Posted on 10/30/2020 12:47:39 PM PDT by billorites
DAVIE, Fla. A man who paid $150 for a full-contact experience with a black leopard says he had to undergo multiple surgeries after he was mauled by the fully-grown animal in an enclosure behind a Davie home.
A picture obtained by Local 10 News shows Dwight Turners heavily bandaged head and ear after the savage attack, which detectives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say happened behind a home on Earnest Boulevard on Aug. 31.
The man who lives there, identified as Michael Poggi, has a Facebook page saying he runs an animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animals.
Authorities say Poggi was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal and was cited for maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition.
Investigators say Poggi charged the 50-year-old Turner $150 for a full-contact experience with his black leopard to play with it, rub its belly and take pictures.
FWCs report says that once Turner walked inside the enclosure, the leopard attacked.
The injuries were so severe, the report says the victims scalp was hanging from his head and his right ear was torn in half.
Attempts to speak to Poggi at his home have been unsuccessful.
Authorities say he is licensed to have the leopard. They say Poggi admitted to them, though, that what he did was illegal.
Turners attorney says that the entire experience was illegal, so any waiver his client may have signed before the experience would be void.
The attorney says Turner spent a week in the emergency room from his injuries.
Does your leopard bite?
The real story would seem to be that there’s a guy pimping out a leopard for $150.
Leopard demanded his cut, and got it.
Is this guy out of prison already?
On the bright side, he now has the option this Halloween of either being George Armstrong Custer or Vincent van Gogh.
He should have gone with the White leopard.
The Real Story is that there are some Real Stupid People that do real Stupid things
“$150 for a full-contact experience
It sounds like he got exactly what he was paying for.
What’s the problem?
He did get a “full contact experience”.
Kinda like trying to milk a bobcat in a phone booth.
Wakanda will not be mocked...
This description sounds like something which we shouldn’t say out loud on a family friendly site such as this.......
Ahhhhhh.....
The new Florida theme park.....
Maulworld.
Definitely full contact.
Visuals pard! Are you trying to keep awake at night? Bwaaahaaaaa!
Outstanding! Gittcha case a beer for that one Kitteh!
Never trust a guy named Poggi.
Investigators say Poggi charged the 50-year-old Turner $150 for a full-contact experience with his black leopard
How did Turner make it to 50?
I just hope they don’t see the need to put the leopard down. There is a panther conservation center called Panther Ridge about and hour and a half north of Broward County near Loxahatchee. I would think the county would be overjoyed to find a good home for all his cats and the center would be enthusiastic to get some partially domesticated cats for their facility. Hope it works out.
rwood
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