APNewsBreak: Tiger mascot at issue in Ohio exotics crackdown
Source: AP BIG story
By KANTELE FRANKO
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A school that uses a live tiger cub as a mascot has been warned it must submit more documentation to continue that tradition without violating Ohio's law on dangerous animals.
Records obtained by The Associated Press show the Massillon Washington High School booster club that provides the tigers is among over a dozen animal owners contacted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture in recent months over compliance concerns.
A recent ODA letter says the boosters claimed an exemption but must provide more proof. It requests affidavits indicating the school's tiger would live at an accredited facility and be cared for by the school throughout its life.
It's not clear how that request might affect the live-mascot tradition this year. School and booster club officials didn't respond to messages seeking comment.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fcb0a9abbfb447098ee990ce994485b9/apnewsbreak-tiger-mascot-issue-ohio-exotics-crackdown
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Navey Baker, a senior at Gilbert High School and the school’s legendary Tiger mascot, has truly revolutionized what it means to be a high school mascot. Her efforts to rally the entire student body in supporting each other have not gone unnoticed, and now Navey will be starring in the upcoming second season of Hulu’s original documentary series “Behind The Mask” premiering February 26th. The show explores the lives of mascots who go above and beyond to make the characters they play truly iconic. Gilbert Daily PRSS had the opportunity to interview Navey about her life as a mascot and learn more about “Behind The Mask”.
When did you start mascotting? What inspired you to become a mascot?
“I started being a mascot in sixth grade at Houston Elementary. The interest started in 2nd grade when I first went to Houston Elementary, because every Friday the mascot walks around the school and gives everyone high fives and I thought “Oh, that’s fun! I want to do that.” That’s kind of when it first started, and I was growing up and going to Suns’ games and Diamondbacks’ games and seeing their mascots and what they do just made it look so fun. So when sixth grade came I became the Houston Husky and from there it just flourished.”
How long have you been doing this at Gilbert High School?
“I started my Freshman year and I’m a Senior now so about four years. The first semester of my Freshman year I used their [the school’s] costume, and then Christmas of that year my parents bought me my own suit. So the suit that you will see on the show is the one I actually own. Here and there you’ll see the old suit worn by a little kid who likes to do it – we call him Baby Tiger – and we have a freshman who comes out and he does it too. But yeah, the suit that you’ll see I actually own, and the old one is the school’s.”
What’s your experience been like as a mascot at Gilbert High School?
“My mascot experience at Gilbert High has been phenomenal. The students are just awesome: they support me, they love me, and when I ask them to do certain cheers and do certain things they go along with it – like when we do “Rollercoaster”, they do that with me. It’s cool. I feel like I’m a leader, and I like it [laughs]. It’s kind of like being on a rollercoaster in a sense. It’s just all this adrenaline and you get to go crazy and just have a ton of fun with it. There’s never a dull moment when you’re in the suit.”
- See more at: http://gilbert-news.dailyprss.com/tabs/blog/2015/02/interview-with-navey-baker-gilbert-high-school-mascot-and-star-of-behind-the-mask#sthash.9WFn2riv.dpuf
Roll Tide.
I'll raise him or her to hunt Republican scum!
