THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Flimsy !fences The illegal immigration bill is a paltry effort by legislators to show ffiSRL . II I 1 I n WEDNESDAY Oppenheimer writes. LOCA^Hr • •L •• R FEBRUARY 16,2005 Rfl .WFnMFSnAYTFBhrUary16.2005 HPSBCMR WEATHER THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Actress cites squalor at animal compound I TIGER RESCUE: Tippi sanctuary, which was filled to working with exotic ani- dren said. "It was d capacity, to keep him from be- mals. disturbing." Hedren says her 1998 ing sent to Weinhart's Tiger Hedren., who starred A zoning dispute with visit was like "walking Rescue facililty in Colton. in Alfred Hitchcock's Riverside County "I took the lion rather than "The Birds" and "Mar- forced Weinhart to through a trash dump." allow him to go to Tiger Res- nie" in the 1960s, has move his collection of BY SANDRA STOKLEY cue," Hedren said. operated the Shambala big cats from Glen Avon THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Weinhart, 62, is charged with preserve for about 30 John to Colton in about 1999. RIVERSIDE—Actress and sanc- 16 felony animal-cruelty counts, years. She said the facil- Weinhart Weinhart told authori- tuary operator Tippi Hedren one count of felony child en- ity houses about 70 big ties that the cubs found testified Tuesday that she was dangerment and 44 misdemean- cats including tigers, lions and at his Glen Avon property in so troubled by the living condi- ors stemming from an April leopards. 2003 were in transit. tions of exotic cats during a 1998 2003 raid on his Glen Avon Hedren said her 1998 visit to Under questioning by Addi- visit to former tiger rescuer property. Weinhart's compound was in son Steele, Weinhart's attorney, John Weinhart's Glen Avon He is accused of having connection with her work with Hedren said that she knew that compound that she complained mistreated 11 tiger and leop- the American Sanctuary As- at one point Weinhart had per- to federal authorities. ard cubs found in his attic, two sociation, which has devel- formed in a circus act with some "I felt like I was walking alligators in a bathtub, two oped a set of standards for of his animals — something she through a trash dump they had juvenile tigers at a patio and animal sanctuaries and pre- disapproved of. put cages in," Hedren said. several domestic animals serves. "And you're not going to say The actress, testifying as a seized during the raid. She said she was shocked by anything nice about someone prosecution witness in Wein- California Department of the emaciated appearance of like that?" Steele asked. hart's animal-cruelty and child Fish and Game agents and the cats, mounds of trash, feces, "Probably not," Hedren re- endangerment trial, said she county animal-control officers dead chickens and feathers. plied. was told by U.S. Department of have testified they found TERRY HERSpN/THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Trash-can tops used to hold Hedren also acknowledged Agriculture authorities that Weinhart's then-8-year-old Actress and sanctuary operator Tippi Hedren testifies Tuesday in water were bone dry, Hedren that she already harbored a bias there were not enough inspec- son inside his trash-strewn Riverside at the trial of John Weinhart, who is facing charges of said. against Weinhart before testify- tors to respond to her com- home where the two alligators animal cruelty and child endangerment. "I don't understand how At one point, Hedren said, she ing on Tuesday. plaint. were in a bathtub, a juvenile anyone could have such little regard for these animals," she said. used a hose to water some of the Closing arguments in the But the visit left such an tiger was chained at a patio animals. monthlong trial are scheduled indelible impression that, four and powerful animal tranquil- ator. gations, saying that he had "I don't understand how any- for today. years ago, Hedren said she izers, including PCP, were During four days on the never mistreated an animal one could have such little re- Reach Sandra Stokley at (951) made room for a lion at her stored in an unlocked refriger- stand, Weinhart denied the alle- during his more than 40 years gard for these animals," He- 368-9647 or [email protected]