Tiger King's Carole Baskin Hopes Dancing Leads To Animal Reforms

TAMPA, FL — Admittedly a predictable choice, Tampa's Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin debuted on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Monday dancing to Survivor's anthem, "Eye of the Tiger."

Wearing her trademark flowered head wreath and a bedazzled tiger-print dress that matched dance partner Pasha Pashkov's tiger-print trousers, Baskin's performance opened with Pashkov emerging from a tiger cage before leading the 59-year-old animal rights advocate into a fast-paced paso doble.

"She and Pasha both felt it was the best execution of her routine they had done in all the practicing," Baskin's husband, Howard, said of her performance Tuesday morning. "She's upbeat and looking forward to learning a new routine for next Tuesday."

Before being cast on Season 29 of "Dancing with the Stars," Baskin's dance experience consisted of jazzercizing in front of her TV with only her two domestic cats watching.

So she wasn't surprised when the panel of celebrity judges gave her a low rating of 3 for her first performance.

She knows it wasn't her dancing talents that earned her a spot on the show. It was her newfound celebrity status after appearing on the hit Netflix docuseries, "Tiger King - Murder, Mayhem and Madness" March 20 to April 12.

The Baskins, who operate a 67-acre sanctuary for tigers and other rescued big cats, thought they were sitting down with the producers of the Netflix series to discuss the abuse of big cats at roadside zoos.

Instead, the docuseries focused on Baskin's long-running battle with the flamboyant zookeeper known as Joe Exotic who is currently serving time in federal prison for trying to hire a hit man to kill Baskin and shooting five of his tigers to death.

The docuseries also delved into Joe Exotic's unfounded accusation that Baskin is responsible for the disappearance of her first husband, Tampa millionaire Don Lewis, in 1997.

The docuseries' depiction of Baskins as a greedy, publicity-seeking harpy would have sent most people into hiding, said her husband. In fact, there have been moments during the past six months that Baskin wanted to bury herself beneath her bed covers.

"But that's just not her way," said Howard Baskin. ""Carole's the bravest person I know."

Instead, she opted to turn her celebrity into an opportunity to lobby for reforms, including passage of The Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380- S.2561), a federal bill that would prevent people from owning big cats as pets and stop exploitative roadside zoos from offering cub petting and photo ops.

True to that mission, when interviewed by Entertainment Tonight about her appearance on "Dancing with the Stars," Baskin continuously brought the conversation back to the topic of big cats and her efforts to end their abuse.

Following her appearance on Monday night's "Dancing with the Stars," there was no shortage of critics (more than 11,000) eager to dissect her performance on Facebook.

ABC/Eric McCandless

Baskin chose to ignore the comments from strangers, focusing, instead, on congratulatory noted from friends.

"You were awesome," said Caryn Nash. "Loved it! You were smiling ear to ear and looked like you were having the time of your life! Keep up the amazing work, we are here supporting you Just FYI: I thought she did a fantastic interview with ET you might enjoy. Just kept bringing it back to the cats."

"Yay, Carole. Great job," said Lisa Fox Wachtell. "Judges were a little tough last night on everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed watching you. I was very proud of you and all you represent."

Baskin is one of 30 celebrities competing on the Season 29. Others are Backstreet Boys member A.J. McLean, Netflix's "Cheer" head coach Monica Aldama, "Bachelorette" star Kaitlyn Bristowe, Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, rapper Nelly, Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis, Disney Channel star Skai Jackson, "Catfish" host Nev Schulman, NBA player Charles Oakley, actress Anne Heche, "The Real" host Jeannie Mai and "Selling Sunset" real estate agent Chrishell Strause.

"Dancing with the Stars" can be seen Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

See related stories:

• 'Tiger King's' Carole Baskin Competes In 'Dancing With The Stars'
• Netflix's 'Tiger King' Prompts Sheriff To Seek Tips In Cold Case