Nevada man alleges 7 seized ’emotional support tigers’ were Joe Exotic’s

• Karl Mitchell, a 71-year-old Nevada resident, is facing charges after authorities seized seven unpermitted tigers from his property. He claims the tigers are emotional support animals approved by his doctors and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help manage his PTSD.
• Mitchell lost his authorization to keep the tigers in 2022, leading to legal and safety concerns that resulted in a SWAT team seizing the animals on Wednesday.
• The case raises questions about emotional support animals and balancing therapeutic benefits with public safety.

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A Nevada man is facing charges after authorities seized seven unpermitted tigers from his property. He says they were emotional support animals used to help manage his PTSD.

The man, 71-year-old Karl Mitchell, lives in Pahrump, Nevada. He claims he rescued the tigers from Joseph “Joe Exotic” Maldonado, the star of Netflix’s “Tiger King” docuseries.

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At the time of the seizure, Mitchell argued the tigers served as emotional support animals approved by his doctors and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“I am 100% a disabled veteran with PTSD. The VA and my doctors have approved the tigers for me as emotional support animals,” he told News 3 Las Vegas.

Emotional support animals and mental health

Although pets like dogs and cats are well known for their therapeutic benefits, new research adds weight to that idea. A recent study from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom found that owning a pet can boost happiness as much as marriage or a $76,000 raise.

Researchers say emotional support animals offer companionship and stress relief. They also help improve overall well-being. However, the study focused only on common domestic pets like dogs and cats — not wild animals.

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not recognize tigers as emotional support animals.

The tiger seizure and legal history

Local authorities say they had been aware of Mitchell’s tigers for two years. Videos posted on social media showed people interacting with the animals, raising safety and legal concerns.

Last Wednesday, April 2, Nye County deputies and a SWAT team raided Mitchell’s property. They seized the tigers and accused Mitchell of refusing to surrender them voluntarily. He was also charged with resisting arrest.

In 2019, Mitchell successfully appealed a denial and was granted a Special Conditions Animal Permit by the Nye County Commission. That permit allowed him to keep tigers legally under strict rules. He was banned from exhibiting them and required to notify officials before transport.

However, that permit was voided in 2022. Since then, Mitchell no longer had the authorization to keep the tigers. During the raid, some of the animals were found underweight, and officials said algae was growing in their water dishes.

The tigers are now being held at an undisclosed sanctuary until a court decides their fate.

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What’s next for Mitchell?

Mitchell is due in court on May 15. He maintains that the tigers are essential for managing his mental health, though authorities disagree.

The unusual case has sparked debate about what qualifies as emotional support animals — and where the line between therapeutic pets and public safety should be drawn.