Las Vegas lion ranch owner is blasted for sending out fundraising letter claiming he’ll have to kill his big cats if he doesn’t receive more money

A Nevada lion sanctuary has been accused of fraud after handwritten fundraising letters were sent claiming the big cats would be killed unless people made donations.

Lion Habitat Ranch, home to 21 lions in Henderson, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, sent out the letters in early August begging for help.

“It scares me deeply when I think about what might happen if I can’t afford to feed them,” wrote Keith Evans, owner of the ranch.

“It is possible that they will be euthanized because they simply have nowhere to go. I can’t let that happen.’

But, asked by a local news station 8NewsNow If the lions were to be killed, Evans said no, blaming the letter on a Virginia-based fundraising company he contracted to help them.

Evans wrote, ‘It scares me deeply when I think about what might happen if I can’t afford to feed them. It is possible that they will be euthanized because they simply have nowhere to go. I can’t let that happen’

Evans insisted the lions were safe and would not be put down unless they were sick.

However, he admitted that he had approved the mailing of the handwritten letter he had written, but said he only approved its mailing to avoid losing the money he had given to the fundraising company.

“It got my final approval on the basis that if I say no, I’m liable for it regardless of the money they’ve spent up to that point, 30 or 40 thousand dollars that I don’t have,” Evans said.

Tax returns obtained by 8NewsNow show that the lion sanctuary raised more than $2.5 million for the year 2021-2022.

Animal care costs for 2022 were $218,122.

The shelter paid the fundraising company, Eberle Associates, a total of $613,533.

“They make more money than we make,” he told the news channel.

Evans said anyone who received the handwritten letter should tear it up, and said he has now asked Eberle Associates not to send any more copies.

Lion Habitat Ranch currently houses 21 lions; none of them risk being killed

The ranch in Henderson, Nevada, opened to the public in 2012

Evans, owner of the ranch, apologized for the letter, saying it was a marketing error

The shelter subsequently released a statement apologizing for the letter and asking donors to forgive the mistake.

“It has come to our attention that an old letter, provided through our fundraising company, has been recirculated and contains incorrect information about the future and care of our lions,” they wrote.

“Our lions and the rest of our animal family are safe and supported.”

The sanctuary explained, “The verbiage of the letter came about on the advice of the fundraising company and unfortunately did not clearly convey the views, opinions or options that the Lion Habitat Ranch experienced following the reinstatement of COVID protocols.

“We relied on the fundraising company to help us raise money for our small nonprofit, but things didn’t go as planned.”

Lion Habitat Ranch promised that from now on they will be “more careful to rigorously review all information for clarity and accuracy going forward.”

They concluded, “We have all experienced significant pressure on our lives and businesses during COVID and hope you will understand our mistake. We thank you for your continued support and understanding.”

The handwritten letter has been referred to the Attorney General of Nevada, alleging “fraudulent fundraising practices.”

The Attorney General has yet to rule on the case.

Annoula Wylderich, who received the letter and alerted the attorney general, said she was “appalled” by the plea.

“I think it’s terribly wrong to mislead donors when you ask for money and when you tug at their hearts,” she said.

“It’s very misleading and deceptive.”