In 2007, Zorro the leopard was turned over to Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary after a lifetime of performing on Vegas stages. Like most animals in Zorro’s unfortunate position, he was declawed as a cub, most likely without anesthesia and not by a real veterinarian.

If you don’t know the truth about the procedure that’s regularly done on both big and domestic cats…it’s not just like a nail trim. The entire first bone gets completely cut off, and it can cause pain for the rest of their lives. Sometimes, the claw will still grow through the skin, making walking extremely painful, let alone playing, running, and jumping.

Luckily for Zorro, he doesn’t experience any pain.

And as you can see, he’s not unlike house cats…he loves cardboard boxes!

Just like little Fluffy over here…

(via The Dodo)

Thank goodness Zorro doesn’t have any problems with his paws, and that his previous owner found the good in his heart to surrender his performance partner to the sanctuary. Unfortunately, not all animals in the cruel business are so lucky, and many more live a life of pain, performing tricks they’re forced to do over and over again. You can donate to Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary to help animals like Zorro who have suffered.

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/zorro-leopard/