Probation Department. Info forwarded from HSUS: "Previous address was 1617 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107. Phone number was 619-222-9637, ss# ends in 5504. It appears that he had another address of 1612 Sunset Cliffs. Blvd., San Diego, CA, 92107. He filed Bankruptcy (Chapter 7) in Ohio, on 06/16/89, case # is 8931698. Court info is Ohio Federal Court - Toledo, 1716 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43624, phone number is 419-259-6440. All information in the bankruptcy is public record. He also has a real estate license. License number is 01305620, issued on 04/10/01, expires on 04/09/05. Address on this is P.O. Box 661, Bellflower, CA, 90707, Los Angeles County. He also owns Southern Pacific Realty. Address is - 1612 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107. FIPS Code - CA073, File Date - 06/06/01, Standard Industry Code - 653118. And I also have 20 former addresses on him! [email protected] (@petfbi.org) PLEASE, PLEASE, POST THIS PICTURE AND STORY WHERE EVERYONE CAN READ IT AND KNOW THIS MAN FOR WHAT HE IS. SCREEN ALL ADOPTION APPLICANTS CAREFULLY! BEWARE OF WHO YOU ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A PRIVATE ADOPTION. SHON RAHRIG SENTENCED IN EXTREME ANIMAL ABUSE CASE Shon Rahrig's sentencing was well attended with representatives from CAHS, CHA, PET FBI, POET, COPA and some individuals along with a Channel 6 camera crew. Rahrig has now moved to the Fort Myers Area! Please beware of this Man

More Furniture . . .

Nice leather topped desk $ 100.00 with matching credenza $75.00! Both in EXCELLENT condition, we have the glass to go on top of both of these. Don't forget to mention you saw these on the blog and receive 20% off!

This is another oriental style desk, $50.00. Has some wear and tear on it, but solid wood!

Great solid wood credenza for your office at home or work. Could even out a big screen tv on it. $100

We will be closed tomorrow in observance of the holiday, will re-open Saturday at 9am. Hurry in.........

Have a safe 4th of July!!!

New Items Alert!!!

Wanted to share with you some new items we have put out on the floor. As you know, we are extremely challenged with floor space therefore working on rotating furniture every couple of weeks. Mention you saw these items on our blog and we will give you 20% off.

Hope you having a great Wednesday.

This is a very large L shaped desk for your home or office. In perfect condition, only $175 (before your 20% off)

Lovely oriental night stand for only $25.00

This is a beautiful 3 piece provencial style chest of drawers with night stand and mirror to match, all in perfect condition. $275

Animal Cruelty . . . help STOP it!

I signed the petition "Ensure That Animal Cruelty is Treated as a Serious Crime". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 20,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts.

Child and animal protection professionals have recognized that there is an inherent link between animal abuse and other forms of societal violence.

But reported incidents of animal cruelty are still not getting the attention they deserve because there is no national system designed to track these crimes.

Tell your Senators to make sure animal cruelty is treated as a serious crime!

The practice of dogfighting perfectly illustrates this connection, as it is almost always linked to illegal drug and weapons violations, gambling, aggravated assault and gang violence.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced the Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act of 2007, which would require the FBI to add animal cruelty as a separate category in its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Sign the petition today and speak for the voiceless!!!! Click on this link.

Thank you!

Sincerely, Emily Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team