Denny (African lion, Panthera leo)

Denny, Pheiffer and Max (deceased), African lion cubs all born in early to mid 1997, arrived at PAWS in December of 1997. Purchased by individuals from pet stores as babies, all were victims of the exotic animal trade. Each had been declawed and defanged, and each suffered from malformed joints and had permanent damage to all four paws as a result of the way they were declawed.

Denny was confiscated by the Detroit Police Department's Harbormaster Division on Belle Isle when they discovered his owner jogging with him in the park. Denny was sent to the Detroit Zoological Park on September 14, 1997.

Pheiffer and Max were rescued by the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society and also taken to the Detroit Zoological Park on September 24, 1997. Detroit Zoo sent the three cubs to PAWS in December of that year.

Max, the most fragile of the three, died nearly 10 years ago. Denny and Pheiffer continue to live at our Galt, California, sanctuary.

View video of Denny and Pheiffer. CLICK HERE

Pfeiffer (African lion, Panthera leo)

Pheiffer, Denny and Max, African lion cubs all born in early to mid 1997, arrived at PAWS in December of 1997. Purchased by individuals from pet stores as babies, all were victims of the exotic animal trade. Each had been declawed and defanged, and each suffered from malformed joints and had permanent damage to all four paws as a result of the way they were declawed.

Denny was confiscated by the Detroit Police Department's Harbormaster Division on Belle Isle when they discovered his owner jogging with him in the park. Denny was sent to the Detroit Zoological Park on September 14, 1997.

Pheiffer and Max were rescued by the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society and also taken to the Detroit Zoological Park on September 24, 1997. Detroit Zoo sent the three cubs to PAWS in December of that year.

Max, the most fragile of the three, died nearly 10 years ago. Denny and Pheiffer continue to live at our Galt, California, sanctuary.

View video of Pheiffer and Denny. CLICK HERE

Sheba (African lion, Panthera leo)

Sheba was born at a breeding facility in 1993, where she and her brother were sold as pets to a man who kept them in his house in Detroit. When the male lion became too difficult for his owner to handle, he was euthanized. Sheba eventually became more difficult to handle and her owner decided to surrendered her to the Michigan Humane Society. The Humane Society contacted us and we agreed to take her.

Sheba lived at our Galt sanctuary for 15 years before being moved to her new habitat at ARK 2000 where she is now next-door-neighbor to Camba, and the other former Bolivian circus lions rescued by Animal Defenders International.

Sheba's first steps into her spacious new habitat at ARK 2000, was an emotional experience for PAWS' directors Pat Derby and Ed Stewart. They had planned and dreamed of a large habitat and companions for this gentle, sweet lion.