This organization plays such a vital role in our community when it comes to the education of big cats. CFAR gives great care to the cats in residence and it shows how happy and well cared for they are. This is also an excellent place to volunteer your time! Sharing the space with big cats is a life-changing experience!!
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Central Florida Animal Reserve is a peaceful caring home for big cats. The Staff is friendly and consider the cats their "babies".
Funds raised by this organization all go to the care of their animal residents.
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As a long time volunteer, I enjoy working with the staff, and the love and attention and mutual respect I get from the cats.
This organization does a great job of educating the public on the needs of big cats in captivity and in the wild. Without facilities like this, there would soon be no big cats. Loss of habitat will soon take all those in the wild.
CFAR needs us all to support their efforts in person or monetarily.
Volunteering here has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. I never thought I'd be able to work next to these amazing creatures, to earn their trust is an amazing feeling.
I know that my donation makes a difference in the lives of these extraordinary animals and to the people who serve them. Amazing animal care and facility!
I've been a volunteer for over 5 years and I enjoy every minute that I'm there. Having the chance to work exotic animals is so rewarding. I've learned a lot and every time I'm on the property I'm learning something new.
This amazing sanctuary is a true standout! Staffed by volunteers, this organization has an impeccable reputation. I have been involved with CFAR both as a volunteer and a patron for over 7 years. The residents receive a lifetime of compassion and commitment. Their caregivers are there every day in the staggering summer heat, the torrential rains, on holidays and even through hurricanes. Caring for the residents and facility is often a back breaking and dirty job. The volunteers receive no tangible reward, but most have been here for years. All for a friendly greeting from the cats, and the incredible bond they form with them. This is the true Magical place in Central Florida. Come meet our people and our cats and be a part of something wonderous.
I have had the honor of volunteering for this organization for 10 years. Each and every volunteer is dedicated to giving their time and effort to ensure our beautiful residents live long, healthy, and stimulated lives. My greatest thrill is hosting guests on tours where they can see these majestic creatures up close and appreciate their beauty. Our hope is that our cats will inspire all to become committed and compassionate advocates for conservation.
Such a cool place with a team of selfless people! I highly recommend visiting their facility to meet the cats and explore their amazing setup.
This amazing sanctuary is a true standout! Staffed by volunteers, this organization has an impeccable reputation. I have been involved with CFAR both as a volunteer and a patron for over 7 years. The residents receive a lifetime of compassion and commitment. Their caregivers are there every day in the staggering summer heat, the torrential rains, on holidays and even through hurricanes. Caring for the residents and facility is often a back breaking and dirty job. The volunteers receive no tangible reward, but most have been here for years. All for a friendly greeting from the cats, and the incredible bond they form with them. This is the true Magical place in Central Florida. Come meet our people and our cats and be a part of something wonderous.
I have been a volunteer with CFAR for 12 years and have loved every second of it. The compassion from all of the volunteers towards the amazing residents is truly inspiring.
CFAR provides an excellent independent forever home for big cats with high integrity! More public support would be great!
This nonprofit is near and dear to my heart, I know that the money I give is going to a great cause! Central Florida Animal Reserve is a wonderful organization and I will continue to support their mission for providing the love and care needed for these extraordinary animals.
This sanctuary is amazing! The cats always appear to be happy! The keepers are so in tune with their residents, and know each cat's personality and what their individual likes and dislikes are. The facility is so clean and well run. It is staffed by volunteers and you can tell they love the cats!
Such a great organization full of caring individuals. Every volunteer was exceptionally knowledgeable and personable. I highly recommend CFAR to all of my friends and acquaintances.
Central Florida Animal Reserve is consistently described as a top notch animal facility. Volunteer-driven, the animals here are extremely well cared for, and the facility is meticulously maintained. The passion of the volunteers is evident in every facet of this organization and is on display to the public every weekend when they open their doors for tours.
I’ve been a volunteer here since January, and every day I’m there is a new experience! The cats are amazing and so unique, and the other volunteers are all wonderful people. My time here is so rewarding and I would (and do!) recommend it to everyone.
The facility and the time all these people give to these animals is incredible and truly selfless. Day in and day out there is so much love and care put into CFAR. The cats show for it with the chuffs they give and the love they show. CFAR truly shows it’s dedication to conservation of these wild animals with their daily care and the education they put forth to each and every guest, volunteer, and employee that walks through that facility.
I volunteer at CFAR every Sunday and it is my favorite day of the week. I have been involved with this organization for 11 years and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon!
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This is a wonderful sanctuary for big cats. They are passionate about saving and taking care of rescued cats. There are just so few sanctuaries for magnificent animals like these. Their dedication in taking on a labor of love like this is admirable. They love these cats and provide a lot of education to the public regarding the plight of these cats.
I am a former volunteer with CFAR . For 7 yrs. I helped care for and feed 42 tigers, 6 lions, 6 cougars, 4 Civits, 2 Coda Mundi, 2 Jennets, and 1 leopard. It was the most wonderful experience of my life and I looked forward to every week. How many people can say that they have personally "known" a big cat ! Sadly, as the cats age, the number of cats currently in residence has dwindled (CFAR does NOT permit breeding) . CFAR strives to provide humane, clean, and stimulating conditions for their cats and I wouldn't trade a moment of my memories there. The new facility is really something to see. If you are looking for a 'magical" experience that you will never forget, DO GO !!! You won't be disappointed.
CFAR is an organization like no other! Everyone is so welcoming & helpful. I never thought I could do something like this until I started at CFAR, and now it’s my dream! Every cat is special and quirky, and so is every volunteer. I love this place with all my heart!
Central Florida Animal Reserve is a one of a kind facility showing compassion and care towards conservation. The staff/volunteers are truly committed and most importantly, the animals are exceptionally well cared for!
I love CFAR! As a member I have been visiting for several years now. The tour guides (all volunteers) are wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly. The animals (all rescued) are obviously well cared for and seem content. It is great to be able to see these gorgeous cats up close and personal in bigger enclosures and it warms my heart to know that this organization goes above and beyond to ensure the well-being of the animals.
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This is a wonderful rescue reserve for big cats and other animals. Tours are given by wonderful, well-informed guides who give you a lot of information about the animals and how they arrived at CFAR. All the staff are totally devoted to the well-being of the animals and this is obvious when looking at the overall health of all the cats.
Central Florida Animal Reserve is a fantastic organization that loves and cares for their Cats. Looking at the pictures of their residents one can tell that they are well taken care of and are happy and content. They take exceptional care of their Big Cats. I have visited their Sanctuary numerous times and it is an experience that is outstanding, and it is obvious that they take loving care of all the Big Cats. I support the organization by sponsoring a Tiger. I would encourage anyone who loves animals to visit CFAR and support them.
Had a wonderful tour with very devoted and entertaining guide. Beautiful animals that are obviously very well cared for.
Having worked in a similar field for over 25 years plus, you are exposed to the good,the bad,and the in between. CFAR is unequivocably a sanctuary who has earned the right to be called amazing! Their staff and volunteers go above and beyond the dedication needed to provide these majestic animals with dignity,respect,safety and a loving environment for them to thrive. I highly encourage anyone who wants to have a life altering encounter to visit the sanctuary and support this worthy cause by donations, supplies and word-of-mouth to others who may be able to help. I feel blessed and honored to know of CFAR’s tireless efforts and am so grateful that they continue to make a huge difference in the horrible reality of animal abuse and neglect. It is with heartfelt thanks that I applaud their dedication to continue to be true to their mission of providing a loving home for these beautiful beings. PLEASE, take a moment from your day to visit the website and I guarantee you will be so happy that you did!
I have had the honor of touring CFAR and the previous site. My first impression was one of awe! It is overwhelming how much love the animals receive and the devotion of all of those involved. The animals are the healthiest and self expressive I have seen. For those who have not ventured to CFAR you need to take the time and see for themselves how majestic they look. My hats off to all of those involved!
We were there this past summer in August. My daughter of 4 loved being able to get close enough to ear and see what the cats were up to. She is still talking about the visit and when she can go back. Kelly was our guide and she was great patient with my daughters question and definitely made the experience memorable for my daughter. That one day she wants to work with all you with the big cats. Thank you for encouraging her love of cats
We took our 11 year old grandson on a tour. It was truly excellent. The staff was friendly and very dedicated to their mission. The facilities are top notch. And best of all the big cats were awesome.! Happy healthy and beautiful. Don't miss it.
I had such an amazing experience at CFAR. I was there as a volunteer to help build a walkway. What I experienced was a knowledgeable, selfless staff that runs the place. They worked side by side us in the heat, then We got a special behind the scenes tour of all of the animals. The big cats are beautiful and seem to be happy, well fed and content. The grounds are clean and well maintained. This is a little gem of a place. So glad I discovered it’s here!!
One of the best ways to support CFAR and the wonderful work they do for the great cats is to include them in your Estate Planning. Provide a living legacy for all their beautiful residents and all the volunteers and professional staff do to support them. Tour their facilities. See the great cats. Include them in your Will, Trust or other means of providing for CFAR 's work to continue long after you leave these earthly bounds. May your love for wildlife and especially the awesome great cats last forever.
Picture: Holding a one-month-old lion cub at Singapore's world-class Zoo was a life-changing moment for Seaside Scoop FB blog publisher & writer Peggy Fisher, Vero Beach, FL
The Central Florida Animal Reserve is a wonderful place. They provide excellent care for all of their big cats. I was introduced to this place by a co-worker and have been in love with it since. I truly respect all of the volunteers and professionals that take the time to care for the animals and all of their hard work and dedication. The Central Florida Animal Reserve is a great place to visit to see Tigers, Lions and many other animals. Please donate to the Central Florida Animal Reserve so they can continue this wonderful experience.
When I was a boy my parents would take me to the local zoo, and even back then I was saddened to see the big cats pacing or sleeping in a small cage with bars and a concrete floor. What a pleasure it is to tour CFAR and similar facilities and see that the cats are well cared for, clean and alert, and have large enclosures with roam to roam and to play with their "toys". They even have their own "swimming pool"! Heartfelt thanks to CFAR for the loving care they show these magnificent beasts.
John Lex
Kissimmee, FL
The first thing that drew me to CFAR was, of course, the cats. The second thing was the friendly and dedicated volunteer staff. So much so that I became a volunteer myself. Even though I am unable to do the heavy physical work, I have been able to help out with some events and less physical tasks. Just the privilege to be on property with these big cats is amazing. I highly recommend a visit to CFAR for all.
I love this non-profit. They care so much for these very large cats. These animals cannot make it in the wild and this group makes a real life for them. Kudos to all of you.
Big Cats command respect, except when they were rendered helpless, neglected, and abused at human hands. The dedicated volunteers at CFAR, without exception, have fallen in love with these beautiful, graceful creatures and every day are returning the respect, along with dignity, feeding, and medical care that these cats need. For 20 years, this organization has kept up to 60 cats, and now finally the dream has come true to house these cats in a new, beautiful facility. This organization and these volunteers are top-notch in their dedication and sense of responsibility toward some of God's most noble and beautiful creatures. Every visit to the facility is memorable, rewarding, and uplifting. Great going, guys! You make humans look a little better too.
CFAR is an AMAZING facility. They take wonderful care of their animals, and the staff are some of the most intelligent, passionate, and motivated individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
To me CFAR (Central Florida Animal Reserve) is an organization that exists to provide homes for animals (primarily big cats) which selfish people have taken on as babies and then once they tire of the responsibility or the cat (per se) becomes too big for them to adequately maintain, then they decide they don't want it any longer (thereby shirking the responsibility they originally signed up for). These CFAR folks work their tails off and do what they can for these abandoned and / abused animals with donation money they receive from folks like you and me. Many thanks to the affiliates of CFAR for all that they do for the animals.
I became aware of CFAR years ago when my dear friend The late Johnny Gammone volunteered there.
I lived the experience through his eyes as he was there almost daily.
My son grew up on the photos of the animals and the stories about them. This made a difference in our life. Since his passing I donate what little I can.
While encouraging others to donate also.
When it comes to things in life that matter,
CFAR is one of them.
Jeanmarie B Willingspirit
CFLAR is a wonderful organization. You can see it in everyone that volunteers there how much they love what they are doing. The animals are happy, healthy, and kept clean. The rewards that you get in return from these animals far exceeds anything that you can experience. Keep up the good work CFLAR. I hope you raise the money to move to Forever Florida and teach the public more about the good work that you do every day! Thank you
CFLAR is a wonderful organization. You can see they are very well taken care of and loved even more by everyone that volunteers there. Standing in front of these mmagnificant creatures, you can feel the love they have for the volunteers there, and even see it in their eyes. The animals are happy, healthy, and kept clean. The love between everyone just overflows and can be felt by anyone who visits there. I volunteered with them for many years before moving too far to help. If you have the chance to volunteer - I HIGHLY recommend you do so. The rewards that you get in return from these animals far exceeds anything that you can experience. Keep up the good work CFLAR. I hope you raise the money to move to Forever Florida and teach the public more about the good work that you do every day! Thank you
The Central Florida Animal Reserve (CFAR) is dedicated to helping and caring for big cats. This non-profit facility helps big cats from life-threatening situations, exploitation, and inappropriate living conditions.
These cats are in need of donations to move to a new facility before time runs out on their current location. Their care givers are awesome and very helpful. I am a current member and went to their appreciation day in January and loved seeing and hearing about the big cats. They are truely magnificent creatures and could use our help. Visit them at http://www.cflar.org/ and see how you can help. No donation or help is too small or too big. Hugs and love to all
CFAR is great. I so hope they can move to Forever Florida, I think it would be a great location. I love being a member and the open-houses are superb.
I've been working with CFAR for two years. This is one of the most dedicated-nonstop-all for the animals groups I've ever worked with -- these 48 lions, tigers, cougars, and other big cats were rescued from a bad situation with their previous owner. All involved are volunteers faced with a huge challenge -- securing funding and moving the cats to a new location because the current location was rezoned residential. This group is on call 24/7.
CFAR is a great non profit group taking care of rescued Big Cats. The animals are very well cared for and loved. The volunteers donate their time and money to see that everything is done for the great cats. They are needing to move the Big Cats to a new location in September 2012 and need money to build the cages the Cats will live in. Please endorse CFAR in this endeavor.