Ratelband lets the lion roar

9 November 2004

AMSTERDAM — Dutch motivation guru Emile Ratelband has been the proud owner of a pet lion since last weekend, but the Agriculture Ministry has not taken such a rosy view of his new guest.

Ratelband obtained the lion, Leon, from Prague, saving it from being put down by the Czech circus Andrea, following the sudden death of the animal’s trainer. Ratelband was coincidentally in Prague for work and arrange to take the lion.

Ratelband claims the animal is very content with hs new home, a cage in the guru’s garden. “He is in an area of 8m x 4m and ate 9kg of meat on Monday morning, so the local butcher is also enthusiastic and my daughter’s friends think that there is finally life in the Ratelband house,” he said.

He challenged animal protectionists with the question of whether they wanted the animal to die or to have a “decent” life with him. “It is a feast here for that beast,” Ratelband said.

But the Agriculture Ministry is not so sure and has instructed its General Inspection Service (AID) to conduct an investigation, news service NOS reported.

Meanwhile, Ratelband was unconcerned: “None of these public servants have learnt a trade. They have to do something for a living, so they invent rules”.

“Soon every Muslim and every lion owner will have to identify themselves. Let these boys learn a trade. Do you hear the lion in the background? That [roar] goes out in the direction of the AID, ha!”

Subject: Dutch news