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Malibu Rancher Calls For Stay Of Execution For P-45

MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — One of the ranchers given a license to kill the mountain lion known as P-45 now wants a stay of execution for the convicted alpaca killer.

Victoria Vaughn-Perling, who says she is one of the ranchers issued a permit to shoot P-45 within 10 days, is holding a news conference at her home Thursday morning to call on the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to allow her to tranquilize the big cat and have it moved to an animal sanctuary.

RELATED: Officials Condemn Kill Order For Santa Monica Mountain Lion

"I obtained the kill permit in order to save P-45's life. P-45 has been very aggressive and active in the area, and a kill permit was issued by the Department of Fish & Wildlife earlier this year to another neighbor about a mile away. That resulted in P-45 being wounded by a rifle shot, but fortunately he survived," Vaughn-Perling said in a statement. "It is only a matter of time when someone will get a kill permit, and successfully kill P-45."

P-45 has reportedly killed 65 animals over the past year. Last weekend, authorities determined he killed 11 alpacas and a goat at two ranches in the Santa Monica Mountains.

RELATED: License To Kill P-45 Has Animal-Rights Advocates In An Uproar

Vaughn-Perling wants P-45 to ultimately land at the Wildlife Waystation, an animal sanctuary in the foothills of Los Angeles and currently home to 400 other wild and exotic animals.

According to her attorney, Martine Colette, Wildlife Waystation's executive director and founder, has confirmed that it will accept and protect P-45, without any government expense.

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