1/20/2019 Reise was peacefully euthanized next to her den. She had quit eating a couple days before and now was not responding or leaving her den. Reise let us know it was time.
Her name is pronounced RYE-zuh and is German for 'journey'.
It certainly is appropriate for a cougar who was born into the pet trade in 1995 in Texas, was shipped to New York and then traveled to a rescue center in South Florida before taking the last road trip, at the age of 18, to her forever home at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa.

She was confiscated in New York from a drug dealer where she was kept in a small apartment having been fed domestic cat food and extremely undernourished with worms. Her illegal owner was only fined $500, which goes to show how under enforced big cat regulations can be.

She was brought to SFWRC where she began a long recovery after suffering years of abuse. Unfortunately, she was badly de-clawed as a cub by her original breeder, and the claws grow back in ways that cripple her, so she needs constant medical attention.

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‘Each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.’ - Matsuo Basho. My heart is broken in a million pieces. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you when it was your time to go, and I hope I see you when it’s my time too. I will forever remember all the fun times we had together. I will remember your goofiness and the way you were always able to cheer me up even on the saddest days. You were my rock, my friend and the light that brightened the darkness. I’ll forever hold you in my heart, and go on fighting for the life you should have had. I love you Reise and you were my journey.