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Started By
Message
After caring for Mike the Tiger for 26 years, veterinarian David Baker saying goodbye
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:00 pm
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:00 pm
quote:
After caring for Mike the Tiger for 26 years, veterinarian David Baker saying goodbye
LINK
Mike matters.
A scroll through Mike the Tiger's Facebook page put this thought into perspective for David Baker.
Baker is Mike the Tiger's veterinarian. Well, that is, until Sept. 23, when Baker bids his final farewell to the campus.
After 27 years, Baker is retiring from his position as a professor of laboratory medicine in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. He's boxed up everything in his office and is ready to travel north, where he'll begin a new job at a biopharmaceutical company.
In 26 of the 27 years he's spent at LSU, he's worked as Mike's veterinarian. Actually, he's been the official vet for three Mikes — V, VI and VII.
quote:
When Baker was appointed to the position, Mike V was 6 years old. The tiger had been raised at LSU and died at age 17.
Baker then searched for and chose Mike VI, a favorite among LSU fans. That Mike had an affectionate nature and was always hamming it up for his own fans outside his habitat.
But being Mike's vet also had a downside — Mike was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a terminal cancer, in May 2016, and Baker had to be the one to euthanize him in October of that year.
This post was edited on 9/13/22 at 1:02 pm
10
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:02 pm to goofball
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:03 pm to MorbidTheClown
Very cool job. I bet it's not an easy one to walk away from for any reason.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:18 pm to goofball
Who remembers back in the day when the whack job Basketball Trainer guy from South America got in between the outer and inner cage fences with the Uzi water gun and the lunch bag he claimed was a bomb? He threatened to let Mike loose if they didn't get Dale Brown there to keep him from being deported. He had Mike hostage for a couple of hours until a basketball player who spoke Spanish talked him out. I always wondered what the plan was if he set Mike loose and if Mike would actually leave the cage or not.
Found the article from 1988 - click here
Found the article from 1988 - click here
This post was edited on 9/13/22 at 1:22 pm
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:24 pm to goofball
I remember him from my days working at the rec when he'd come in at opening to swim. Never saw him come close to a smile once. Though I wasn't that chipper either at 5:30am.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:25 pm to goofball
He gonna work for that gas station in Grosse Tete now?
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:29 pm to jbgleason
quote:
Who remembers back in the day when the whack job Basketball Trainer guy from South America got in between the outer and inner cage fences with the Uzi water gun and the lunch bag he claimed was a bomb?
I remember it well. I was stuck in my dorm room in North Stadium until it was resolved. Watched the whole thing from the window on the 5th floor. Missed dinner at Pentagon cafeteria because of it too.
quote:
I always wondered what the plan was if he set Mike loose and if Mike would actually leave the cage or not.
The previous year (Spring semester '87), Mike got out of his cage and wandered around campus. A few of us got the bright idea to go out looking for him. After about thirty minutes of wandering around with no plan and looking for Mike, Randy Robichaux (coordinator for West Area Residential Housing) looked at all of us and asked - "Guys? What da hell are we gonna do if we find a live tigah out in the open like this?"
His words brought us all to our senses in a hurry and we high-tailed it back to the safety of the dorm rooms.
Yeah. Mike IV would gladly leave his enclosure and saunter around campus if given the opportunity. A row of young pines with their trunks broken off about two feet above ground level led the official search party to discovering Mike IV lazing about in the sun in the middle of the Bernie Moore track field.
This post was edited on 9/13/22 at 3:02 pm
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:34 pm to facher08
quote:not unusual. Haven't seen him in forever but he had the personality of a rock when I knew him
I remember him from my days working at the rec when he'd come in at opening to swim. Never saw him come close to a smile once. Though I wasn't that chipper either at 5:30am.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:34 pm to goofball
quote:
When Baker was appointed to the position, Mike V was 6 years old. The tiger had been raised at LSU and died at age 17.
I had the best relationship with V. IV was very standoffish and I enjoyed the brief visits with VI, but V was my boy.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:43 pm to goofball
Being a veterinarian, that had to be a cool job. I wonder if he builds a bond with the tigers.. But then again, I am sure most of his interactions with them are when they are put out.
I just wish the vet school would raise deer and once or twice a week they would put deer in Mike's habitat so he (or is this one a female?) can hunt them.
I'd pay for a ticket to watch Mike hunt deer.
I just wish the vet school would raise deer and once or twice a week they would put deer in Mike's habitat so he (or is this one a female?) can hunt them.
I'd pay for a ticket to watch Mike hunt deer.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:51 pm to OweO
quote:
Being a veterinarian, that had to be a cool job. I wonder if he builds a bond with the tigers.. But then again, I am sure most of his interactions with them are when they are put out.
Oh, so you’re a veterinarian now?
Posted on 9/13/22 at 1:59 pm to facher08
quote:
Never saw him come close to a smile once.
He could be intimidating, but super nice guy. Very dry sense of humor. One of the best lecturers I had at the SVM.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 2:08 pm to OweO
quote:
I wonder if he builds a bond with the tigers.. But then again, I am sure most of his interactions with them are when they are put out.
Actually the mikes are very rarely sedated. Baker wouldn't visit the mike habitat every day but when he did Mike vi was always incredibly happy to see him.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 2:21 pm to BRgetthenet
quote:
they are put out.
I am pretty sure they do not "put him out" unless they absolutely have to because it is dangerous for a tiger. Mike's student caretakers are really the ones that build the bond. I am sure he knew Baker, but he gets those caretakers two years in a row. Those students are with him daily.
This post was edited on 9/13/22 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 9/13/22 at 4:24 pm to goofball
That was a great article. I like the story of the doc hearing cancer patients coming to the habitat to talk to Mike.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 4:29 pm to goofball
You know those cats love that man and can’t wait to run up and rub all over him.
That would be a highlight of my day and would make sure and see him everyday like that
That would be a highlight of my day and would make sure and see him everyday like that
Posted on 9/13/22 at 4:31 pm to goofball
He's the guy that stopped them from shocking Mike's balls with a cattle prod, right? The Rant will be happy because maybe they can start forcing him to go to games again.
***This was sarcasm based on Rant posts about forcing Mike into a cage for GameDay.
***This was sarcasm based on Rant posts about forcing Mike into a cage for GameDay.
This post was edited on 9/13/22 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 9/13/22 at 4:42 pm to Swamp Angel
quote:
The previous year (Spring semester '87), Mike got out of his cage and wandered around campus
Just asked my mom about this, she graduated in 88.. i was 5 and probably at University terrace. She said she remembers hearing something about Mike getting out..
Also my daughter googled Mike getting out and found an article where some Tulane students animal-napped Mike in the 1950s and spray painted his cage and him green.
Posted on 9/13/22 at 5:27 pm to delta_zulu
quote:
He could be intimidating, but super nice guy. Very dry sense of humor. One of the best lecturers I had at the SVM.
Absolutely amazing human being. He and his wife, actually. If you’re at all disingenuous he will pick it up, but if you’re honest and sincere he will entertain the possibility of being personable. Lol He’s fascinating to talk to and if you have a common interest he will really open up. The SVM is losing a great one. Unfortunately the culture of academia will continue to weed out conservatives. The rigmarole of being woke takes a toll.
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